The Heart of Ocracoke
Standing as a monumental sentinel of island history, the restored Island Inn is more than a building; it is a storied archive of Ocracoke's evolution. Since its inception, it has witnessed the shifting tides of the village, serving as a social cornerstone where the legacy of our heritage is preserved in enduring architectural grace and a new community gathering space.
The Inn's Legacy Through Time
1901
Founding as a Lodge
The history of the building begins when Michael Lawrence Piland (1861-1920) established Ocracoke Lodge No. 194, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an international fraternal order. In 1900, James and Zilphia Howard sold a one-acre tract of land to the Lodge trustees; the parcel lay between two tidal steams or “guts” that flowed from Silver Lake harbor (originally known as Cockle Creek). In 1901 islander Charlie Scarborough built the two-story, wood frame 'Greek Revival" building. The Odd Fellows Lodge was housed on the second floor and soon thereafter the two island schools consolidated to create one public school, held on the first floor.
1920s
A School and Private Residence
A new school was built in 1917 (on the site of the present day schoolhouse). The Lodge became dormant after Piland's death in 1920, and eventually dissolved. Benjamin O’Neal bought the building to use as a private residence and contracted with Charlie Scarborough to move it 600 feet to its present location.
1940s and 50s
Island native and businessman Stanley Wahab (1888-1967), bought the building for $700 and opened the first commercial business in the building, the Wahab Coffee Shop, with soda fountain and ice cream bar. It became a popular island gathering place. Rooms upstairs became a boarding house. During WWII, the US Navy appropriated land near the Coast Guard Station for the naval base, and dredged the harbor to accommodate their large draft vessels. Quarters for Naval Officers, called “The Crow’s Nest” were situated on the upper floor of the Lodge.
After World War II, Stanley Wahab moved former Navy barracks to his property, and attached them to the building, creating one of the island’s first modern hotels, the Silver Lake Inn. It had indoor plumbing, electricity, and a modern kitchen and dining room. Every Saturday night, the Inn was the social center of Ocracoke Village, when it was used for island square dances often accompanied by the fiddle, banjo, guitar, and triangle. In 1957, Ruth and Bill Cochran moved to Ocracoke to manage the Silver Lake Inn.
A Landmark of the Village
1960's-90's
A Thriving Inn
By 1960, entrepreneur Doward Brugh purchased the property and renamed it the Island Inn. From 1965–1970, George and Emilie Wilkes owned and operated the Inn, then they sold it to Bill and Helen Styron. In 1978, native islander Larry Williams (whose mother was a Wahab) and his partner, Foy Shaw, purchased the Inn. Chester Lynn managed the restaurant.
In the late 1980s, luxury suites and a swimming pool were built across the road. The suites were later converted to condos. In 1990, Bob & Cee Touhey partner with Anne Shaab and Buffy Warner to purchase the property. The Touheys became sole owners in 1992. In 1998, the third-floor attic of the suites was converted to four villas, and the remaining two floors of the suites were converted to villas in 2003. In 2007, Cee Touhey and her extended family became sole owners of the Island Inn.
2000's
OPS Steps In
Personal, financial, and banking issues threatened foreclosure, as family members operated the business for several years. In 2015, the Inn went on the market, with major repairs needed.
In 2018, an ad hoc committee approached the Ocracoke Preservation Society with
an urgent request that OPS purchase the Inn and save it from destruction. The
OPS Board voted to proceed with support from the Ocracoke Township Tourism Development Authority and the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board.
In 2019, Hurricane Dorian floods the property and inflicted major damage to the building. OPS demolished the two damaged sub-standard wings, elevated the historic 1901 building, and began restoration. Click here for a more detailed look at the restoration.
2026
Building Restoration Complete!
Today, the reborn Island Inn serves as the Ocracoke Commons Visitor and Cultural Center...
Restoring the Soul
"We aren't just saving a building; we are exhaling the island's history back into every joist and shingle."
The restoration of this historic island treasure has been a labor of love and precision. Landmark Builders has worked meticulously to salvage historic wood and match original paint colors, ensuring that the original character of this Ocracoke landmark remains intact and creating a future that honors the past.
Restoration
Become a Guardian of Heritage
The Island Inn is more than a building; it is the living memory of Ocracoke. Your support ensures the Ocracoke Commons remains a sanctuary for generations to come.