Places Monster Creek Wants to Go

This abandoned amusement park was built on a site with a dark history.

A literal in-depth look at one of the United States' most cherished coal mines and the questionable working conditions of its laborers

A once-abandoned school building converted into a fantastical multi-level art installation and haven for Appalachian artists.

A 100-foot metal tower and swinging bridge that provides stunning views of mountains in five states.

Follow the path behind this treat-slinging camper van to a sculpture garden in the forest.

An eclectic store sells obscure vinyl recordings of Charles Manson and Jim Jones, along with many other oddities.

This site in Caldwell County is the location where the Cherokee and Catawba are said to have entered a peace treaty.

A cabin completely covered in coffee mugs, where visitors are welcome to leave one of their own—if they can find an empty nail.

A ghost town that was wiped out by a flood in 1940.

You can find America's highest suspension footbridge at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

A former Oz-themed attraction that has fallen into disrepair, but still holds some of the original magic.

One of the oldest Black communities in western North Carolina and one of the largest Black Mennonite congregations in the country.

The highest point in Virginia can only be reached by passing through ponies and flowers.

An eight-sided home built during a brief octagon craze in the 1850s.

Hop on the train and tour an elaborate miniature town made completely of junk (including the train).

This maze-like slot canyon is a unique gem within an already fascinating geological area.

With roots dating back to 1942, this retro diner was where Hank Williams is said to have uttered his last words.

This restaurant is devoted to celebrating Appalachia's cuisine.

Wander the locker-lined, terrazzo-floored halls and sleep in a former classroom at this unique inn.

A delightful park featuring homemade scale replicas of dinosaurs, tucked away in the Tennessee mountains.

This bottle-shaped monument pays tribute to the Appalachian drink that changed the pace of human life.

A visionary oral narration project brought new life to Jonesborough.

Railroad came. People came. Railroad left. Town died.

A mountaintop space observatory that is certified dark.