"Asheboro: See Attractions Beyond the Zoo"

"Asheboro: See Attractions Beyond the Zoo"
By: Liz Welborn



Most travelers venture out into the middle of North Carolina, where Asheboro resides, to see the attractions of the state's only zoo that boasts to be the world's largest natural habitat.

Once the zoo is explored, the travelers pass by the average McDonald's or Arby's, thinking that Asheboro holds no allure beyond the animal attractions. However, these travelers should explore beyond the Zoo Parkway Road, to find the real attractions of Asheboro in the many unearthed treasures of the town.


Asheboro's first breath occurred in downtown. The town started as "Asheborough" for Samuel Ashe in 1780 with its first post office being designated on Main Street in downtown in 1814. The town was in a population pitfall until the Montgomery Railroad was established in 1986. By 1912, downtown Asheboro already had 30 stores with two chair manufactories. In Asheboro's current bicentennial year the inhabitants are 17,559 with a total land mass of 14.81 square miles.


Many locals have moved here from other places due to the prime location of Asheboro in North Carolina. "I moved here about three years ago from Massachusetts because where else in the country can you be equal distances from the mountains and the ocean?" boasts Alechia Brule, a 22 year old converter of the south. Asheboro lies exactly in the middle of the state, making a trip to the coast or mountains equally four hours either way. Consequently, Asheboro's middle location in the state is the reason that the zoo is located there.


Another attraction to move to Asheboro lies in its eccentric ways. Brule lives in downtown Asheboro right down the road from the city's cemetery. Across the cemetery lies an old abandon building that has become a terrifying legend among the local children.


"Well, rumor has it that the building is haunted. It was built in 1902 by a farmer. Supposedly, the farmer's crops were not doing too well one year and the farmer started drinking. He got drunk one night and shot himself. Nowadays the kids like to go in there and see who can last the longest without hearing liqueur bottles breaking. Almost every night I hear them scream down the road. There is not too many places in America today where you could still find that kind of innocence," Brule related with a smile on her pink lips.


The main lost treasure of Asheboro is in its downtown district. Asheboro's downtown is a modern day small town; once parked, the locals tend to leave their cars in that same spot all day while they shop, socialize, and eat. The locals wave a greeting to everyone as they pass by whether they can recognize your face. Visitors could hardly believe the atmosphere mixed with the local's personalities could even be real. Downtown has that special flair that most people could only see in old fashion movies with the quaint shops up and down the main street of downtown- Sunset Avenue.


Antiques shops are the prominent commodity along Sunset Avenue. People, new and old in age can be seen window shopping. The Flea Marketeers, the largest and oldest antique shop since 1951, sells anything in the musty store from old time soda machines to antique thimbles.

This historic establishment is sure to catch the travelers eye with four fleas dressed in cowboy gear on the outside the store. The owner personally greets you once you walk in with his face filled with wonder at something old that he has refurnished to look like new. He personally takes you around to the vintage mugs, washers, and purses that line the aisles of the store. There is so much merchandise that it takes a while for the customer to see all that might lay within the store perimeters.

Many visitors of Asheboro come in search of the antiques that are unearthed here. "I make a trip here every year before Thanksgiving; I always give my family antiques that I found here for Christmas. They love them," says Carol Shaw, a resident of Lexington, N.C. for over 35 years. The 30 mile trek to Asheboro is worth it to Shaw. "I find things here that I have never found anywhere else," Shaw relates as she rummages through yet another bin of long lost treasures, her cotton-colored hair swaying as she hunts.


Most of the antique stores have been privately owned establishments for decades. However, The Family Circle consignment shop is the only charity antique shop. All proceeds from the merchandise bought on the Sunset Avenue store is given to the Family Crisis Center in town.

The Family Crisis Center helps women and children escape from domestic violence. In this shop, the donators are rumored to be high class Asheboro residents. "Yeah, like, all the rich folks come in here and drop their stuff off," said volunteer worker Mary Parson, her gum making a smacking noise at the end of each word. "Once, this real rich lady came in, dropped off a purse and just left. No words uttered. I thought she was rude until I looked at that bag. It was Prada, authentic because it said so. Only five bucks, it went like hot cakes."


Looking through the many donated items, you can find never before used Wal-Mart merchandise for a fraction of the original price. "If Wal-Mart can't sell something, they drop it off here. We are the only store in Asheboro that can say that," Parson related with a nod of pride.


In the middle of Sunset Avenue lies the Bicentennial Park. Many locals can be found talking on the park benches that rest in the middle of the park in front of the fountain. It is a good place to read or to just be. As you meander down the mud-colored brick sidewalks you can look down to see Asheboro's heroic history. Veteran's names are engraved into the bricks in honor of the sacrifice that was made for their country. Little details like these are what make Asheboro an intriguing place to explore.


With further walking exploration of Sunset Avenue, you can see what looks like to be an old theatre with the antique bright lights of a marquee sign glowing. The building is built in the Spanish style that was popular for movie theatres back then, with the white tile roof, beamed ceilings, and stucco walls. The Sunset theatre was built in 1929 and opened in 1930 as Asheboro's first movie-showing establishment. This historic theatre ran general Hollywood movies up until 1980. In 2005, the town of Asheboro claimed it and uses it for showing community movies or concert events. The use of the theatre for community activities has brought the community together as a whole.


You can experience an old glamour Hollywood movie theatre by going to see one of its many attractions. The next movie being showcased is "The Muppets Christmas Carol" and admissions are free. The local's favorite punk band the "Bantum Roosters" play at the theatre almost every Saturday to a sold out community crowd.


Asheboro holds many charms once the town is put into the light and out from underneath the zoo's shadow. If you want to relax, explore your inner treasure hunter, or simply return by to the innocent days of listening to a local ghost break bottles, Asheboro is for you.