New OPS Exhibit Features Ocracoke Island's Peak Year

A new exhibit at the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum will feature c. late-70's photos by pirate proprietor George Roberson. The display, titled "No Fools, No Fun," will prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the good times on Ocracoke peaked in the summer of 1977. 

"There were a couple of pretty good parties in the early 80's," admitted George. "But we all knew the decline had already begun."

What did O'cockers need for a party in 1977? Dunes, trucks, beer, firewood, fresh-caught fish, a couple of guitars. Boys and girls together. 

"Weren't nobody lookin' at their phones!" said an old-timer, who wished to remain anonymous, while re-living his youth during his first ever visit to the OPS museum. "We didn't need no wi-fi to get music from Pandora – we had Martin! We could stay all night at the break of the dunes and nobody run us off."

The exhibit induces a sense of melancholy in newcomers to the island, but so be it. OPS board president Philip Howard said, "We have to be honest with our visitors about what we didn't preserve." Placards under the photos will remind museum-goers: "However much fun you think you're having on Ocracoke today, just remember: they had more."

Some people manage to feel great about the photos.

"I wasn't even born yet in 1977," said OPS Director Allison O'Neal. "But just look at my handsome husband!" 

The truth is that although the OPS exhibit is April Fool's B.S., the peak of island fun really was in the 70's. Don't feel bad, I missed it, too. We had some fun in the early 90's, but not this much.

Thanks, dear readers, for indulging us on the most fun newsday of the whole year!