Before we get into the list of amazing abandoned places in North Carolina. Let’s look at some incredible North Carolina facts and history. You can also watch the YouTube video at the end of this blog to virtually explore these locations.
Introduction
North Carolina is a state in the United States. It is the 29th largest state and the 9th most populous state, with a population of over 2,079,687 as of 2019. North Carolina is known as ‘The Tar Heel Steel.’
In 1729, this state is designated as a royal colony. In 1789, North Carolina was admitted to the Union and granted statehood. Raleigh is the largest city in Charlotte and the state capital of North Carolina. Because this state has been around for so long, there are many historic and unique things to discover.
This state is distinguished by a diverse range of elevations and landscapes, such as the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which houses the world’s first successful aeroplane. The flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it changed the course of human history.
It is home to many famous musicians and has the most American Idol finalists of any state in the country. This state’s residents are more interested in music. People are also interested in sweet potatoes, and North Carolina has 50,000 acres of land dedicated to sweet potato farming. Sweet potatoes grown here are sold all over the country.
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is also a historical university in the United States, as well as the state’s oldest public university. It began accepting students in 1785 and now accepts over 29,000 students each semester.
Now, let’s look at a list of abandoned places in North Carolina that you can visit as a tourist. Some places are dangerous, some are historical, and some are off-limits to the public.
List of Abandoned Places In NC
1, Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, Claremont
A charming little historical bridge that has been transformed into a park. To preserve the historical significance of the bridge, it is well maintained. It is North Carolina’s oldest but most durable bridge. It has limited space and a short walking trail.
A small portion of the walking trail was damaged and washed away as a result of flooding in 2020. As a result, there will be a fence over there, so do not attempt to cross it. It needs to be repaired as soon as possible, and because the people of North Carolina care about the historical site, it will be done so in the near future.
The lower parking lot has a picnic area that feels private and has shade. Graffiti has been sprayed all over the woods, detracting from their natural beauty.
Details of the place
Site: https://www.catawbahistory.org/our-sites/bunker-hill-covered-bridge
Phone Number: +1 828-465-0383
Address: 4160 US-70, Claremont, NC 28610, United States
2, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Theme Park
It is one of North Carolina’s most successful theme parks. And it has lost the history behind the beautiful Wizard of Oz themes; it was opened in 1970 and was successful even at that time, with over 4000 visitors per year.
However, on December 28, 1975, this theme park was destroyed by fire, and it was forced to close for many years as a result. Then, on July 4, 1991, it was reopened for the second time. The owner then began restoring portions of the park for future years in order to make them look like old ones.
There are many activities organised here with OZ themes, as well as many shows, events, museums, Emerald city set up, Omaha vendor fair, petting zoo, and pony rides. The money raised from these events is used to restore and add new items that are adventurous and attract a lot of visitors.
Details of the place
Site: https://www.landofoznc.com/
Phone Number: +1 828-222-0770
Address: 2669 S Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604, United States
3, Abandoned Coast Guard Station, Pea Island
This location was built in 1889 and demolished in 1988. It now looks like an empty house, and you can go inside. The Guard station is located in a very peaceful area, and only a few people are aware of its existence.
This station was closed because a new station was built just 2 miles away, just next to it. It is a one-of-a-kind location that was home to ocean surf rescue crews after the 1800s.
Another reason it was closed was that it was difficult to maintain, and after the construction of the new station, this location was neglected in terms of maintenance. It’s a fun place to visit because it has the best surf and fishing on the outer banks.
Details of the place
Site: http://abnf.co/NC-coast_guard_station_nc.htm
4, Stonewall Jackson Reform School, Concord
This facility was created for teenagers who had committed a crime because they couldn’t live in a prison with adult criminals. The campus is 800 acres in size, with 58 acres still in use.
The best part is that it is close to the road and won’t take you long to explore. You can take pictures here, and there is also some side parking. However, for safety reasons, keep an eye on the fence that surrounds the area.
In the 1920s, there were 500 students who lived here and were subjected to the same harsh punishments. Just keep in mind that this location is on the right side of Charlotte Road.
Details of the place
Address: Southern Railway #1157
Concord, North Carolina, 28027
United States
5, Road To Nowhere
It’s more like an unfinished place that became famous solely because of the way it is. On Google Maps, it is known as Lakeshore Drive, but locals refer to it as the Road to Nowhere.
The name “road to nowhere” refers to a simple road that ends in a tunnel, but there are no roads on the other side of the tunnel to continue the drive. Because of environmental concerns and acidic rainfall, the construction of this location was postponed.
The drive is 3.2 miles long and ends abruptly at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Another reason to visit this location is the abundance of hiking opportunities. The tunnel is worth seeing because there is a lot of graffiti inside.
Details of the place
Address: Lakeview Dr E, North Carolina 28713, USA
6, Laurinburg-Maxton Aircraft Boneyard
This area encompasses 1800 acres and houses a variety of businesses and industries. This location is all about retired planes from various armies that have been parked here. All of the vintage planes are parked here as well.
The only restriction is that no one can enter it for obvious reasons, but you can take pictures from afar and trespassers can be arrested because there are many strict rules and regulations in place here.
7, Old Cannon Hospital
This hospital is also on the list of haunted places in North Carolina, and it has been abandoned for a variety of reasons. It was constructed in 1961 and decommissioned in 1999.
The main reason for this location’s abandonment is that the hospital was merged with a neighbouring city hospital, and since that time, this location has been vacant with no one caring for it.
According to locals, this location is not haunted; it is simply a thought of people who don’t know the main reason why it was abandoned, and it is simply an empty place where you can visit during the day and take some classic photos.
Details of the place
Address: Banner Elk, NC 28604, United States
This concludes our list of the best abandoned places to visit, some of which are virtually depicted in our YouTube video. You can see it below, but this blog contains the complete version of this topic.
And if you have any doubts related to the post or the place then let us know through the comment section. You can share your experience if you have visited any of these places. Also, do check out our latest post on the Best cities for an introvert.
Oz isn’t abandoned. And it didn’t close in 1975. I visited as a child in 1978 or 79. The area has been open at least 1 weekend a month and mot recently a weekend or two each month in the summers. Telling people it is abandoned has caused people to trespass, steal yellow bricks from the road & just generally ruin the area & cost $ to repair or replace.
This states the population of NC as 2,079,687. That is the population of Raleigh/Durham/Cary metropolitan area according to Wikipedia. According to that same source, the state population is 10,453,948.
Might wanna check out The Henry River Mill Village in Henry River, NC. It’s abandoned now, but plans are to restore the village. Restorations have already started.
By the way, a lot of people spell it with two words Tar Heel(s) as does the University of NC. But, many of us “old timers” from the eastern part of NC where the pine groves and pine swamps are located that produced the turpentine from the sticky pine sap or pine tar sometimes use the singular “Tarheel”. Either way is fine kinda like potato or pototoh lol!