Featured Stories
Jimmy Creech: The Ocracoke pastor who challenged his church
By Peter Vankevich
When Jimmy Creech returned to Ocracoke Island in August, he came carrying memories of a place he once called home — and...
State Sen. Jonah Garson opposes ferry tolls, calls for greater local control
Text and photos by Peter Vankevich
Though he doesn’t represent Ocracoke, state Senator Jonah Garson (D) thinks Ocracoke residents should not have to pay for...
Nov. 3 election: Ocracoke early voting Oct. 22 to 23; here is the sample...
The nationwide general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and voting already is underway.
Polls in North Carolina will be open that day from 6:30 a.m....
Hyde County launches ferry toll resource website
The Ocracoke Observer is taking a survey regarding possible loss of a priority, to take it, click here.
Hyde County has set up a webpage...
If you lost your priority pass, would you have to move off Ocracoke? Take...
If you, as an Ocracoke resident, were to lose your priority pass for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry, would the resulting difficulty in travel to and...
General Island Information
The Ocracoke lighthouse was 200 years old in 2023. Photo: C. Leinbach
Island Images
A Snowy Owl over the Ocracoke dunes. Photo: P. Vankevich
Snowy South Point Road. Photo: P. Vankevich
Another amazing cloud seen on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
An Ocracoke canal. Photo: C. Leinbach
The Ocracoke ponies. Photo: P. Vankevich
Ocracoke summer surf. Photo: C. Leinbach
The Island Inn Commons in bloom. Photo: C. Leinbach
Sunset cruise on the Pamlico Sound. Photo: C. Leinbach
September 2026 print issue
The Ocracoke Observer website won first place in the 2020-2021 NCPA contest Online Division, plus four other awards. It has won more than 60 awards, many in first place, since joining the N.C. Press Association in 2015 and entering the contest starting in 2016.
