When it comes to trails that lead to abandoned places in North Carolina we are often writing about historical spots deep in the woods of the mountains in the Tar Heel State (like the remains of Rattlesnake Lodge, or the trail to the ghost town of Lost Cove), but this epic hike is along the coast. Further, it leads to what was once speculated to be the second greatest tourist attraction in North Carolina. Read on to learn how a single WWII bunker could attain such a high regard in the minds of tourists and locals alike.

The famed WWII bunker is located at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area located at Kure Beach.

TripAdvisor/cheryl h

alltrails/Katie Griffith It’s here at the recreation area that you’ll find a 2.2 mile trail (total, out and back) that leads to a simple WWII bunker. Fort Fisher was an instrumental fixture during the Civil War. Later, during WWII, a series of concrete fortifications was built along the coast in North Carolina and that’s likely when the concrete bunker was constructed.

Shown here, the bunker is without a door, and its original use is not clearly defined in any readily available information.

alltrails/Justin P

TripAdvisor/TRAVEL00001Nc However, the bunker became famous in the 1960s and 70s for an entirely different reason: it became home to one of the most famous people in North Carolina during the era. Here’s how it happened:

In 1955, at the age of 62, this man, Robert Harrill (shown here in and undated photo taken outside the bunker), left his unhappy life in Morganton and hitchhiked all the way to the coast.

findagrave.com/Michael Edwards

Wikipedia/Dincher He took up residence in the bunker, not once, but twice! The first time, local authorities arrested him — and then arranged to have him transported all the way back to Morganton. But Harrill, who would become famously known as ‘The Fort Fisher Hermit,’ made his way back to Kure Beach and again took up residence within the bunker.

Soon, visitors and locals alike were visiting The Hermit on a regular basis, often posing for photos with the state’s famous hermit.

alltrails/Justin P

alltrails/Katie Griffith Harrill sustained his life as a hermit by catching his food in the surrounding marshes and waters, as well as tending a small garden he had planted. But he also would willingly pose for photos (for a small fee) with frequent visitors who made the hike all the way out to the WWII bunker just to meet the famous Fort Fisher Hermit.

In June of 1972, after 17 years of sustaining life in the primitive dwelling, the famous Fort Fisher Hermit was found dead of an apparent heart attack in the bunker that still stands. He was 79 years old.

TripAdvisor/cheryl h

alltrails/Katie Griffith

It’s here at the recreation area that you’ll find a 2.2 mile trail (total, out and back) that leads to a simple WWII bunker. Fort Fisher was an instrumental fixture during the Civil War. Later, during WWII, a series of concrete fortifications was built along the coast in North Carolina and that’s likely when the concrete bunker was constructed.

alltrails/Justin P

TripAdvisor/TRAVEL00001Nc

However, the bunker became famous in the 1960s and 70s for an entirely different reason: it became home to one of the most famous people in North Carolina during the era. Here’s how it happened:

findagrave.com/Michael Edwards

Wikipedia/Dincher

He took up residence in the bunker, not once, but twice! The first time, local authorities arrested him — and then arranged to have him transported all the way back to Morganton. But Harrill, who would become famously known as ‘The Fort Fisher Hermit,’ made his way back to Kure Beach and again took up residence within the bunker.

Harrill sustained his life as a hermit by catching his food in the surrounding marshes and waters, as well as tending a small garden he had planted. But he also would willingly pose for photos (for a small fee) with frequent visitors who made the hike all the way out to the WWII bunker just to meet the famous Fort Fisher Hermit.

Have you heard of this WWII bunker at Kure Beach that’s famous beyond reason? And more importantly, did you get to meet The Fort Fisher Hermit?? We’d love to know!

Getting to the WWII bunker is a short, round trip hike of only 2.2 miles (bring bug spray!) on the Basin Trail that originates near the visitor center at Fort Fisher Recreation Area in Kure Beach. The address for Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is 1000 Loggerhead Rd., Kure Beach, NC 28449. More information can be found on the official website for Fort Fisher here; trail insights can be found at this link on alltrails.com.

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