Prospect Hill, North Carolina: Shangri-La Stone Village

A folk art miniature Shangri-La, built by retired tobacco farmer Henry L. Warren in his yard.

This little village was constructed of various rocks found by the guy who built it. Visitors are welcome, just keep to the village, and don't trespass into the area with the house. The man who built it in Cedar Grove did so in the 1970s. He reportedly passed away while working on Shangri La. His family still owns the land.

Easy to find! Right on NC-86. Beside the Prospect Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Stopped by there while doing a sort of "local culture rural drive" through Caswell, Vance, and Orange counties (I live in Orange County). This curiosity can almost be missed because most of it is below street level. If you are in the vicinity and see some rock work in a front yard or rock wall work in front of the property, that is the place. Don't have big expectations; it is not a huge display. But the small details and sheer whimsy will capture you.

We met a local man who stopped to chat, and he told us Henry Warren's wife had recently passed. He also said Mr. Warren quarried his own stone from just up the street.

I'm not sure who owns the property now, but it looked recently mowed and well-kept. As it is someone's private residence, we enjoyed the village from the side of the road. Our kids enjoyed the scene, too. We did not see any dogs or people, but would not be too put off if we did, as this is someone's home in the country.