From the mountains to the beaches, North Carolina has scenic views and unique sights spanning the length of the state. If you're looking for ideas for a summer road trip or day trip to visit some of the most interesting and unique spots, there are dozens of places to explore. From castles to spaceships, from miniature stone villages to an underwater ghost town, here are some of the most incredible places you can visit in North Carolina.
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1. Castle McCulloch in Jamestown, NC
The stone walls of Castle McCulloch date back to the 1800s, when it functioned as a gold refinery for the Jamestown area, where gold mines were plentiful. Today, the castle looks like a scene from a fantasy movie – complete with an old wooden bridge over a picturesque moat and lantern-lit cobblestone pathways.
The event venue is available for rentals, but they also offer regular public tours. People are advised to call ahead to see if tours are being offered that day.
By the way, Castle McCulloch isn't the only castle in North Carolina. Want to visit more North Carolina castles? Here's a list, with photos.
2. Road to Nowhere in Bryson City, NC
Deep in the North Carolina mountains is a winding 6-mile stretch of road that ends in an abandoned tunnel that leads ... nowhere.
Known as the Road to Nowhere, its fascinating story involves an underwater ghost town called Judson that rests beneath the nearby Lake Fontana. Judson disappeared beneath the man-made lake during WWII, when the federal government needed more hydroelectric power to create an atom bomb. The people living in Judson sold their homes and land, most of which was flooded. However, some of the homes, schools, stores and even family grave sites were left back in the woods. The government promised to build a road to help people access what remained of their home -- but it was never completed.
Today, you can visit the tunnel at the end of the Road to Nowhere, and see Lake Fontana way down below -- with a ghost town hidden underneath.
3. Land of Oz Theme Park on Beech Mountain, NC
"Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that you heard of once in a lullaby," and it's right here in North Carolina.
Way at the top of the highest resort on the East Coast, visiting the Land of Oz really is like stepping into another world. Unlike traditional theme parks, Oz was originally designed from the perspective of a child, and it was built into the landscape itself -- with the yellow brick road swirling between mountain crags, waterfalls pouring down stony outcrops, and giant mushrooms and trees 'growing' alongside the natural environment. Dorothy's house overlooks a scenic view from the mountainside. The organic design makes it feel like a real place, not a park.
Built in the 1970s, it closed its green Oz gate in the 1980s and sat vacant for many years. However, several years ago it re-opened its gates to the public – but only on very specific dates and times, so getting a ticket can be competitive. From their website, it looks like they will announce their Autumn dates in the next few months. They offer a newsletter subscription for those who want an early opportunity to get tickets.
4. UFO House in Frisco, NC
Around 50 years ago, a flying saucer landed in Dare County. Ever since, it's been a popular roadside attraction, dropping jaws and encouraging selfies from travelers driving down Highway 12.
The spacecraft is actually a Futuro House, which were round pre-fab homes designed in the late 60s and early 70s. Leroy Reynolds, who owns the home, but not the property it sits on, said he wants to turn the so-called "Frisco UFO" into a "living museum." Plans for a museum are on-hold, but you can still drive past the landmark, which is featured on the Outer Banks website.
5. Shangri-La miniature stone village in Prospect Hill, NC
Did you know North Carolina has a miniature, magical village built of stone and quartz quarried from the nearby earth?
Walk the enchanting cobblestone streets of Shangri-La, which was built over 50 years ago by a retired tobacco farmer.
With 27 miniature stone buildings, including a church, a school, a library and a hospital, Shangri-La has stood for more than 50 years – the smallest village in the state and one of the seven wonders of North Carolina.
6. Hartleyhenge: The Stonehenge of NC in Chapel Hill
Amid the hustle and bustle of modern neighborhoods around Chapel Hill sits a quiet oasis, hidden in a grassy field beneath sapphire skies. The cryptic stone spiral is surrounded by colorful flowering trees and towering slabs of stone engraved with poetic messages.
The refuge, known as Stone Knoll by the man who created it decades ago, is commonly considered the Stonehenge of North Carolina.
Here are a collection of photos of the peaceful space.
7. Occoneechee Speedway: Abandoned 1940s NASCAR track in Hillsborough, NC
You'd likely never expect to find a 1940's era NASCAR track frozen in time in the middle of the woods -- but that's where you'll find remnants of the historic Occoneechee Speedway.
The last remaining dirt speedway from NASCAR's inaugural 1949 season, the one-mile, oval speedway was active for 20 years. In the quiet woods, it's hard to imagine legends like Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Louise Smith and Junior Johnson once raced here. But today, the rusted race cars, old grandstands and remnants of the track remain as a testament to that time.
You can visit and explore the site for yourself. The website has more information on the location and hours.
8. Remnants of the Underground Railroad in Halifax, NC
If you enjoy secret tunnels, here's another one for you: A 200-year-old stone aqueduct that was built by enslaved men -- who later used it to help people escape slavery as part of the Underground Railroad.
You can walk along the top of the centuries-old aqueduct, then wind around a trail that lets you walk up beneath it for the full view.
That's not the only remnant of the Underground Railroad in Halifax County. This is the only place in NC with three registered historic sites on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. In this quiet rural community, you can touch tangible remnants of this painful and often-forgotten past.
Aside from the aqueduct, there's a jail, nearly two centuries old, that once held captive fugitives who had attempted to escape slavery. There's also an Underground Railroad Trail with historic signage showing real 'escaped slave ads' from the 1800s. The trail leads to the Roanoke River, which was a major 'freedom road' on the Underground Railroad.
For more information and photos, check here.
9. Colonial ghost town from the 1700s in Brunswick Town, NC
North Carolina has several ghost towns. Some are hidden atop mountains; others are flooded by lakes. In Brunswick County, you can walk through the ruins of an entire Colonial-era town from the 1700s that was wiped off the map.
Built prior to the Revolutionary War, Brunswick Town took a beating during the war. However, hollowed-out, brick skeleton of an old Anglican church are still standing today, allowing visitors to step inside a nearly 300-year-old structure. Keep wandering, and you'll find stone footprints and foundations of homes and shops that once stood in this thriving coastal town. There's even a giant foundation of one of the original governor's mansions.
In the 1800s, the ruins of the ghost town became the site of a Civil War fort. Today, the remains of the 1700s town and 1800s fort can be explored by visitors – who can now take a walk through a colonial ghost town.
Want to explore a real-life ghost town? It's free and open to the public!