North Carolina

8 strangest attractions in North Carolina include ones in Asheville, Beech Mountain

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2025

8 strangest attractions in North Carolina include ones in Asheville, Beech Mountain

North Carolina has plenty of unusual landmarks and roadside attractions – WorldAtlas writers chose eight of the strangest, including several from Western N.C.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics and travel. Previously, the publication has put out lists on eccentric towns, best main streets, unique traditions and more in N.C. alone.

Here’s what WorldAtlas said about these eight “unusual and unexpected” attractions plus the full list.

World’s Largest Chest of Drawers – High Point

As the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World,” it’s no wonder High Point houses a testament to their title.

Built in 1926 and renovated in 1996, the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers stands 36 feet high above city streets. The chest of drawers isn’t the only nod to the area’s history – a mismatched pair of two giant socks hanging from the drawers reference the city’s hosiery industry.

WorldAtlas mentions that the landmark is particularly unusual due to its “perfect attention to detail,” with drawers, handles and “socks” built to scale.

Land of Oz Theme Park – Beech Mountain

The first attraction on the list located in WNC is the Land of Oz Theme Park high up in Beech Mountain. The theme park was opened in 1970 and while it closed in 1980, still hosts a yearly “Autumn at Oz” festival featuring food & craft vendors, official Land of Oz souvenirs and Wizard of Oz memorabilia for sale, face painting and more.

In 2024, the festival was held during three September weekends. In 2025, tickets will go on sale in June.

“Props and characters from the original park create an eerily magical atmosphere that blends nostalgia with mountain mist,” WorldAtlas said.

Last Shell-Shaped Shell Station – Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem’s shell-shaped Shell Station is another landmark full of history. The station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the last remaining example of Shell Oil’s experimental architecture program from the 1930s.

The building still serves as a small office space, but its restored exterior and surrounding garden remains a “stunning example of programmatic architecture.”

Devil’s Tramping Ground – Bear Creek

A haunting entry on the list, the Devil’s Tramping Ground in Chatham County is a mysterious bare circle known for its inexplicable inability to support plant life despite multiple attempts. This mystery has led local folklore to suggest – as the name implies – that the devil paces in circles on the circular patch, planning mischief.

Scientists have studied the soil within the circle, which has a diameter of roughly 40 feet, but have been unable to find an explanation for its uncultivatable nature. History of interest over the site stretches back to the 1800s, with countless reports of its strange characteristics.

If that wasn’t odd enough, many visitors have reported strange compass behavior in the circle.

Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky – Raleigh

In the state’s capital on the grounds of the NC Museum of Art sits a stone building known as the Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky. Created by artist Chris Drury, the chamber functions as a “camera obscura” projecting an image of the sky and trees outside onto the chamber floor.

An ancient principle, the camera obscura featured in the chamber requires no electricity – only a tiny hole in the roof. As visitors’ eyes adjust, the outside world casts ghostly, inverted shadows onto the building’s stone floor.

House of Mugs – Collettsville

Housed in Caldwell County is a house that lives up to its name. The House of Mugs, created by Avery and Doris Sisk, is covered in more than 30,000 coffee mugs. The landmark began with a few mugs nailed to the house and “grew into an obsession.”

According to WorldAtlas, visitors are welcome to bring mugs to add to the collection, giving each mug its own story. Many mugs bear messages from donors, and the collection continues to grow.

“Local residents help maintain the display, ensuring this unique piece of folk art endures,” WorldAtlas said.

Helen’s Bridge – Asheville

Helen’s Bridge is not only located in WNC, but in Asheville itself. WorldAtlas called the bridge “one of the most haunting landmarks in North Carolina” due to its gothic architecture, isolated location and “ghostly reputation.”

Built in 1909, the legend surrounding the bridge dictates that Helen, a woman who lived in a nearby mansion, hanged herself from the bridge after her daughter died in a fire. Her spirit is said to still appear when her name is called. There are reports from people who have attempted to call her of cars refusing to start when they try to leave.

Shangri-La Stone Village – Prospect Hill

Last but not least is the Shangri-La Stone Village in Caswell County. Built by retired tobacco farmer Henry Warren between 1968-1977, the miniature village is made of “dozens of intricate buildings crafted from tiny stones, arrowheads, and pieces of colorful glass.”

The buildings show great attention to detail, including tiny stained glass windows, scaled architecture, and structures including a church, hotel, theater and hospital. To add to the historical component of the village, Warren used stones collected from counties across N.C. to create the buildings.

