Remote Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke Island is a 16 mile long island located at the Outer Banks of North Carolina south of Hatteras Island. It is accessible only by state run ferry, boat or plane. Listed as one of the “Best Beaches” Ocracoke Island is mostly undeveloped and is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore at the Outer Banks. The sand is clean and the beaches are wide and less populated than most so one can have the beach almost to yourself while at the Outer Banks.
Ocracoke Island is a unique and remote island where the natives speak an interesting Old English dialect that has been passed down thru the generations. It is unique to the area and very interesting to listen to when you come across a true islander!
Ocracoke on the Outer Banks used to be an isolated island where the rich went to fish and hunt. It was great for fishing and duck hunting. Probably most famous the island was the hangout for the notorious pirate Blackbeard. The area Teach’s Hole on Ocracoke Island is so named because the area was a favorite hideout of Blackbeard’s.
During World War II several ships were sunk off the coast of North Carolina by German submarines. One morning four British soldiers washed ashore and the people of Ocracoke Island buried them on the island. The graves are still maintained by the Coast Guard today in honor of these soldiers. The British Cemetery is located at 220 British Cemetery Road in Ocracoke on Ocracoke Island.
Ocracoke Lighthouse was build in 1823 and its location marks the entrance to Silver Lake. The white brick lighthouse stands 70 feet tall and is located on Lighthouse Road. It sits in a picturesque setting with the white picket fence and the cozy looking keeper’s cottage next door. The grounds are open to the public for viewing. The lighthouse or the keepers cottage is not open to the public.
Descendants of the Wild Banker ponies that once ran free on Ocracoke Island of the Outer Banks are corralled in the Ocracoke Pony Pens on the north end of the island next to Highway 12. No one knows for sure how the original ponies came to be on the island.They once ran freely on the island but with progress and the paving of Highway 12 back in the late 1950’s the islanders and the National Park Service built a site made specifically for the ponies to protect and keep them safe. There is no charge to stop and view the ponies but remember they are wild as in not tame. You may not be wise to touch or pet them or feed them human food.
Just getting to and from Ocracoke Island is an adventure. The ferry ride from the neighboring islands takes about 60 minutes (from Hatteras Island) and 2-2 1/2 hours (from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter). It really is fun to ride the ferry with the seagulls following the ferry and crying out. The warm sun shining down and the smell of salt water in the air and the cool coastal breeze in your face as you make the crossing makes for a relaxing sightseeing adventure!
Ocracoke Island at the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a fun place to vacation. The remote island has beautiful clean white beaches. The quaintness of Ocracoke Village is so special. There are several retail shops, local craft shops, an ice cream shop and several restaurants. The great local food served includes fresh seafood. It’s a small island and in the peak of summer season the island can become quite busy with car traffic, foot traffic and bike traffic. But it is well worth a visit. The ferry ride over to Ocracoke Island is a fun way to add to the adventure while at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
