Fort Macon State Park: Restoring History with Heart Pine & WOCA

Fort Macon State Park, located on the easternmost tip of Bogue Banks in North Carolina’s famed Outer Banks, has a rich history. Construction began after the War of 1812 as a defense against foreign invasion. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1834, the fort transitioned from a federal military post to a state park just two years after construction was finished. Today, it serves as an educational and recreational destination, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors every year.

Challenges of Restoring Fort Macon After Hurricane Florence

The Visitor Center and Museum’s original wood flooring was a fundamental piece of this historic building. However, it suffered irreparable damage in 2018 in the wake of Hurricane Florence. The heart pine floors, central to the fort's character, had to be replaced, which prompted the difficult challenge of how to replace them while maintaining historical accuracy and resilience.

Bringing the Heart Pine Wood Flooring Back to Life

Replacing 8,000 square feet of Select Quarter Sawn Old Growth Heart Pine was no simple job. Heart pine is not just any wood—it’s a piece of history in itself. This lumber is cut from the core of centuries-old Longleaf Pines and using this kind of wood highlights the preservation and educational aspects of the fort while still maintaining the park’s historic essence.

• Distinctive features: Dense grain, rich amber color.
• Historical significance: Longleaf Pines once blanketed the southeastern United States, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the restoration.

Harmonizing History and Modern Needs

The collaborative efforts behind this historic restoration were painstaking. Hobbs Architects, PA, drew up meticulous plans for the restoration, which L.A. Downey and Son, the general contractor, executed with the utmost attention to the smallest detail. Together, they made sure the installation of the Long Leaf Heart Pine, treated with Diamond Oil Active Natural, would stand up to the demands of a busy tourist destination while still providing historical fidelity and timeless beauty.

A Future-Ready, Sustainable Solution with WOCA

WOCA Diamond Oil Active in Natural was chosen as the finish for the Visitor Center and Museum’s new flooring, and this wasn’t just an arbitrary decision. WOCA products are well-known for their quality, providing a perfect blend of aesthetic beauty and practical benefits with all-natural, environmentally friendly, and sustainably sourced ingredients.

WOCA Diamond Oil Active is the ideal product for flooring that needs to withstand the daily wear and tear from over a million visitors every year. Diamond Oil Active safeguards the longevity of the heart pine while creating a surface that’s easy to clean and maintain.

Unlike other finishes that require time-consuming and effort-intensive sanding and refinishing, a WOCA Diamond Oil Active surface only needs periodic cleaning and the occasional additional coat of oil. This ease of maintenance means Fort Macon is available to tourists more often, costs less to maintain, and provides a proven and reliable finish every time.

Maintaining Heart Pine with WOCA Products

Maintenance on the restored heart pine flooring is done with WOCA’s Commercial Soap and periodically with WOCA’s Commercial Cleaning Oil Kit:

• Commercial Soap: Cleans the heavy foot traffic on a daily basis, keeping the floor looking pristine and leaves no residue for the visitors safety.
• Commercial Cleaning Oil Kit: Deep cleans and refinishes the floor at the same time.  It’s a waterless, dustless process that can be done and have visitors walking on the floor 24 hours later,

Preserving the History of Fort Macon with WOCA

The recent floor restoration at Fort Macon State Park is an example of thoughtful preservation, merging the needs of historical presentation with the demands of a modern state park. We’re pleased that WOCA products were chosen to help preserve and maintain the finished restoration.

We’re proud that our high-quality wood care products are helping the park merge history with modernity while making sure future generations can continue to enjoy Fort Macon and all it has to offer.