Strangest landmarks in North Carolina

As a recap, the full list of WorldAtlas’ strangest landmark in N.C.:

World’s Largest Chest of Drawers – High Point
Land of Oz Theme Park – Beech Mountain
Last Shell-Shaped Shell Station – Winston-Salem
Devil’s Tramping Ground – Bear Creek
Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky – Raleigh
House of Mugs – Collettsville
Helen’s Bridge – Asheville
Shangri-La Stone Village – Prospect Hill

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

Families locked out of NC State graduation ceremony: ‘Ridiculous’

Published

12 hours ago

May 9, 2026

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Families locked out of NC State graduation ceremony: ‘Ridiculous’

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A graduation ceremony for NC State University’s Department of Biological Sciences at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday night left hundreds of family members outside, frustrated and emotional after they were not allowed into the building.

Inside, graduates were met with pomp and circumstance as they walked across the stage to accept their degrees.

Outside, people shouted in confusion as they realized they would not be permitted to enter.

“I’m hurt. She’s hurting. We’re hurt,” said Dr. Darlene Jackson, a grandmother from Winston-Salem. “They’re asking, can’t we get here? But this is ridiculous. Ridiculous.”

We get here, and we are turned away. That’s BS. It shouldn’t be happening like this. They did not plan this well,

– Sally Charlet, NCSU grandparent

Families said they arrived about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. ceremony, only to find a line wrapped around the building. Many said they were eventually told the venue had reached capacity.

“They are saying the fire marshal shut it down because it’s too crowded,” Jackson said. “They should have known how many occupy this. They should have had it in a different place.”

Sally Charlet said she flew in from Florida earlier in the day to watch her granddaughter graduate.

ALSO SEE | Donor surprises NCSU textile school grads by paying off loans

“We get here, and we are turned away,” she said. “That’s BS. It shouldn’t be happening like this. They did not plan this well, and they should have tickets. That would have made a lot of sense.”

According to GoPack.com, Reynolds Coliseum seats about 5,500 people.

Some families said they were especially devastated after years of supporting their students’ work.

This is awful, and it needs to be made right.

– Eddie McFall, NCSU parent

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“It’s very disheartening,” said Rhonda Bartone, whose son earned his Ph.D. In toxicology. “He did a five-year program getting his Ph.D., and we have no family. And they’re seeing him get his Ph.D. right now. We had to text his professor and ask him to please take some pictures of him. It’s hard not to cry.”

Several people outside shared photos sent by students inside showing empty seats.

“There was unfortunately not better planning for the hundreds of students, maybe even thousands of students, and, of course, thousands of students, even more people, parents, siblings, loved ones,” said Julia Norton, whose fiancé earned his Ph.D.

One father, Eddie McFall, who is also an alumnus of NC State, said he has three children at the university, including a senior graduating Friday.

“His mother was five feet from the door when they shut it down,” he said. “Won’t let anybody in there.”

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About 45 minutes after the ceremony began, someone came outside to address the remaining crowd. Families were told their only option was to watch a livestream from the student union or on their phones.

“I can go to my house and watch the livestream,” McFall said. “Who’s the event coordinator? Who from the school did this? This is awful, and it needs to be made right.”

NC State did not respond to questions about how the situation unfolded or why the event was not ticketed. The university said it provided a livestream for those unable to attend in person and had posted earlier in the week advising visitors to expect delays around the coliseum.

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North Carolina

Fifteen North Carolina co-op lineworkers help electrify rural Guatemala village

Published

24 hours ago

May 8, 2026

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Fifteen North Carolina co-op lineworkers help electrify rural Guatemala village

NORTH CAROLINA — Fifteen lineworkers from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives recently traveled to Guatemala to help bring first-time access to electricity to a rural village.

The group spent three weeks working in El Plan Nuevo Amanecer.

Crews constructed three miles of line, bringing power to more than 50 homes, a school, two churches and the community’s only health clinic.

Photo: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Without access to bucket trucks or heavy machinery, volunteers worked by hand across rugged terrain.

The project helped bring light to the village, creating new opportunities for education, economic growth and safer everyday life for the community.

The effort was done alongside NRECA International.

Volunteer lineworkers represented several North Carolina electric cooperatives, including EnergyUnited, Union Power Cooperative, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, Jones-Onslow EMC, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, South River EMC, Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation and Rutherford EMC.

Photo: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Pick 3 Day, Pick 3 Evening results for May 7, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, May 7, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 7 drawing

Day: 3-7-3, Fireball: 0

Evening: 3-5-8, Fireball: 9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 7 drawing

Day: 8-1-3-1, Fireball: 5

Evening: 7-1-5-3, Fireball: 4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from May 7 drawing

10-11-14-19-36

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from May 7 drawing

01-25-31-32-33

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 7 drawing

05-08-21-44-48, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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