Gibraltar, North Carolina facts for kids
Gibraltar is a former settlement, or a place where people used to live, in Union County, North Carolina, United States. It was named after the famous British territory called Gibraltar. Today, it is considered a "ghost town" because no one lives there anymore.
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The Mystery of Gibraltar, North Carolina
Have you ever heard of a town that just disappeared? Gibraltar, North Carolina, is one such place. For many years, not much was known about this lost settlement. But a special interview helped to uncover some interesting facts and a very strange story about it.
A Town Vanishes
In 1980, a man named Derek Davis shared what he remembered about Gibraltar. When he was a boy, his father, Richard Davis, took him and his brother to a mysterious spot. They found many old, empty buildings grouped closely together. It looked like a town that everyone had left behind. His father told them this place was called Gibraltar.
The Strange Story of the 'Creatures'
Mr. Davis's father also told them a very unusual story about why the town was empty. He said that the people of Gibraltar were scared away by large creatures! It was thought that a circus had been in the area recently. People believed that some of the circus's apes and gorillas might have escaped and caused the town to be abandoned. This sounds like something out of a movie!
Where Was Gibraltar Located?
When asked about the exact spot of this mysterious community, Mr. Davis said it was somewhere near Highway 74. He remembered it being between the towns of Peachland, North Carolina, and Polkton, North Carolina. Today, these two towns are found right on the border between Union and Anson Counties.
Local Legends and Warnings
The strange stories about Gibraltar didn't stop there. Mr. Davis also remembered being warned about "Boogers" in the woods. These were local scary stories or legends. Children were told not to go too deep into the woods without an adult. They were also not allowed to go outside at night. These warnings added to the spooky feeling around the area.
