Looks can be deceiving. If you live in the Raleigh area, you may have noticed something very strange about this house on Wade Avenue. From the outside, it looks exactly like a typical house: a nice yard, two white columns, a brick facade, and a few windows. Thousands of people drive past it on a daily basis. Yet observant people may notice a few odd traits about this particular mysterious house in Raleigh.
For one, there's no driveway. There's also no walkway leading to the front entrance. There are never any lights on, which leads some to believe that no one lives inside. And yet this mysterious house in Raleigh isn't at all abandoned and serves a very real purpose. Are you curious to learn what's inside this mystery house? Watch the video below to figure out the mystery of 3215 Wade Avenue. (Hint: it's nothing sinister and most likely not what you're expecting at all!)
So there you have it, folks. The mysterious house in Raleigh is none other than the city's public utilities water booster pump station. These pumps maintain the city's water pressure during the day. When operating at max capacity, the system pumps 45 million gallons of water a day! How cool is that? As you heard in the video, the city of Raleigh has about 20 of these pump stations, but there's only one that's disguised as a house.
The Most Iconic View in North Carolina Is Also a Remarkable Slice of History
The wild horses are an iconic part of the beaches in the Outer Banks. They have survived there for more than 500 years and are a critical part of the state's history. Visitors can view the horses from a distance and learn about them at a local museum.
North Carolina beaches are stunning, with their soft sand and sparkling water. It's hard to imagine anything enhancing their beauty. That is, until you consider wild horses. They're incredible animals with strength and resilience, shining coats, and serious eyes. I genuinely love almost all animals, and I especially enjoy animals that are free to roam and full of life. Wild horses have been part of the North Carolina beach landscape for about 500 years. Images of wild horses on North Carolina's Outer Banks are both iconic and inextricably linked to the state's history.
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Herds of wild horses have lived in the Outer Banks longer than any people. They have survived harsh weather events for centuries. It isn't entirely clear how the horses came to the barrier islands, but experts think they descended from horses brought by Spanish colonizers. Many believe the horses swam to shore after Spanish ships wrecked near the Outer Banks.
A wild horse stands proudly with wind swept mane and tail on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. These mustangs are thought by many to be the oldest known population of wild horses in North America and their adaptation to the inhospitable barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean are a testitment to their rugged ability to survive.
No matter how they initially arrived in North Carolina, their survival over such a long period is incredible. They have characteristics unique from domestic horses, including a smaller number of ribs and bones in their spines. They also have a different posture. The wild horses have successfully adapted to their environments, eating native plants and grasses, like sea oats and acorns. When persimmons are ripe, they sometimes eat them right out of the trees. They also drink fresh water, which is under the surfaces of barrier islands. It is illegal for humans to feed or provide the horses with water.
Visitors to North Carolina can see wild horses in several places. About 100 horses live on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island near Beaufort. Boats and ferries take people to the island to observe the horses from a distance. It is very important that people do not approach wild horses, and laws require that they stay at least 50 feet away from them at all times.
About 100 Corolla wild horses live on Corolla and Carova beaches, and several companies offer guided tours to see the herd. Some highly rated tour companies include Wild Horse Adventure Tours and Corolla Wild Horse Tours. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, a nonprofit that manages the Corolla herd, operates a museum where visitors can learn more information about the horses.
A wild horse from the North Carolina Outer Banks gallops through the water. A saltmarsh and small live oak hummuck can be seen in the background. These mustangs are thought by many to be the oldest known population of wild horses in North America and their adaptation to the inhospitable barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean are a testitment to their rugged ability to survive.
For more information, visit the National Park Service's site about North Carolina's horses of Shackleford Banks.
Have you seen the wild horses in North Carolina? Would you like to see them someday?
If you'd like to vacation in the Outer Banks, consider staying in this three-bedroom Airbnb in Corolla. It sleeps up to ten people and has a private heated pool, a beautiful porch, and a hot tub.
The oldest festival in North Carolina's Crystal Coast began in 1954. Hosted by the charming town of Swansboro, the Mullet Festival started out of love and respect for mullet — a small, bony fish that was a vital nutrient in the diet of the workers building the White Oak River Bridge. This structure became an important link between Onslow and Carteret counties, and when construction ended, the very first Swansboro Mullet Festival in North Carolina celebrated the arrival of the modern days to come. What began as a potluck, and a sweet small-town gathering, is going on its 70th year on October 12 and 13, 2024. See who you know in the parade, buy a memento from the street vendors, enjoy good food, play at the Kid's Zone, and dance to live music. Save the dates for the best party on the streets in North Carolina.
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For 70 years now, this magical celebration has brought joy every fall to those who attend.
Have you ever attended the Swansboro Mullet Festival in North Carolina before? Are you planning to attend this year? Let us know how it was in the comments. Be sure to keep up on the plans for this year's event on the Swansboro Mullet Festival Facebook page. While you're visiting Swansboro, visit a lovely hidden beach along the Crystal Coast to find seashells:
