Lucama, North Carolina: Vollis Simpson Whirligigs: Original Location
Most of the giant wind-animated sculptures of Vollis Simpson were moved to nearby Wilson, but a few have been left in place to tempt Vollis whirligig completists.
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Visitor Tips and News About Vollis Simpson Whirligigs: Original Location
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It was a bad photo day for us on the day we visited Vollis Simpson's whirligigs. The sun popped out long enough for one shot. Vollis Simpson's place is one of the coolest roadside attractions I've ever seen. Some of the whirligigs are easily 20 feet tall.
[Dean Jeffrey, 03/18/2001]The "Acid Park" site is really Vollis Simpson's whirlygig farm. As a college student in Wilson, the place was referred to as "Acid Park" and we would take nighttime drives out there. The urban legend is that Simpson's daughter was killed in that curve and that's why the whirlygigs/reflectors were placed there, as a result of a grieving father. Adding to the "legend", is that there really is a very, very old remnant of a wrecked car in the woods near the site. According to a later news article I read about Vollis, there never was an accident there involving his daughter......but, it makes for a good story!! The place itself is incredible!
[Ruth, 01/08/2001]About 40 years ago a teenage girl was killed in a car accident near her home. Her father demanded that the car be left in the spot where it crashed. He placed reflectors all along the road to warn other teens of the bad curve. Over the years he has added so many reflectors that it resembles a carnival. When your headlights hit the reflectors, it seems to light up the whole corner. Most of the pieces move when blown by the wind.
[Anne, 01/07/2001]North Carolina folk artist Vollis Simpson avoided a jail sentence after pleading no contest in a shooting on his property involving two teenage boys. The boys....
[07/04/1999] Complete News StoryNorth Carolina folk artist and former house mover Vollis Simpson, 79, was celebrated in December 12th's People Magazine. His big scrap metal whirligigs and windmills were called kinetic sculpture and he was praised by the director of the American Museum of Visionary Art.
... [12/20/1998] Complete News Story[Previous 5 items] Page of 5 [Next 1 items]
Vollis Simpson Whirligigs: Original Location
- Address:
- Vollis Shop Rd, Lucama, NC
- Directions:
- From Whirligig Park in Wilson, drive southeast on Goldsboro St. S. for 1.5 miles. Bear right at the stoplight onto US Hwy 301. Drive 1.5 miles. Just after the little bridge across Contentnea Creek, turn right onto Wiggins Mill Rd. Drive seven miles. When you reach the intersection of Willing Worker Rd/Vollis Shop Rd, look for the whirligigs.
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