Literary Locations in North Carolina
- Kaleigh Johnson
- May 1
- 4 min read
Okay, so this blog isn’t exactly about writing per se, but writers are often also prolific readers. If you’re a book nerd like me (if you’re reading this blog, you probably are), you dream of stepping into your favorite fictional worlds in one way or another. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do that without leaving this realm. Check out some of my favorite literary locations across North Carolina below!
Located inside the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, this grand two-story library houses thousands of books collected by George Vanderbilt. The room reflects Vanderbilt’s deep interest in literature, history, and travel, and remains one of the estate’s most impressive interior spaces.
Known as “Old Kentucky Home,” the Thomas Wolfe House in Asheville was the childhood home of novelist Thomas Wolfe. The boardinghouse later became the model for Dixieland in his novel Look Homeward, Angel. Today, the preserved home offers insight into Wolfe’s life and the setting that inspired his most famous work.
The gravesite of William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, is located in Asheville’s Riverside Cemetery. Famous for his short stories and clever twist endings, O. Henry remains one of America’s most widely read storytellers. Leave a coin on his headstone as a tribute to his story “The Gift of the Magi.”
Located in Flat Rock, this historic site preserves the home where poet and writer Carl Sandburg lived for more than two decades. Known as “The Poet of the People,” Sandburg wrote, worked, and welcomed visitors here during his later years. The property also includes trails, gardens, and a farm, so it’s a literary landmark and a scenic destination.
This memorial plaque is in Buncombe County, where Zelda Fitzgerald tragically died in a fire in Highland Hospital in 1948. Though often remembered through her connection to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda was also a writer, artist, and creative force in her own right.
The historic Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville has long been a gathering place for notable writers, artists, and public figures. Most famously, F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed here during the summers of 1935 and 1936 while Zelda Fitzgerald received treatment nearby. Other documented guests include Margaret Mitchell and Helen Keller (who also wrote a book!).
Once a working mill town, Henry River Mill Village later became the main filming location for District 12 in The Hunger Games. Its preserved buildings and industrial landscape now attract both history enthusiasts and fans of the series. I don’t know about you, but I was absolutely obsessed with this series when it came out, so this location is definitely on my bucket list!
DuPont State Forest, near Brevard, is known for its waterfalls, hiking trails, and natural beauty. Several scenes from The Hunger Games were filmed here, so spend a day enjoying North Carolina nature and reliving the book.
The North Carolina Collection at Wilson Library
Housed at UNC Chapel Hill’s Wilson Library, the North Carolina Collection preserves materials related to the state’s history, literature, and culture. Its holdings include manuscripts, books, photographs, and archives connected to North Carolina writers. It is one of the most valuable literary research collections in the state.
Located in a restored school building in Hudson (where this author actually attended school), the Mitford Museum celebrates Jan Karon’s bestselling Mitford series. The fictional town of Mitford was inspired in part by the charm and community spirit of small-town North Carolina.
Created by author Nicholas Sparks, the Nicholas Sparks Foundation is located in New Bern and focuses on education and community support initiatives in North Carolina. Sparks’ novels, many set in coastal North Carolina, helped bring national attention to the state’s towns and landscapes, including places like Southport, Wilmington, and other beaches in Brunswick County. If you’re lucky, you might just get to meet him when you stop by!
Located in Southern Pines, the Weymouth Center was once the home of novelist James Boyd and is now a center for arts programming, writers, and community events. It also houses the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, which honors major literary figures from across the state.
This historical marker in Buies Creek honors playwright Paul Green, a North Carolina native and Pulitzer Prize winner. Green is best known for The Lost Colony, the long-running outdoor drama on Roanoke Island.
The Bottom Line
Want to find more literary locations across the state? Check out the NC Literary Map from UNCG and our new community page. If one of these writers or destinations inspires you to write your own masterpiece, submit it to Ink & Oak for a chance to be published in our next edition.
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