For one of the most genuinely charming small-town destinations in Martin County, North Carolina, Bear Grass offers a remarkable mix of history, community spirit, and quietly distinctive attractions. The community is steeped in Prohibition-era lore — once known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World” — and history lovers can explore the area’s roots at the Bear Grass Primitive Baptist Church, a congregation founded in 1828. The town’s compact historic district also features a beautifully preserved 1925 schoolhouse, a 1935 teacherage (the Yucca House), and two distinctive landmark statues created by local artist Henry C. Cowen: a “rampant bear” sculpture from 1981 and a George Washington statue from 1987, honoring the bicentennial of the Constitution.
For something genuinely unique, the nearby Deadwood Theme Park offers amusement rides, a miniature train, and dinner shows — all surrounded by wide-open farmland that captures the gentle rural character of North Carolina. The surrounding countryside is perfect for scenic drives or peaceful walks through fields of the very yucca plant that gave the town its name. And each October, the streets fill with crafts, fundraisers, and live music for the beloved Chicken Mull Festival — a community celebration of a traditional Southern stew that remains one of the most distinctive small-town festivals anywhere in eastern North Carolina. Click on any of the attractions below to explore the spots we’ve personally visited around Bear Grass.
