Laws are laws, and what might seem perfectly legal to you could actually be things that are illegal in North Carolina. Sure, there are the obvious illegal things, but others fly under the radar, or are honestly just completely random (like the classic example of “you can’t use an elephant to plow a field”). While the elephant and field might be out of date now, these 11 weird laws in North Carolina are still intact, and still surprising. You may not actually be convicted of any of them, but they are on the books!

  1. Don’t grab those leaves.

Flickr / Blue Ridge Kitties On the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s illegal to gather the leaves of the Galax Plant. They’ve been used for medicinal purposes and floral decorations in the southern Appalachia region for centuries.

  1. It takes two to drink in North Carolina.

Flickr / chriscrowder_4 North Carolina is the only state where alcohol is controlled by ABC and a council of more than 160 local boards.

  1. Speaking of drinking…

Flickr / Hey Paul Studios Happy hour is actually illegal in North Carolina. The only ‘happy hour’ options allowed to be served are food.

  1. If you’re thinking of going to karaoke night…

Flickr / Carla de Souza Campos It’s illegal to sing off key in North Carolina.

  1. Don’t drink and ride.

Karsun Designs/Flickr While there’s much speculation if this law is still in effect, you can get a DUI on a horse in North Carolina.

  1. You can’t collect your own reward money.

Flickr / Thomas Hawk Yeah, that (above) face was basically our reaction, too.

  1. Wondering what the future holds?

Flickr / Tom Hilton It’s illegal to practice as a professional psychic or fortune teller, but amateurs are okay.

  1. Don’t play dress up.

Flickr / Zach Frailey Organizations may not hold meetings when their members are dressed up in costumes.

  1. Bingo should basically be illegal.

Flickr / Raven Knob There are a lot of stipulations with bingo in North Carolina. For one, you can’t drink while playing bingo, or have alcohol present. You also can’t let your bingo game last more than 5 hours (talk about a serious bingo game).

  1. Who goes there?

Flickr / Archangel21 It’s illegal to visit a graveyard past midnight. We mean, would you want to anyway?

  1. Not illegal, but wild.

Flickr / Jeremy Brooks If a man and woman who aren’t married go to a hotel and register themselves as married, then according to state law, they are married. WHAT?!

Who would have thought? Did you know about all of these weird laws in North Carolina? Have you broken any before? Don’t worry… we won’t tell.

Flickr / Blue Ridge Kitties

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s illegal to gather the leaves of the Galax Plant. They’ve been used for medicinal purposes and floral decorations in the southern Appalachia region for centuries.

Flickr / chriscrowder_4

North Carolina is the only state where alcohol is controlled by ABC and a council of more than 160 local boards.

Flickr / Hey Paul Studios

Happy hour is actually illegal in North Carolina. The only ‘happy hour’ options allowed to be served are food.

Flickr / Carla de Souza Campos

It’s illegal to sing off key in North Carolina.

Karsun Designs/Flickr

While there’s much speculation if this law is still in effect, you can get a DUI on a horse in North Carolina.

Flickr / Thomas Hawk

Yeah, that (above) face was basically our reaction, too.

Flickr / Tom Hilton

It’s illegal to practice as a professional psychic or fortune teller, but amateurs are okay.

Flickr / Zach Frailey

Organizations may not hold meetings when their members are dressed up in costumes.

Flickr / Raven Knob

There are a lot of stipulations with bingo in North Carolina. For one, you can’t drink while playing bingo, or have alcohol present. You also can’t let your bingo game last more than 5 hours (talk about a serious bingo game).

Flickr / Archangel21

It’s illegal to visit a graveyard past midnight. We mean, would you want to anyway?

Flickr / Jeremy Brooks

If a man and woman who aren’t married go to a hotel and register themselves as married, then according to state law, they are married. WHAT?!

For more bizarre things about the Tar Heel State, check out these weird and wacky holiday traditions in North Carolina.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

weird laws in North Carolina December 05, 2021 Sarah Are there any weird attractions in North Carolina? Some of the weirdest attractions in North Carolina include:

Devil’s Tramping Ground Judaculla Rock Moon-Eyed Structures

  If you’re into exploring the weird and wonderful, you’ll be right at home here in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina is a beautiful state filled with history, charming small towns, and an abundance of natural wonders. However, there are some places in the Tar Heel State that will make you look twice. From unsolved natural mysteries, hills that don’t follow the rules of gravity, and a cabin covered in mugs, North Carolina is home to some true oddities. Some of these places are downright scary while others are a good time and observation of creative talent. Whether you’re looking to be fascinated, intrigued, or perhaps even spooked, you won’t be disappointed by our list of unique attractions in North Carolina. Our top pick from the list? The Shangri-la Stone Village. Using rock blasted from his own land, Henry L. Warren set out to create this gnome-sized village after his retirement. Henry would work tirelessly with a cigarette in his mouth and a Coke in his hand. Over nine years, he created the Shangri-La Stone Village which included a theatre, a gym, a hotel, and even a water tower. Sadly, Henry was working on a hospital at the time of his death. This little slice of history remains in good condition and can still be viewed. Just follow the arrowhead path constructed by Henry himself. The Shangri-la Stone Village might be one of North Carolina’s strangest attractions. What are some weird things that people from North Carolina do? North Carolinians are a weird bunch. From our wacky holiday traditions to our odd food combinations, there’s a whole lotta weird here in North Carolina! Let’s look at some of our favorite foods, shall we? For starters, we love our egg and liver mush. Yes – mush. Liver Mush is a beloved North Carolina food. We like to serve it with eggs or eat it as a sandwich. We even have a Liver Mush festival! Our dream dinner is the tasty trifecta of BBQ, cole slaw, and hush puppies. Sure, the whole country tries to make BBQ like NC, but nothing compares to having it here. Most of us prefer to skip the bun and eat it straight off the plate. Another weird thing we like to chow down on? Pimento cheese. Pimento cheese on everything. Cornbread, omelets, grits, crackers, sandwiches…here, everything can use a scoop of pimento cheese.

