Three Generations of BBQ Perfection
Our BBQ History
Sam's grandfather, the late Pete Jones, opened the legendary Skylight Inn at age 17 where Sam has been involved since a very early age. Skylight Inn was founded in the summer of 1947 on fresh whole hogs being cooked over wood the same way many generations before Pete did it. Since that time, the Skylight Inn has become a standard in eastern NC barbecue. Known for its rich family history and unwavering dedication to cooking barbecue, the Skylight Inn has stayed true to its roots.
In 1979, National Geographic published a book entitled Back Roads America and basically proclaimed Pete Jones’ Skylight Inn to be some of the best Barbecue in the country.
Our BBQ History
Sam's grandfather, the late Pete Jones, opened the legendary Skylight Inn at age 17 where Sam has been involved since a very early age. Skylight Inn BBQ was founded in the summer of 1947 on fresh whole hogs being cooked over wood the same way many generations before Pete did it. Since that time, Skylight Inn BBQ has become a standard in eastern N.C. barbecue. Known for its rich family history and unwavering dedication to cooking barbecue, Skylight Inn BBQ has stayed true to its roots.
In 1979, National Geographic published a book entitled “Back Roads America” and proclaimed Skylight Inn BBQ to be some of the best barbecue in the country.
Just a few years later in 1982, Pete’s barbecue got the attention of some politicians and he was invited to serve his barbecue at a congressional bowl. There, President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush delighted in the wonderful smoke-flavored pork and followed up with a letter to Pete and son Bruce stating how great the barbecue was.
Skylight’s pigs were simmering with success as local and national newspapers and magazines continued to write about this place in Ayden, N.C. People magazine featured Skylight Inn in 1991 and success continued. In 1999, an article in GQ magazine stated, “Pete Jones was a man among pigs.” Southern Living magazine also has featured the Skylight Inn several times, including naming Pete’s grandson Sam as “one of the top 10 pitmasters in the South” in 2012.
In 2003, Skylight Inn BBQ received its most prestigious award referred to by many as “the Oscars for culinary arts.” In a new award category, the James Beard Foundation honored the Jones family by naming Skylight Inn BBQ an America’s Classic.
Since then, Skylight Inn BBQ has been featured on television networks such as the Travel Channel, Food Network and the History Channel. It has also continued to be featured in numerous publications, such as Our State magazine and Details magazine. In 2006, Details magazine chose Skylight Inn BBQ for having one of the “Top 22 sandwiches” in America. A year later, Skylight Inn BBQ was featured on the CBS Morning Show.
Although Pete passed away in February 2006, his legacy and mark on barbecue are still going strong. Skylight Inn BBQ is now operated by Pete’s son Bruce, nephew Jeff and grandson Sam who are very proud and dedicated to carrying on the legacy that Pete left. The pits still smoke, and the fire burns brighter than ever.
In 2015, Pete’s grandson, Sam Jones, partnered with longtime friend and former Skylight employee Michael Letchworth to open Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, N.C. Rooted in the tradition of eastern North Carolina whole hog technique that Sam has known his entire life, Sam Jones BBQ also offers a variety of new spins on smoked meats. A second location of the restaurant opened in downtown Raleigh, N.C. in 2021.
