History of Pecan Tree Inn
Beaufort, N.C.

The Pecan Tree Inn sits on a lot deeded to the Franklin Masonic Lodge in 1866 by Rebecca Piggott. The laying of the cornerstone was celebrated by members of the lodge, and of the other lodges in town, all decked out in full regalia. The parade proceeded down Front Street to the Queen Street site.

Being one of the larger buildings in Beaufort, the Franklin Lodge doubled as a schoolhouse. Subsequent years saw it used for Sunday School, a tea house, a doctor's office and an apartment house (popular with students at the Duke Marine Labs). Long-time Beaufort residents still stop by from time to time to share stories of taking music lessons in what is now our Burgundy Room, or taking afternoon tea in the dining room.  Hugh Jones converted the Lodge into his private residence in 1900, adding five bedrooms and three beautiful Victorian porches. The Jones house was the first in Beaufort to have gas lighting, indoor plumbing and a telephone, according to legend. It's said that Mrs. Jones insisted that the phone be installed on a pine tree in the yard in case it were to attract a lightning strike.  The Jones house was converted to an inn in 1992 by Joe and Susan Johnson. 

Inn for All Seasons

Beaufort is alive year-round. The white sandy beaches of Cape Lookout, Shackleford Banks and Atlantic Beach are nearby. Historic Beaufort has well over 100 beautifully restored 18th and 19th century homes, the Old Burying Grounds, the North Carolina Maritime Museum and a growing collection of fine restaurants and shops. Our protected, deep-water harbor is a favorite port of call for yachts from around the world.   You might say that Beaufort is Nantucket with a southern drawl.

Beaufort is also a budding center of "ecotourism," with nature excursions by kayak, sail or power boat. The area offers some of the best bird watching in the state. Salt water fly fishers flock to town for the fall run of false albacore around Cape Lookout.  There is no lovelier spot for taking a walk or a bike ride or just relaxing on one of our three porches or on the serene brick terrace by the fountain. Cap your day with a private tour of Old Beaufort by evening in Tony Russell's horse-drawn carriage.

Pecan Tree Inn Gardens

The 5,000-square foot English flower and herb garden, one of the outstanding gardens on the North Carolina coast, is a "must-see" for visitors to Beaufort. The collection of flowers, shrubs and herbs includes many unusual varieties not often grown in this area. Among the plants is a crinum lily, propagated at Juniper Level Botanic Gardens and named "Pecan Tree Inn." The garden's intersecting stone paths frame a vast collection of bulbs and perennials that provide sumptuous color through most of the year.