Weird Carolinas: Your Travel Guide to North and South Carolina's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

Weird Travel Guides

by Roger Manley, Mark Sceurman (Editor), Mark Moran (Editor)

Focusing on the bizarre, a collection of entertaining, illustrated travel guides features a host of oddball curiosities, ghosts and haunted places, local legends, cursed roads, crazy characters, and unusual roadside attractions that can be found throughout the United States.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, History, Paranormal

253 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Anthony De Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I neat collection of stories about oddities and haunts around the Carolinas - what more could you want from another “Weird” book? Though I definitely feel like this could’ve been split and North & South Carolina could have both had their own books with even more cool stuff packed in

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection, for the most part, of weird people, places , and occurrences in the Carolinas, more heavily weighted it seemed to NC. I would love to visit a few of these places, and wish my wingman were around to take them in together. Some of the stuff I just skimmed over, such as the ghost stories, but what I read was pretty good.

[Molly Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

For starters, we Carolinians hate being lumped together. Personally, I think each state has more than enough weird people, places and things that two books could have been written.

As a native and lifelong Carolinian du Nord (minus that one year as a Virginian kid), I had heard about a good chunk of the things in this book already, but was surprised to learn some new bits of weirdness, as well. I felt some weird items could have been described in fewer words, while many others were given the most cursory of descriptions.

I wish a lot of the photos hasn't been photoshopped (or the ones that had been, at least labeled as such). The book could have been enhanced by some clever captioning.

All of that said, I couldn't stop thinking about where the geocache might be at each location and plan to discover for myself at some point.

Who knows, maybe I'll find myself even willing to venture down into the lesser of the Cackalackys. (Kidding, SC. Mostly.)

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations -- which unfortunately is the best part of the book. The entries on each "weird" thing in the Carolinas were sensationally written, and I really only got it if I was familiar with the legend being presented. It did stir some interest to investigate some of the things a bit more, which I suppose should be the whole purpose of the book!

[Audrey Hacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book had some interesting things that you wouldn't find on google or other sites. HOWEVER some of the sites they never told you where they were, ie there were "devil's footprints" in a rock in 'Lexington, SC' but they never said where???? not even a highway or road????? that same story also alluded to a legend but when you search any of those things there's nothing on it. it could just be a local legend by word of mouth found in old books but the authors don't even cite it, which makes me go hmmm about some of those claims in this book that there's not direct location attached to. i also thought the book was more north carolina focused then south carolina which is fine but i almost wish they just made separate books. (one of the other reviewers said theres more sc than nc stuff so hey, maybe its equal actually)

[Sadie S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anyone looking for paranormal sites locally, odd destinations, or fun attractions along a road trip. I would certainly pick up another book for each state I live in/visit. However, I do wish the authors had included a map or diagram of locations and had been a little more consistent with dates on some entries to avoid sounding vague. Also, the image on the front cover was never pictured or mentioned within the pages. Overall a fantastic book to explore.

[Laura Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. My only criticism is there is so much more that could’ve been included. Each section contains just a taste. I’m hoping for another volume. I would love to help with such an endeavor.

[Kathy Gilliland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tidbits and facts. A few places I’ve been to and a few I’d like to check out.

[Virginia Sloop · Rating 5 out of 5]

We keep a copy at home and one in the car. I have tons of roadside curiosity books but this one is outstanding.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

List of strange folklore and legends around the Carolinas. It does include BOTH Carolinas.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I first started reading this series with Weird Pennsylvania. It has a plethora of local folk lore, oddities, and other interesting but mostly useless information.
Every time I read one of these books I want to go and visit the places where the occurrence of the oddities exist. I would suggest them to anyone who likes to hear about weird news. Check it out if they have one for your state or even one that you want to visit. Most of these places will not be in any traveling guide but would be more memorable.

[GlenK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems to me one of the very best of the long running Weird travel guide series. Alongside submitted personal experiences are many long, detailed essays from Roger Manley, author of the volume. Especially interesting are those devoted to the “ghost ship” Carroll A. Deering, the Lost Colony that left behind only the word “CROATOAN” carved on a tree, and the serial killer Pee Wee Gaskins. As with all the Weird books, chapters devoted to abandoned places, ghosts, and cemeteries are my favorites and are exceedingly entertaining.

[Aspasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am relatively new to North Carolina and have seen some odd things since I have moved here. I love finding weird or odd things to look at or know and this book seemed made for me. I really enjoyed the entire book. There were human interest stories, cautionary tales, strange locales, and so much more! I now have a list of places in the Carolinas I want to visit.

[Sue-Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I skimmed through this book. There were a lot of stories I couldn't get into, and some of the stories weren't all that interesting to me. I was looking more for interesting places to travel to and see but a lot of the places were just weird things people have done or stories around something that wouldn't be all that interesting to check out.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the weirdness that is inherent to the Carolinas. I am a fairly recent transplant and have already encountered some oddities. However, this book has me wanting to go on a full-on weirdness hunt. Excellent read.

[Jerry Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and informative book!

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have used more contrast between the font and the background sometimes.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little book about some of the strange and usual sites and people of the Carolinas. Kind of a nice frivolous diversion for a few days.

[Aaron Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I have lived in NC ever since I was born 13 years ago. I only knew about one legend of NC, and this is a creepy story. I'm no even at liberty to retell the story

[Delores McCarter Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I found a copy at a friend's house and wanted to check it out. I'm tired of the book that I'm reading and I needed to read some weird short stories. This books fits the bill.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book, being from the Carolinas, some of the places were familiar. I did not know the stories of the places.
These are great stories.

[Larisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much South Carolina, not enough North Carolina.

[Ann Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

not really my cup of tea but it did fit one of the challenges

[Alexis Klunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I learned about my home state and even about a whole town that had been flooded and is now resting under the dam right next to my house. This book is a very interesting read and a must have!