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All the United States North Carolina Graveyard Island

Graveyard Island

The final resting place of the hundreds of bodies originally buried where Badin Lake sits now.

Badin, North Carolina

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Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island is also accessible by kayak,   croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   croxrd13 / Atlas Obscura User
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Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Graveyard Island.   emilyfoutz88 / Atlas Obscura User
Really old… 1791   PixelEpix / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Every so often, you discover a place riddled with a history that entices the imagination and provokes your curiosity. Down the railroad tracks nestled between the towns of New London and Badin, North Carolina, lies such a place.

Graveyard Island is where the dead rest in wooded solitude, far away from the traffic lights and convenience stores. But the small sliver of land wasn’t their original resting place.

Following the turn of the 20th century, Graveyard Island was selected to house the bodies of those buried where Badin Lake sits now. In 1917, the Yadkin River was dammed to produce hydroelectric power for Alcoa, an aluminum manufacturing company, which in turn created the lake.

The dead were moved in the years before the dam was built and the newly formed lake flooded the land. It’s estimated that close to 300 bodies are scattered throughout the island, spread throughout three graveyards. The tract of land houses unmarked and marked graves dating as far back as the early 1800s.

Related Tags

Gravestones Graveyards Islands Burial Places Lakes Cemeteries Water Graves

Know Before You Go

Visit at your own discretion and be aware that some parts of the island contain "No Trespassing" signs. If you want to visit the graveyard contact the Atlantic Railways office at 803-756-3710, to safely make arrangements to access the island. 

Community Contributors

Added By

emilyfoutz88

Edited By

joydry, croxrd13, PixelEpix

  • joydry
  • croxrd13
  • PixelEpix

Published

September 13, 2018

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badin_Lake
  • http://www.interment.net/data/us/nc/stanly/grave_isle1/index.htm
  • http://www.jobschildren.com/2012/09/a-trip-to-badin-museum.html
Graveyard Island
Badin, North Carolina, 28127
United States
35.45801, -80.12372

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Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

Nearby Places

Town Creek Indian Mound

Mount Gilead, North Carolina

miles away

Reed Gold Mine

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miles away

'The Chair'

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

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