Wahab Industries
Ocracoke Island, Ocracoke, NC

In 1958 Robert Stanley Wahab had letterheads printed promoting his business interests on Ocracoke Island. These interests included the Wahab Village Hotel (later renamed Blackbeard’s Lodge) which housed the Wahab Village Theatre, the Silver Lake Hotel (the original Odd Fellows Lodge, and later renamed the Island Inn, which included the Wahab Coffee Shoppe and the “Beachcombers” Club), cottages, apartments, and hunting & fishing guides, and boat rentals.

Wahab’s letterhead included “General Information” about Ocracoke Island in a side panel. In addition to praising the island’s weather, Wahab called attention to Ocracoke as “one of the finest fishing grounds in America,” and as a superb winter duck hunting destination. He also made special mention of his hotel’s conveniences, including electric lights and running water. Wahab directs his reader’s attention to the daily mailboat from Atlantic, NC, and the relatively new Hatteras ferry (“three round trips daily”). He also mentions the island’s “landing field,” but neglects to point out that it is simply a wide stretch of tidal flats leading from the surf directly to the front of the Wahab Village Hotel.

Herewith Wahab’s Ocracoke Information:

Thirty miles off the coast of North Carolina lies Ocracoke Island, 16 miles long, with an average width of less than 1 mile. On the north it is bounded by Pamlico sound and Hatteras Inlet; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; both ocean and sound form the southern boundary and on the west the sound only.

Ocracoke’s unique geographical position accounts for a climate different, perhaps from that of any other place in North Carolina. Mild winters predominate. The summers are delightfully pleasant due to the breezes from the gulf stream and sound that blow incessantly over the island, regardless of the direction of the wind.

Ocracoke is a picturesque community laid out with old world irregularity sheltered by a wealth of beautiful shade trees. It is geographically maritime and just as maritime by tradition. The pursuits of the sea occupy most of its population of 850.

Recognized as one of the finest fishing grounds in America, it also supplies sea food in great abundance and variety. More channel bass are caught at Ocracoke than at any other point on the Atlantic coast. Channel bass fishing is one of its greatest attractions and many prominent American sportsmen have made Ocracoke their headquarters for that reason and also for the fine duck, brant and goose hunting in the winter.

The Village of Ocracoke is on the south end of the island, adjacent to the inlet, and is built around a beautiful salt water lake which has recently been dredged by the Government to form the world’s finest small boat harbor for boats up to 14 ft. draft.

Ocracoke Island has daily mail service, and telephone service, [our] own electric power and ice plant.

A beautiful all year around resort on the beach facing the ocean, is known as Wahab Village. Here well-furnished, comfortable cottages may be procured at reasonable rates by the day, week or month, Electric lights, running water and proximity to everything on the island are added conveniences. Wahab Village Hotel [is] open all the year. Has excellent accommodations at very reasonable rates – European Plan.

Ocracoke is reached by boat, daily and Sundays from Atlantic. Also by free ferry for automobiles and passengers from Hatteras, three round trips daily.

On the beach, at Wahab Village, is a landing field for airplanes, about three-eighths of a mile eastwardly from Ocracoke Light House. For charter plane service, call or write Bill Cochran, Phone Ocracoke WA-8-3221.