The grounds surrounding Ocracoke’s 1901 Island Inn have been transformed in the past several years. Thanks to donations and diligent work spearheaded by Debbie Wells, the once patchy and barren landscape is now one of Ocracoke Village’s most popular gathering spaces, and is a local landmark in its own right.
Known as the Island Commons, the site has hundreds of native or adaptable flowers and trees, benches where visitors can linger, and a brand-new event space that was completed in early 2025.
The event space, which features a grassy lawn surrounded by benches and towering pergolas, was arguably the most labor-intensive and most expensive aspect of the multi-phased landscaping project. Bordered by 16 native fig trees, the space will be an ideal setting for future celebrations, from private weddings to community events that are wide open to the public.
Now, Wells and the folks who have been involved in the landscaping project from the ground up want to honor the four parties who went above and beyond in transforming the Island Commons – Greg and Eden Honeycutt, Tommy Hutcherson, Chester Lynn, and the Towers family from Florida.
“These folks made it possible financially for us to build the large pergola, the two smaller pergolas, and install the fig garden,” said Wells. “Additionally, these folks have done so much for our community in general that we want to show our gratitude for all their hard work and contributions.”
In this vein, Island Commons will host a Dedication Ceremony and Celebration on May 18 to publicly thank the above-and-beyond donors, which will be held at the event space that they helped create.
“We appreciate everyone who has supported us – and there are so many visitors and residents to thank – but these people really stand out,” said Wells. “The whole community has participated in growing this garden, but these folks went miles beyond.”
Chester Lynn donated all of the fig trees that were added in late 2024. The Honeycutts and Hutcherson family helped fund the large pergola, which is now the centerpiece of the Island Commons, while the Towers sponsored the front fig garden.
Chester Lynn appropriately ran the Island Inn for many years and is renowned as the Island Commons’ own “Fig Ambassador.” The Honeycutts and Hutchersons are equally well-known and have been valued local members of the Ocracoke community for many years, with the Hutchersons serving as the owners of the Ocracoke Variety Store and the True Value Hardware Store.
The Towers are flying in from Florida for the May 18 celebration, and while they’re not full-time residents of Ocracoke, they have deep roots in the community that began with the four siblings’ mother, Jean, who was affectionately known in local circles as “Pokey.”
“She discovered Ocracoke Island in the 1950s, and she loved it here and started coming whenever she could,” said Wells. “She made a lot of local friends and started bringing her children here too, starting when they were little kids.”
Now grown up with decades of Ocracoke Island memories, the four siblings – Betsy, John, Bill, and Agnes – contributed to the Island Commons in their mother’s honor.
“She must have been a great mom, because the siblings did this all for her, and the whole front side of the fig garden is dedicated in her memory,” said Wells.
The event is being held rain or shine, and Wells is hopeful that the celebration will attract great weather and a big island crowd to show support, appreciation, and gratitude for these donors who made a transformative difference.
“Everyone is welcome, and we hope we have a good crowd,” said Wells. “We had big and very expensive plans for last year, and would never have been able to cover it and be where we are today if it wasn’t for these folks.”
How you can help the OPS and the Island Inn project
Donations are always accepted for the ongoing Island Inn and Island Commons projects, online and can be made via the OPS website. More information on the OPS, which includes a link to the online gift shop, can be found at https://www.ocracokepreservationsociety.org/shop.
