Seven generations of hospitality on Ocracoke Island.
Seven generations, held in the details
From the Pamlico Inn to Thurston House, a handful of keepsakes carried forward across the family who have called this island home.
About Thurston House Inn
Seven generations of hospitality, carried forward with vision and care.
The Pamlico Inn
When Captain William Gaskill built the Pamlico Inn on Ocracoke's Soundfront in the late 1800s, he began a family tradition of innkeeping that has endured for more than a century. Guests arrived by mailboat, greeted with warmth and welcome, until the Pamlico Inn was lost to the storm of 1944.
Thurston House is built
In the early 1920s, the Thurston House was constructed as the home of Captain Tony Thurston Gaskill, a beloved island guide. For over 75 years, it stood beneath the live oaks as both family home and landmark, a place where neighbors traded stories and travelers found rest by the sea.
Restored, and the tradition continues
In 1996, Captain Thurston's granddaughter, Marlene, and her husband, Randal Mathews, lovingly restored the house and opened it as a bed and breakfast. They later expanded with six guest rooms, each offering privacy and comfort. In 2005, Marlene's sister, Donna Boor, and her mother, Annie Louise Gaskill Gaskins, continued the tradition, welcoming guests with the same spirit of care and continuity.
Olivia & Hunter take the helm
By 2025, a new chapter began. Olivia and Hunter—two lifelong lovers of the Outer Banks and Ocracoke—took up stewardship of Thurston House, determined to preserve its history while guiding it into the future. With roots in construction, real estate, and hospitality, they recognized the inn not merely as a property but as a living legacy. With the support of both families, they committed themselves to ensuring that this historic property reaches its full potential as a sanctuary for discerning guests.
Every detail reflects Hunter's romantic vision of Ocracoke. Handcrafted American Revival pieces are carefully curated, intentionally placed to evoke old-world feeling—the kind one senses walking barefoot down Howard Street or listening for echoes of pirates in the Spanish moss of Springer's Point.
Today, Thurston House is more than lodging. It is a purpose-built retreat for those who love the sea and seek authenticity—a gallery of the Outer Banks' soul offered on a platter for all who visit. And if you see Olivia or Hunter during your stay, don't hesitate to say hello. Here, hospitality begins with a handshake and a heart—and with an invitation to see the Outer Banks as they do: timeless, storied, and alive.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Your Hosts: Olivia & Hunter
A life built on salt air, scraped knuckles, and big faith.
We met the way two stars collide — unexpectedly, with gravity. Olivia was a D.C. girl working a summer job on the Outer Banks; Hunter was already anchored to this wild ribbon of sand. One summer turned into a vision: not a vacation, but a life.
We learned by doing — digging footings, stretching forty dollars, leaning on neighbors who showed up with tools and time. At twenty-two, with a napkin sketch and family grace, we built our first little home by hand — part treehouse, part tiny home, all heart.
That same grit and tenderness guide us here at Thurston House. We're stewarding a legacy with care — curating American Revival pieces, keeping lantern light on the porch, and preserving the soul of a century-old inn so it can welcome the next one.
“This isn't just lodging — it's a life we're still building, one guest, one season, one lantern at a time.”
If you spot us on the grounds, say hello. We lead with a handshake and our hearts — and we'd love to share the Ocracoke we fell for: timeless, storied, and alive.
Olivia & Hunter
Innkeepers since 2025
At the heart of Ocracoke — just as it has always been
When Captain Tony Thurston Gaskill built his home here nearly a century ago, he chose one of the most central and slightly higher spots on the island. That bit of elevation made the house safer, and during storms it often became a place where relatives gathered if their own homes were more vulnerable.
Tucked just off NC Highway 12, Thurston House remains at the crossroads of Ocracoke life. From our porch, you're minutes from the harbor, a stroll from shops and cafés, and a bike ride from Springer's Point or the lighthouse. Yet beneath the shelter of the oaks, evenings still feel worlds away — lantern light, salt air, and the quiet rhythm of the island.
Thurston wasn't kidding when he picked this spot. A hundred years later, it's still the heart of Ocracoke.
671 & 685 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocracoke, NC 27960
Come find the lantern on the porch
Tucked just off NC Highway 12, at the heart of the village.
Address
671 & 685 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocracoke, NC 27960