There’s some weird crap in North Carolina that nobody knows about except for everyone who can google but me — so consider this the ultimate guide for your next NC road trip. I’ll be your snarky shepherd, you can be my dumb sheep, and I will lead you to all the wild and wonderful places in the state that no one really cares about because they get hung up on silly attractions like the Outer Banks and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Some of these destinations I have been to myself; others are just waiting in the wings for me to show up and question my life choices. I’m not saying that all of them are worth your time — but I AM saying that they’re all worth making this dumb list. Enjoy.
Shangri-La Miniature Stone Village
I’m starting with the ones I’ve actually been to, because I’m not afraid to admit it. Believe it or not, this quirky little spot is actually listed on visitnc.com and isn’t far outside of the Triangle. Let’s start with the “official” description, and then I’ll drop some knowledge.
“Shangri-La is a village in Prospect Hill, but it’s not like any other village you’ve ever visited; it’s a storybook town with buildings that are around five feet tall and made of stone from a local quarry,” writes the ghost writer, who had clearly never made the trip before.
Look, I’m not going to dump all over Shangri-La, because the man who created it — Henry Warren — started handcrafting the village back in 1968 (make of that what you will) from hand-picked rocks. The dude had a VISION, and by 1972, all 27 tiny buildings were complete, including a school, church, theater, hospital, and a mill.
What was the point of the village or the name? God knows. I’m not sure what I expected when I made the trip, but it’s right next to the highway (so don’t get hit when you pull over). Once there, you can touch the small buildings, stand in front of a fake donkey for a picture, and … that’s it. Thanks, Henry!
American Museum of the House Cat
I collect cats like Thanos collects Infinity Stones, so I have absolutely no problem admitting that this purr-fect parlor is definitely on my bucket list. It is located in Sylva (near Asheville), and they’re rocking more than 5,000 “cat-related curiosities.”
I have absolutely no idea what that means, but from pictures it looks like a strange combination of creepy and fun. They even have a petrified cat and a “bronze of the feline goddess Bastet” that dates back to 600 BC.
I’m not sure if they’re exchanging souls or ketchup-based BBQ with someone in Egypt, but they’re getting the goods somehow. The museum is open from April to December, and admission is $7.50 for adults, $2 for kids 6–12, and free for anyone under 6. All profits go to the Catman2 Shelter, a unique cage-free no-kill cat adoption center. Make the trip, and tell them Fuquay Memes sent you (that won’t actually help you at all, it’s simply an ego thing).
The Devil’s Tramping Ground
No, we’re not talking about Holly Springs — the Devil’s Tramping Ground is located in the boonies near Siler City. Yes, it may sound like a really cool, millennial-owned brewery, but it’s actually just a circle of bare earth about 20 feet across that mysteriously refuses to grow vegetation. Allegedly, even the local wildlife avoids it. The squirrels are like, “ain’t no way.”
There have been plenty of articles written about it going as far back as one published in 1882 by the Wilmington Morning Star. I have no idea what they said, but I’m assuming it was something like, “… dark and perilous be the paths that lead hither, where shadows dwell and ill fortune doth abound,” or something.
People swear that anything placed inside the circle after dusk is moved outside the circle before dawn, though that’s probably just some dude called Don who’s trying to keep the legend alive. But hey, give it a try and report back.
The Big Coffee Pot
Yeah, it’s exactly what it sounds like. In the Moravian Village of Old Salem, located in Winston-Salem, you’ll find the Mickey Pot, the oldest giant roadside coffee pot in all of North America … because, like, why would anyone else do this?
It’s named after Julius and Sam Mickey, who made it to advertise their silversmith business in 1858 — businessmen with a tacky flair who were way ahead of their time. The giant tin pot is 7 feet 3 inches tall and could theoretically hold 11,840 cups of brew. I don’t know how they could even know that, but the internet has never steered me wrong said so.
The Last Shell Oil Clamshell Station
While you’re out and about in Winston-Salem, taking in the sights and the giant coffee pots, swing by the corner of Sprague and Peachtree Streets to see the last Shell Oil clamshell station in the United States. This bright yellow relic originally erected in the 1930s now sits abandoned in town.
The station remained open until the 1950s and then housed a lawn mower repair business in the 1970s and ’80s, because that makes perfect sense. In 1976, it became the first station in America to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s a bright yellow clamshell. You can’t miss it.
World’s Largest Chest of Drawers and Highboy
High Point is the Home Furnishings Capital of the World, and they’ve really run with their reputation. On Hamilton Street, a 1920s-era chest of drawers, known back then as the “Bureau of Information,” heralds visitors’ arrival to furniture city. In 1996, the original 20-foot structure was converted into a 36-foot Goddard-Townsend block-front chest (whatever that means).
Apparently two giant socks poking out of a drawer symbolize the city’s hosiery heritage. I’m sorry, what? Who is giving this town their identity? From now on let’s agree to call it Spanx City, just for fun.
Anyways, one giant chest of drawers in Spanx City wasn’t enough — the folks at Furnitureland South in nearby Jamestown erected a massive highboy that can be seen off of I-85, standing at 80 feet tall. You really can’t miss it, but you’ll probably want to.
Kindred Spirit Mailbox
Before I finish this article and leave you super confused, I really wanted to add something that was actually pretty cool (as if the cat museum wasn’t enough). If you’re ever near Bird Island on Sunset Beach, you might want to make a special trip to visit the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. On a secluded stretch of beach, pretty far from the nearest public access point, sits a mailbox with a bench next to it. In the mailbox there are journals, and visitors are invited to jot down their innermost thoughts, hopes, dreams, or favorite Bojangles order.
The mailbox was made famous by the Nicholas Sparks bestseller Every Breath, but it existed long before the book did. The walk to the mailbox is about 1.5 miles, but you can always take a bike if you’re old and stuff. The journals are chock-full of people’s memories, losses, and other topics that’ll probably send you straight to a therapist. Have fun!
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