Lake Lure’s Brief, Bizarre Chapter as the Headquarters of a Model Cult
Residents recall the far-out happenings at a lakefront compound featured in an HBO docuseries about a doomsday cult.
A Battle for the Soul of Chatham County
A rezoning request for a planned church outside Chapel Hill is now a federal case, with religious-freedom groups and the U.S. Department of Justice weighing in.
A Family Reunion Like No Other
Chang and Eng Bunker became globally recognized as the original “Siamese twins” before settling down in Mount Airy. Generations of descendants have kept their legacy alive.
Visiting with the Ancestors
An annual tradition brings people back to the land their families lost to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park nearly a century ago.
Moments of Nope?
A prominent Charlotte pastor thought he’d found a home for his growing church at a beloved YMCA branch. Then came the protests.
The Trill of the Chase
The World Whistlers Convention now draws hundreds of entrants to Japan every year—far from its roots in Louisburg, N.C.
Outside the Box
At Carrboro’s Cardboard Wars, kids get creative with refuse and live-action role playing.



