Some interesting secrets can be found hiding in the past in the Tar Heel State. Others, are just… well, random. For instance, the story of how a North Carolina four-star resort built for the richest of the rich in America was turned into a German POW camp during WWI. Read on to learn more about this POW camp in North Carolina and how it figures into overall state history.

The Mountain Park Hotel in Hot Springs was built in 1886 and served the wealthy as a luxury resort and spa that featured hot springs with healing properties.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
Up until the beginning of WWI, business was booming at the spa, but with the war came a sharp decline in visitors. The owner of the grand hotel offered to lease it to the government. And that's how Hot Springs, NC got its POW camp

The Germans detained at the camp were a combination of workers from a German ship and immigrants that had been held at Ellis Island since the beginning of the war. In all, 2,500 Germans were held in the internment camp in Hot Springs; many were living right in that luxury hotel.
The camp quickly outgrew the space available within the hotel, and the ship carpenters in the camp were employed by the government to build housing.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
The newly built barracks of Camp B in the internment camp are shown in the photo above, with a work crew in the center. This is one of many historic photos of that time that still exist today.
But the Germans held here had much time on their hands.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
Eventually, they built their own houses out of materials found at the hotel. The walls of many of the home were fashioned from tree limbs, as you can see in the photo above.
Below is a photo of a house in the camp. It has a bay window and a path in the yard made from large rocks found in the area.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
As you can see, this house was less drafty than many of the others; the gaps between the tree limbs were filled in. Homes were fashioned in makeshift ways with what was available for construction. The detainees had fashioned their own little German village by the time they were allowed to leave.

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Below is a photo of a street of homes found in the German village.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
In the center of the photo is a now historic church they built at the end of this street.
Below is a close up of the church the Germans built.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
Unfortunately, nothing remains of the German village, or the POW camp, in Hot Springs, one of the most historical places in NC.
Until 1933, this grave of one of the German prisoners could be found at the International Order of Oddfellows’ Cemetery in Hot Springs.
Flickr/State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC
But it was moved in 1933 to Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Today, the town of Hot Springs is still a place people visit to partake in the curative waters of the mineral springs.
Facebook/Hot Springs Resort and Spa
The resort no longer boasts a gargantuan hotel, but there is still a resort at Hot Springs, albeit a little more rustic than past renditions in the same spot. You can find out more about Hot Springs on the official town website.

If you’d like to visit the site of this old German POW camp, it’s located at the present-day Hot Springs Resort & Spa. Get more information on the resort’s official website.

Have you ever been to this sad but historic place? If so, what did you think? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

Some North Carolina secrets are just plain bizarre, or even weird. Read about several others in 7 Insane Things That Happened In North Carolina You Won’t Find in History Books.

If you’re still in the mood for more Tar Heel State adventures, take a look at this video:

 

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More to Explore

Exploring Beautiful North Carolina

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | April 20, 2023

Where can we find other historic sites in North Carolina?

  • The Biltmore Estate, located in Ashville, is a stunning 8,000-acre estate built from 1889-1895 as a vacation home for the wealthy Vanderbilt family and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
  • The USS North Carolina (also called the Battleship North Carolina), located in Wilmington, played a pivotal role in WWII and remains as a floating slice of history in North Carolina.
  • On the Cape Fear River, Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson, located in Winnabow, is a dual abandoned site that played roles in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fascinating historic sites in North Carolina.

Where can we find small towns in North Carolina?

  • Brevard is a charming little town chock full of shops and restaurants and where “The Hunger Games" was filmed, for film buffs.
  • Edenton sits right along the Albermarle Sound and offers spectacular views of the Sound as well as this part of the town.
  • Tyron is nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains and features loads of outdoor recreational and equestrian activities.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other quaint small towns in North Carolina.

Where can we find state parks in North Carolina?

  • Elk Knob State Park, located in Todd, offers cross country skiing, hiking, and primitive backcountry campsites.
  • Fort Macon State Park, located in Atlantic Beach, is a historic Civil War-era location and North Carolina's first official state park.
  • Goose Creek State Park, located in Washington, features tent camping, a beach, and coastal wetlands.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other amazing state parks in North Carolina.

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Hot Springs, NC 28743, USA