The OIYS Visitor Center

weird laws in North Carolina

December 05, 2021

Sarah

Are there any weird attractions in North Carolina? Some of the weirdest attractions in North Carolina include:

Devil’s Tramping Ground Judaculla Rock Moon-Eyed Structures

  If you’re into exploring the weird and wonderful, you’ll be right at home here in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina is a beautiful state filled with history, charming small towns, and an abundance of natural wonders. However, there are some places in the Tar Heel State that will make you look twice. From unsolved natural mysteries, hills that don’t follow the rules of gravity, and a cabin covered in mugs, North Carolina is home to some true oddities. Some of these places are downright scary while others are a good time and observation of creative talent. Whether you’re looking to be fascinated, intrigued, or perhaps even spooked, you won’t be disappointed by our list of unique attractions in North Carolina. Our top pick from the list? The Shangri-la Stone Village. Using rock blasted from his own land, Henry L. Warren set out to create this gnome-sized village after his retirement. Henry would work tirelessly with a cigarette in his mouth and a Coke in his hand. Over nine years, he created the Shangri-La Stone Village which included a theatre, a gym, a hotel, and even a water tower. Sadly, Henry was working on a hospital at the time of his death. This little slice of history remains in good condition and can still be viewed. Just follow the arrowhead path constructed by Henry himself. The Shangri-la Stone Village might be one of North Carolina’s strangest attractions. What are some weird things that people from North Carolina do? North Carolinians are a weird bunch. From our wacky holiday traditions to our odd food combinations, there’s a whole lotta weird here in North Carolina! Let’s look at some of our favorite foods, shall we? For starters, we love our egg and liver mush. Yes – mush. Liver Mush is a beloved North Carolina food. We like to serve it with eggs or eat it as a sandwich. We even have a Liver Mush festival! Our dream dinner is the tasty trifecta of BBQ, cole slaw, and hush puppies. Sure, the whole country tries to make BBQ like NC, but nothing compares to having it here. Most of us prefer to skip the bun and eat it straight off the plate. Another weird thing we like to chow down on? Pimento cheese. Pimento cheese on everything. Cornbread, omelets, grits, crackers, sandwiches…here, everything can use a scoop of pimento cheese.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Some of the weirdest attractions in North Carolina include:

  • Devil’s Tramping Ground
  • Judaculla Rock
  • Moon-Eyed Structures

 

If you’re into exploring the weird and wonderful, you’ll be right at home here in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina is a beautiful state filled with history, charming small towns, and an abundance of natural wonders. However, there are some places in the Tar Heel State that will make you look twice. From unsolved natural mysteries, hills that don’t follow the rules of gravity, and a cabin covered in mugs, North Carolina is home to some true oddities. Some of these places are downright scary while others are a good time and observation of creative talent. Whether you’re looking to be fascinated, intrigued, or perhaps even spooked, you won’t be disappointed by our list of unique attractions in North Carolina. Our top pick from the list? The Shangri-la Stone Village. Using rock blasted from his own land, Henry L. Warren set out to create this gnome-sized village after his retirement. Henry would work tirelessly with a cigarette in his mouth and a Coke in his hand. Over nine years, he created the Shangri-La Stone Village which included a theatre, a gym, a hotel, and even a water tower. Sadly, Henry was working on a hospital at the time of his death. This little slice of history remains in good condition and can still be viewed. Just follow the arrowhead path constructed by Henry himself. The Shangri-la Stone Village might be one of North Carolina’s strangest attractions.

What are some weird things that people from North Carolina do?

North Carolinians are a weird bunch. From our wacky holiday traditions to our odd food combinations, there’s a whole lotta weird here in North Carolina! Let’s look at some of our favorite foods, shall we? For starters, we love our egg and liver mush. Yes – mush. Liver Mush is a beloved North Carolina food. We like to serve it with eggs or eat it as a sandwich. We even have a Liver Mush festival! Our dream dinner is the tasty trifecta of BBQ, cole slaw, and hush puppies. Sure, the whole country tries to make BBQ like NC, but nothing compares to having it here. Most of us prefer to skip the bun and eat it straight off the plate. Another weird thing we like to chow down on? Pimento cheese. Pimento cheese on everything. Cornbread, omelets, grits, crackers, sandwiches…here, everything can use a scoop of pimento cheese.