Press
Garden Destinations
"Most people come to Ocracoke Island for the beaches. They come for vast stretches of sand, wild ponies, salt air, and one of the most secluded corners of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But beyond the dunes lies another Ocracoke—one rooted not in sand, but in maritime forests, gardens, and centuries-old trees that have become as much a part of the island’s identity as its lighthouse."
Outer Banks This Week, June 2026
"Some buildings become part of a community's identity, serving generations of residents through changing times and standing as landmarks on the community’s consciousness. When these buildings are old and worn and seemingly at the end of their usefulness, we can’t stand to see them go. They are spaces worth saving."
Ocracoke Observer, June 2026
"Debbie Wells feels like she’s going at warp speed all the time.
As interim manager of the new nonprofit, the Ocracoke Commons Visitor & Cultural Center, she is overseeing the daily management of the Commons garden and the completion of the Island Inn renovation. Formed in May, the goal of the new organization is “to preserve, educate, promote and enhance island culture by offering a community gathering place to be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike.”
Island Free Press, May 2026
"Eight years after the Ocracoke Preservation Society finalized the purchase of the historic Island Inn property, one of Ocracoke Village’s most ambitious preservation efforts is entering a new chapter, with organizers now aiming to open the Ocracoke Commons Visitor & Cultural Center to the public in spring 2027.
What began as a complicated effort to save a deteriorating landmark from possible demolition has gradually evolved into something much larger — a multi-layered restoration project centered on history, community gathering, art, culture, gardens, and eye-catching public space."
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