One of North Carolina’s most fascinating roadside attractions is the Shangri-La Stone Village, at 11535 NC-86, Prospect Hill, NC. It’s 17 miles north of Hillsborough and 31 miles north of Chapel Hill, so it’s an easy day trip for anyone in the Triangle, or a great little side trip for visitors.
Henry Warren, a retired tobacco farmer, started creating the village in 1968, at the age of 72, as a hobby. He chose the rocks from a local quarry and built the whole village himself, by hand.
The village is nothing short of magical, with a school, a mill, a theater and much more. In all there are 27 intricately created buildings, each approximately five feet tall.
Learn about more roadside attractions in North Carolina.
Visitors are welcome to pull over and tour the village any time. There’s no cost. There’s even a guest book, in a mailbox, so make sure to leave a message and let the owners know how much you have enjoyed the village.
While you’re in the area, make sure to check out nearby Hillsborough, which is itself a small town with an oversized amount of art and quirkiness. Here’s a guide to visiting Hillsborough, NC. And keep reading for a calendar of upcoming events in Hillsborough. (But first, check out some more pictures of Shangri-La Stone Village!)
Upcoming Events in Hillsborough
Please keep checking back, because we are adding events to the calendar all the time.
