About SAM JONES BBQ

Family, Community, & BBQ

Sam Jones BBQ opened its doors in 2015 but the traditions that our restaurant was founded on began long before that. Around these parts, we know East North Carolina BBQ means cooking a whole hog over a wood-fired pit. As Sam Jones’ grandad used to say, “If it’s not cooked with wood, it’s not BBQ.” That’s how we feel, too, which is why we continue the legacy of whole-hog cooking, never compromising on quality and always doing it the right way. Today, you’ll find those old traditions mixed in with a few new ones we’ve cooked up over the years. We count ourselves lucky that we get to share our passion with you and hope you’ll come by for a meal real soon.

Three Generations of BBQ Tradition

The Skylight Inn Era

Sam's grandad, the late Pete Jones, opened the legendary Skylight Inn in 1947 at age 17. He served whole-hog BBQ, just like all those who came before him did over a century ago. Pete’s son Bruce and, eventually, his son Sam all continued the family tradition by working in the restaurant. They cooked hogs they raised and used wood from trees they chopped down themselves. It might not have been complicated, but the result of patiently cooking a hog over 16 hours, flipping it at just the right time to crisp up the skin made Pete Jones’ joint a beacon of quality BBQ.

Since that time, Skylight Inn BBQ has become a standard in Eastern North Carolina barbecue, known for its rich family history and unwavering dedication to cooking barbecue. Eventually, without anyone in the family paying much attention, their reputation spread outside of their community. 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, NC. 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 recognition - a James Beard Award. Sam flew up to New York to receive an award in a new category, naming Skylight Inn BBQ an American 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 included Skylight Inn BBQ in its “Top 22 Sandwiches” in America article. A year later, Skylight Inn BBQ was featured on the CBS Morning Show.

Pete passed away in February 2006, but his son Bruce, nephew Jeff, and grandson proudly kept the fires lit and legacy alive at Skylight.

A New Tradition

While at Skylight, Sam continued to travel around the country, excitedly sharing the ways of East North Carolina whole-hog BBQ. In 2013, Sam was invited to cook at an event in Charleston, SC. While there he saw how these long-practiced traditions had become so much bigger than their corner of the world and how much it meant to others. He also met pitmasters from all over, all with their own ideas of what BBQ should be. This event and others led to a community of chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and others who eventually encouraged (and pushed) him to start his own restaurant.

Resolved to take control of his own success, Sam knew he would need a partner who would always be in his corner. His mind only went to one person - Michael Letchworth. The two had known each other their whole lives and Michael had been a trustworthy member of the Skylight Inn team ever since Pete Jones had to leave the business back in 2004.

In 2014 the pair signed for a loan and began building in Winterville, NC. After some construction setbacks and struggles, Sam Jones BBQ opened on November 10, 2015. Awaiting them outside the door was a long line of supporters, including his bbq community that had encouraged him along the way.

Today, the tradition continues at both restaurant locations, and as much as things have changed, some things never will. Guests still come to Sam Jones BBQ for whole-hog BBQ that’s done the right way - cooked nice and slow over a wood-fueled pit. We’ll continue to share our passion for BBQ and keep on cookin’ because we believe the best thing about BBQ is the community it creates.