“I’m here for Andre.” That’s what I said when I walked into the Rankin Museum of American Heritage. You see, when I moved to North Carolina, I didn’t know much about it at all. I wouldn’t have been able to point to it on a map (though I had a guess it was up north somewhere so even my guess was wrong!) The only thing I did know was wrestling history. Actually, wrestling is about all I know generally speaking – I’m the girl who went to WrestleMania alone after all. North Carolina gave us a lot of great wrestlers and Andre the Giant owned a ranch here. On this adventure I went to the town where he had his ranch to see if there were any tributes to him and I ended up finding this hidden gem of a museum. Here’s my guide on how to plan your own visit. Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, it’s still worth a visit because it’s got a lot more than just wrestling memorabilia and makes for a fun day trip.
What To Expect At The Rankin Museum Of American Heritage In Ellerbe, NC
Disclaimer
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FAQ for visiting the Rankin Museum
Where is it?
Ellerbe, NC a little over an hour from Fayetteville.
How much does it cost?
$4 per adult to enter.
Is there parking?
Yes, there is free parking outside the museum.
How long does it take?
1-2 hours.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, it’s a great museum for kids.
How to get there and where to park
The museum is located on Church St in Ellerbe.
You can use the ‘Rankin Museum of American Heritage’ in Google Maps and it will take you directly there. It’s a quiet, small town and the museum is easy to spot while you’re driving.
There is a small parking lot outside the museum.
How to get there and where to park
The museum is located on Church St in Ellerbe.
You can use the ‘Rankin Museum of American Heritage’ in Google Maps and it will take you directly there. It’s a quiet, small town and the museum is easy to spot while you’re driving.
There is a small parking lot outside the museum.
Entrance fees
The entrance fee is $4 per adult, $1 per student, and kids under 4 are free.
What to expect
I had a feeling I’d love the Andre exhibit, but the museum had so much more than that. I ended up spending a bit of time there looking through everything.
After you see Andre’s corner, you can walk through the natural history section which was my second favorite part. It had lots of taxidermy animals, fossils, and even Megalodon teeth that were found in North Carolina. If you have kids, this section also has a little sandpit where they can dig up fossils!
There’s also a local history section with a lot of interesting information about the history of the museum, Ellerbe, and North Carolina in general. Fayetteville even gets a mention.
Since North Carolina is my adopted home for the time being, it was interesting for me to learn more about it.
Lastly, there’s the Native American culture exhibit which has a lot of artifacts like weapons, clothing, and tools.
It was also interesting to learn about Dr. Rankin who founded the museum and filled it with his collection of artifacts.
Overall, it had much more than I expected and a lot of really interesting exhibits.
If you’re wanting a souvenir to take back with you, there’s a small souvenir section at the entrance of the museum as well.
The Andre The Giant exhibit
Obviously, this was my favorite part.
There is a whole exhibit for Andre the Giant and it’s pretty dang cool. You’ll see ring gear, photos, trivia, and you’ll even be able to compare your hand size to his.
If you’re a wrestling fan, I have a feeling you’ll also get a kick out of it. And if you’re not a wrestling fan, well quite honestly, you should be.
In any event, it’s a neat exhibit. Even if you walk in not knowing anything about Andre, you’ll definitely learn a few new things about this giant who made Ellerbe his adopted home.
Cheesing with Andre!
What else to do in Ellerbe
After your visit to the museum, I recommend stopping by The Berry Patch which is only about 5 minutes away.
Here you’ll find the world’s largest strawberry shaped building. It’s a huge building that sells ice cream and all sorts of sweet treats.
While you’re there, you can take a couple of pics of the unique building, pick up some locally made products and produce, and also get a delicious homemade ice cream.
Here’s my full guide for visiting the World’s Largest Strawberry Building.
Day trip itinerary
- Left Fayetteville around mid-morning
- Had the lunch I packed in the grassy area by the museum
- Visited the museum
- Visited The Berry Patch for an ice cream
- Drove back to Fayetteville
More day trips near Fayetteville
If you want even more day trip ideas, check out my Ultimate Fort Bragg Bucket List.
You’ll get a huge list of day trip inspiration as well as long weekend destinations and unique events you don’t want to miss while you’re in NC.
Basically, it’ll make it simple to fill your weekends.
Other guides you might enjoy
How To Visit The World’s Largest Chest Of Drawers In North Carolina
6 Of The Best Coffee Shops In Fayetteville (And Surrounding Area)
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