Tours begin at Village Craftsmen on Howard Street, are about 1 1/2 miles long, and take approximately 90 minutes. You will learn some of our unique island history, hear about harrowing hurricanes & shipwrecks, listen to tales of the supernatural & creepy local legends, and visit the graves of some of Ocracoke's founding families.
villagecraftsmen.com
(252) 928-6300
Confirm seasonal routes, beach closures, and ramp openings with the National Park Service. All vehicles on the beach must apply for an off-road vehicle (ORV) beach driving permit.
Permits can be obtained at the NPS visitor center (40 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke, NC).
There are restrooms, changing rooms and a shower facility located at the day use area on Highway 12 just outside the village. There are plenty of good spots for those looking for more solitude along the entire beach up to the Hatteras Ferry. Look for the paved parking areas, not the sandy shoulder along the highway, for parking your vehicle.
Several threatened and endangered species, such as the piping plover and several species of sea turtles, nest on the island's beaches, and sections may be closed to the public in order to protect these nests. You will see NPS signs posting hours of access and closures at entry ramps where there are endangered species breeding and nesting. Be sure to pay close attention to the park regulations. Violations for intrusions into protected areas and for pets off leash are strictly enforced by park rangers. Check with the National Park Service Visitor Center on Ocracoke for the most updated information.
Come dockside and visit the Skipjack Wilma Lee. Berthed at the historic Ocracoke Community Square dock, the Skipjack Wilma Lee is a beautifully restored 50-foot wooden boat from a bygone era. One of only a few remaining Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks, the Wilma Lee is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built in Wingate, Maryland in 1940 by Bronza Parks and restored in 2002, the Wilma Lee was then donated to Ocracoke Alive Inc, an Ocracoke based non-profit organization dedicated to arts and education. Skipjacks were single-purpose, sloop-rigged oystering boats with a huge sail plan for pulling oyster dredges through the rich oyster beds of Chesapeake Bay. As the oyster beds of the Chesapeake were depleted and decimated by disease, skipjacks moved south where they were used and built by Albemarle and Pamlico sound watermen.
Though not an Ocracoke boat in origin, the Wilma Lee holds the spirit of hard work and adventure that characterizes the oystering trade then and now. Step back to the time of sail power and visit the Wilma Lee.
Stop by for free dockside talks aboard the Wilma Lee this summer. For more information, call 252-928-SAIL or visit www.ocracokealive.org.
The story of the Beach Jumpers has only come to light in recent years. In 1943, during WWII before the Naval Station was built on the island, Ocracoke hosted an advanced amphibious training base where tactical cover and deception units, precursors to the celebrated Navy Seals, were organized and trained for the U.S. Navy. This undercover military project was known as the Beach Jumpers and existed not only on Ocracoke but also in other prime locations along the East Coast. In addition to training, these tactical cover and deception units monitored hidden German submarine activity off the eastern coast of the United States during the war. As part of the project a facility was established at Loop Shack Hill to receive pulses from a magnetic cable that ran from Ocracoke to Buxton that indicated when underwater vessels, possibly German submarines, were in the area.
When N.C. Highway 12 was paved in 1957, cars and ponies began to collide. The National Park Service wanted to get rid of the entire herd, but the islanders protested and the Park Service agreed to contain some of the ponies on the island. In 1959, they developed the Ocracoke Pony Pens, a 180-acre pasture area that today houses about 24 ponies. Several ponies are rotated up to the front pasture so that visitors can always get a look at these unusual equines. The Ocracoke ponies have distinctive physical characteristics: five lumbar vertebrae instead of the six found in most horses, 17 ribs instead of 18 and a unique shape, posture, color, size and weight.
The pens are located on N.C. 12 about 7 miles north of the village. It's free to visit, but donations are welcomed to help pay for the food and veterinary care of the ponies. Remember: The ponies are not tame, and they may try to kick or bite you if you try to feed or touch them. Also, remember that people food can be very dangerous for horses, so don't take the chance of making one of these wonderful creatures ill by offering chips or the rest of your sandwich.
Today the preserve is available for more serene pleasures. A half-mile stroll along the groomed trail takes you among the gnarled and ancient live oaks and maritime evergreen forest to the water's edge, where a rookery of heron, egret and ibises can be spotted to the east. Along the trail visitors will see an old well, all which is left of a former home site. Also, take time to notice the amazing fences made of natural wood and vines. The inimitable Sam Jones, who once owned the property, is buried here, next to his horse.
Parking is not available; you must walk or bike to access the property. Donations supporting maritime forest restoration can be made at www.coastallandtrust.org.
On the north end of the island is a veritable ghost town known as Portsmouth Village. The village was once one of the largest settlements on the Outer Banks, though no one lives there now, save a caretaker. Portsmouth Village was established in 1753 on the shores of Ocracoke Inlet, and it was predominantly a "lightering" village. Large ships that used Ocracoke Inlet as a major trade route to the mainland would have to be unloaded to pass through the inlet and the shallow sounds and then reloaded as they found deeper waters. The residents of Portsmouth Village did the lightering of the load by moving goods to several smaller flatboats and then reloading the ships a ways down the water. A large community sprang up around this business, with a post office, a church, a school and many homes.
In 1846 Hatteras Inlet opened in a hurricane and was deeper and safer than Ocracoke Inlet. The shipping route shifted to the north, and the Portsmouth villagers had to find other ways to make a living. Later, during the Civil War, many islanders fled to the mainland to avoid advancing Union troops and never came back after the war. Portsmouth Village's population continued to decline until there were only three residents
left in 1970. In 1971, one of them died and the other two left the island reluctantly. In 1976 Portsmouth Village was saved when Cape Lookout National Seashore was established. The village is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of the buildings have been restored, and visitors can enter the church, Coast Guard station, school house and post office for a peek at old island life. The interiors look as if the people have just left, and you can look into the windows of some old buildings and see the villagers' former belongings. There is also a visitor center in a restored house where you'll find restrooms and exhibits on the island's history. You can walk from the village to the beach, though it is a long walk so be prepared. The beach at Portsmouth Island is expansive and clean, and the shelling is outstanding.
Conveniences are few on Portsmouth Island. Restrooms are available, but drinking water and food are not. Bring your own, plus sunscreen and insect repellent. The mosquitoes are voracious on Portsmouth Island. The island is only accessible by boat. Tours to Portsmouth are available through Rudy and Donald Austin. Their number is (252) 928-4361 or (252) 928- 5431.
