Croatan, North Carolina - Self-Kicking Machine

Some historical info on the kicking machine: The original was built by Wilber Herring at the request of Tom Haywood, the store owner, and installed in the early thirties. Over the years it deteriorated and, I believe, was donated to the NC Museum of History in Raleigh by Mr. haywood's family.

I owned the store from 1993 until 1996 and I built the replica that you show exactly to Tom Haywood's specifications. Legend has it that Lucille Ball kicked herself on Tom's machine after losing a political wager, and Babe Ruth visited the store many times while on hunting trips to the Croatan, although he visited prior to the machine's installation. [S Junkersfeld, 02/18/2007]

The infamous Self Kicking Machine sits outside of a nice antique/gift shop called Martha's Favorite Things in the unincorporated town of Croatan, NC. This particular stretch of road is fairly empty, so you shouldn't have any problems finding the place.

The self kicking machine was, sadly, in a state of minor disrepair when I located it; the crank needed to be tightened and the boot assembly had become disconnected from the wooden frame. After a short wrench turning session I had the Self Kicking Machine returned to it's former working condition. The machine is a lot of fun (and painful)! [Greg Brown, 02/18/2001]

[RA: Future visitors and other masochists thank Greg for his repair efforts... ]