Silver Lake Motel is quaint, charming, and convenient. It’s situated in the center of Ocracoke Village, on the southern end of the island of Ocracoke, North Carolina, sometimes called “The Pearl of the Outer Banks.” Once the stomping grounds of Blackbeard the pirate, the island has become a popular vacation spot, due in large part to its seventeen miles of sparkling white sand beaches. The motel takes its name from its proximity to Silver Lake Harbor, which can be seen from the verandas. Gift shops and restaurants line the harbor, which is only a short walk or bike ride away.
Accommodations at the Silver Lake Motel include traditional hotel rooms or suites, complete with separate living rooms, full kitchens, and a porch or deck. The hotel boasts spiral staircases, spacious, breezy verandas, a courtyard complete with fountain, and lush wooded grounds. From the hammocks on the balconies, it’s possible to watch the sun rise over Silver Lake, and then set over Puget Sound. For the more energetic, the island offers parasailing opportunities, kayak rentals, tours of the Sound, live music at the Deepwater Theater, beaches with lifeguards on duty, and of course, Teach’s Hole Blackbeard Exhibit. The island, outside of the village, is owned and by the National Park service, which maintains a nature reserve, complete with a herd of wild ponies.
The Silver Lake Motel is open from April through October. A perfect time to visit is the first full weekend in June, when the Ocracoke Festival is held, with free entertainment in the form of musicians, storytellers, and arts and crafts exhibits. It’s also a wonderful place to spend the fourth of July, which is celebrated with a parade, entertainers including an actor playing Blackbeard, and sky-jump displays. The hotel serves free continental breakfasts each morning, and free wireless internet is available throughout the premises. For reservations, phone 252.928.5721.