VIDEO: Beachfront house torn down in Buxton as officials combat shoreline erosion

BUXTON, N.C. -- A beachfront home in Buxton was intentionally torn down on Monday, May 18, to avoid meeting the same fate as neighboring properties which succumbed to the elements.

Jenni Koontz of Epic Shutter Photography told Storyful she captured this footage showing a bulldozer tearing the house apart.

"This strong house withstood many powerful Cape Hatteras storms, only to be demoed on a beautiful spring day," Koontz told Storyful. "Dare County purchased the threatened oceanfront property in Buxton, NC, to clear the way for dune construction and upcoming beach nourishment operations."

Daren County reported that 31 homes had collapsed in the villages of Rodanthe and Buxton between May 2020 and February 2026 due to the combination of beach erosion and weather elements.

The county said the National Park Service launched a program in 2023 which allowed them to purchase threatened oceanfront properties to demolish them.

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