If you know where to look, you can find a variety of hidden treasures in the Tar Heel State. Not many people, except for the locals, know about a Utopian village that sprang up beginning in 1968 outside of Raleigh. It’s called Shangri-La, and it’s much like the fictional Shangri-La written about in 1933 by author, James Hilton – only it is better, because it has come to life and you can visit!
Google Maps/Clint Hilbert
Google Maps/R. F. Shangri-La is a village in Prospect Hill, but it’s not like any other village you’ve ever visited; it’s a storybook town with buildings that are around five feet tall and made of stone from a local quarry.
Google Maps/Carrie Perez
Google Maps/Larry Fahey The village is the sole creation of one man, Henry Warren, who began building Shangri-La in 1968 at the age of 72. The retired tobacco farmer hand-picked the rocks, and single-handedly built every single aspect of this lovable little stone village. In 1972, he placed this plaque in his village… it reads, “Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”
Google Maps/Brian Fistler
Google Maps/mandy g Warren’s roadside village welcomes visitors from all over who hear about it from the locals, or find it on the Internet and show up out of curiosity. In all, there are 27 buildings in the village, including a school, a church, a theater, a hospital, and a mill.
Google Maps/Tina S
Google Maps/Brian Fistler The Utopian village of Shangri-La is a living testament to the dreams of a retired North Carolina tobacco farmer who probably spent his life envisioning his roadside town. In 2018, Shangri-La is officially half a century old. Have you discovered Shangri-La yet? We’d love to know — and see your photos!
Shangri-La is located on Henry Warren Road in Prospect Hill, North Carolina. You’ll find a google map indicating the location at this link. The village is always open, however, it’s located on private property so please respect the owners by visiting during normal hours.
Google Maps/Clint Hilbert
Google Maps/R. F.
Shangri-La is a village in Prospect Hill, but it’s not like any other village you’ve ever visited; it’s a storybook town with buildings that are around five feet tall and made of stone from a local quarry.
Google Maps/Carrie Perez
Google Maps/Larry Fahey
The village is the sole creation of one man, Henry Warren, who began building Shangri-La in 1968 at the age of 72. The retired tobacco farmer hand-picked the rocks, and single-handedly built every single aspect of this lovable little stone village. In 1972, he placed this plaque in his village… it reads, “Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”
Google Maps/Brian Fistler
Google Maps/mandy g
Warren’s roadside village welcomes visitors from all over who hear about it from the locals, or find it on the Internet and show up out of curiosity. In all, there are 27 buildings in the village, including a school, a church, a theater, a hospital, and a mill.
Google Maps/Tina S
The Utopian village of Shangri-La is a living testament to the dreams of a retired North Carolina tobacco farmer who probably spent his life envisioning his roadside town. In 2018, Shangri-La is officially half a century old. Have you discovered Shangri-La yet? We’d love to know — and see your photos!
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