The Pottery Road – Seagrove, North Carolina

There’s a mountain of creativity going on in the sand hills of North Carolina.    You get an inkling that something’s up when signs start popping up along Highway 220 pointing you towards Seagrove and the Pottery Road on Route 705.

The Pottery Road - Route 705, NC
The Pottery Road – Route 705, NC

At first all you see are farms and rolling hills cut out of the towering pine woods.  Road signs keep assuring you that you’re on the Pottery Road but you don’t see massive tourist signs or strip malls anchored by McDonalds. Instead, you see old North Carolina with sparse main streets featuring a dozen small shops or a quaint log cabin tucked into a forest with a pottery sign sprouting out of a tree out front.  Each shop holds an artist’s treasure.  Pottery.

Levi Mahan Pottery, Seagrove, NC
Levi Mahan Pottery, Seagrove, NC

This is art you hold in your hand.  You feel the heft of the very clay you stand upon. You examine the vessel’s craftsmanship while admiring the glaze, the design, the impressions that make this one piece the art you must take home.

Dean & Martin Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Dean & Martin Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery

“I could put this in my den,” I think, but then I ask, “Wouldn’t this look amazing if I add a pot of flowers and put it in my dining room?” Then as I spot another beauty, I tuck the first piece under my arm and reach out for a brilliant blue vase, perfect for my bedroom.

With about 100 potteries to choose from, a visitor can get confused fast. So make your first stop at the Seagrove Creations.  This gallery is located in the heart of the pottery road and features collections from dozens of local potters.  You can easily compare artists’ styles and prices in a bright and attractive setting.  While contemplating purchases, you can even enjoy a coffee and muffin the the gallery’s snack bar.

Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery, 354 Little River Rd., Seagrove.
Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Tom Gray Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Tom Gray Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Potts Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Potts Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Dover Pottery at at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Dover Pottery at at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Caldwell-Hohl artworks at Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Caldwell-Hohl artworks at Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Latham's Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Latham’s Pottery at Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery
Seagrove Creations Pottery also sells attractive jewelry and similar collectibles.
Seagrove Creations Pottery also sells attractive jewelry and similar collectibles.
Coffee Shop at Seagrove Creations Pottery
Coffee Shop at Seagrove Creations Pottery – a pretty place to relax after all the shopping.

You’ll see the Official Visitor Guide at every little stop you make along the Pottery Highway.  Pick one up because it features an easy-to-follow map and a few details of the many sights along the highway.  The brochure says Seagrove is, “the largest community of potters with the longest continued history of pottery making in the United States.”

DSC01978 Seagrove NC 2016
2016 Offiical Visitor Guide
DSC01979 Seagrove NC 2016
Map located inside the visitor guide.
North Carolina Pottery Center
The North Carolina Pottery Center celebrates the pottery making industry of the area. A working potter was on site the day we visited. Admission is $2.50.
North Carolina Pottery Center
The entrance to the North Carolina Pottery Center. Hundreds of pottery pieces are arranged on floor to ceiling shelves, showing both the history and the art of pottery.

Now it’s time to head down the Pottery Highway and tuck into the individual artist’s studios.  But first stop in at the old time Seagrove Hardware store where you can still buy nails by the pound.

Seagrove Hardware, 128 East Main Street
Seagrove Hardware, 128 East Main Street

Keep a sharp eye out and you’ll see potters at work in studios, garages, and behind potters sheds.  This potter was working with heat and a wheel to make his art.  We didn’t even have to get out of the car to see him at work.

Potter at work in Seagrove, NC
Potter at work in Seagrove, NC

Don’t you love this romantic little pottery?  Visit Levi Mahan‘s website to see some of his extraordinary work.

Levi Mahan Pottery, Seagrove, NC
Levi Mahan Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Pottery ranges from the sophisticated art of Levi Mahan (above) to the folk art of Crystal King (below).  Pottery from the Seagrove area is collected by locals as well as the White House, the Smithsonian and fine arts museums.  Pottery ranges from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.  There really is something for everyone.

Crystal King Pottery
North Carolina Pottery Center

All the shopping made us hungry.  We asked locals for recommendations and all agreed – try the Westmoore Family Restaurant.  Located 7 miles outside of Seagrove, the drive was easy as traffic is light along the Pottery Highway.  The drive was well worth it as we were treated to North Carolina fried white fish – delicious!

DSC01973 Seagrove NC 2016
Westmoore Family Restaurant, 2172 NC-705, Seagrove, NC 27341
DSC01976 Seagrove NC 2016
Just $7.49 for a full fish dinner complete with hushpuppies.
DSC01980 Seagrove NC 2016
Fried white fish, baked potato, sweet/sour cole slaw and hush puppies.

Shopped out and full, we went looking for the perfect summer peaches of North Carolina….and found beauties in West End.  The perfect ending to a peach of a day!

Peaches - West End, NC
Peaches – West End, NC

Author: barbgrano1

Just let me see the world! I'm currently focusing on the US and Europe and invite you to share my travels. I teach ethics and political science at St. Petersburg College part time; I retired as a college administrator in Ohio. I am a total geek about government with huge wishes for continued freedom and respect for the individual. We must each do our part.