Tucked into a quiet corner on the outskirts of Rockingham, NC is an especially picturesque ruin that’s gained a following on Pinterest and other social media sites. I got there for a beautiful sunset shoot and was pleased to not have had any encounters with snakes. A few points of caution if you decide to visit yourself; go before kudzu has had a chance to grow (before the end of April), or you really won’t see much. Wear sturdy shoes, do not go alone, don’t try to visit in the dark, and be sure you have the location in your GPS, because there are no signs or marked paths to get you into the place!

The Mill was known as the Richmond Manufacturing Co. and it was established on the falls of the Little Carr Creek in 1839 to spin cotton into thread and to weave thread into fabric. The Mill was burned during the Civil War by Sherman’s troops during their march North in 1865 because of its economic importance. The ruins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mill was rebuilt in 1869 and continued in service until the Great Depression, producing up to 4,500 square yards of fabric per day. The mill burned for a second time in 1972, and has been a ruin ever since.

Today it stands forlornly, unprotected from the weather, crumbling bit by bit. It was the site of a Hootie and the Blowfish music video in 1990 (see YouTube link) and has been the destination for paranormal adventurers and ruin porn photographers for almost 50 years.