Supply, North Carolina: Fort Apache

"You might think I'm crazy" is a constant refrain from Dale Varnum, owner of the 28-acre Fort Apache, a former salvage yard originally owned by his father. After a very large life that included the military, drug running, being shot, prison, and getting hit by lightning twice (he will show you the burn mark behind his left ear), Dale began collecting. He has amassed an enormous amount of stuff, much of it from movie shoots (He claims to have props and cars from dozens of films, including "The Godfather"). Fort Apache is not currently open, but sometimes, if you call, he will answer the phone and open up to give a private tour. This includes his tunnels filled with yard sale treasures, hand-lettered pun-filled signs, movie stuff, and, at recent count, 54 cats. Outside is a car-and-ambulance-filled junkyard and a tiny home-made town that is as beat up as it is fascinating. Dale has had some tough times recently (he got hit by a car and Fort Apache was hit by a hurricane), but even if he won't open the place for you, it's still fun to drive by and see the fascinating things that he has out front.

The place was closed (a hand-lettered sign out front stated that it was closed due to the pandemic), but there was plenty to see just walking up and down the driveway. Some unique pieces to say the least.