(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.

(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE'S GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ (Randy) THIS IS SOMETHING THAT APPARENTLY NORTH CAROLINA SPECIALIZES IN, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN SELF-KICKING MACHINES ANYWHERE ELSE.

BUT APPARENTLY, COME GET KICKED.

(Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, HAVE I DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE.

LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE TV WEASELS WITH WHOM I TRAVEL HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR SOME CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

THEY'VE GOT SOME RULES.

RULE NUMBER FOUR, PROBABLY THE MOST CRUCIAL OF ALL: (Mike) "D O NOT STAND FA CING BOOTS."

(Don) AND THE BOOTS ARE-- OOH, LOOK AT THAT.

MADE FOR KICKIN'.

I'M THINKIN' THROUGH.

HAVE I DONE SOMETHING I SHOULD KICK MYSELF FOR?

LOSING MY GLASSES.

(Don) BROUGHT ME ALONG.

I COULD'VE KICKED MYSELF.

OOH.

OOH.

[Mike, laughing] I' M GETTING IT.

I WILL NEVER LOSE MY GLASSES AGAIN.

(Don) HOW ABOUT THAT WRONG TURN YOU MADE?

(Randy) OOH.

(Don) ANOTHER TAKE, PRODUCER MIKE?

(Mike) I THINK ANOTHER TAKE, CA MERAMAN DON.

(Mike) I'M GETTING IT.

OOH.

OOH.

(Don) LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

HEY, I ONLY LOST THE GLASSES ONCE.

(Don) I DON'T THINK I GOT THAT.

I WASN'T ROLLING.

(Mike) I DIDN'T GET THE LIGHT ON THE BOOTS RIGHT.

I'M SORRY.

(Mike) KE EP SHOOTING, CA MERAMAN DON.

YOU KNOW, CA MERAMAN DON, I THINK ANOTHER ANGLE WO ULD BE NICE.

(Don) SO WHAT'S THIS GOT TO DO WITH FINDING GREAT GRASSROOTS ART?

OOH, THAT LAST ONE REALLY HURT.

(Don) NOTHING, REALLY, BUT IT SURE IS FUN.

AND BESIDES, WE'LL BE BACK IN THAT CRAMPED CHRYSLER SOON ENOUGH, ANYWAY.

YOU GOT A PILLOW I CAN USE?

(Don) YEAH, HERE.

SEE?

I JUST GIVE AND GIVE, EVEN IF IT IS MIKE'S PILLOW.

AT ANY RATE, THE BOYS INSIST WE'LL STRIKE IT BIG IN LITTLETON, JUST AS SOON AS WE FIND RICHARD BROWN'S FLOWER SHOP ON-- AND I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP-- EAST NORTH MAIN STREET, WHERE SOMEONE'S TAKEN THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE AND USED THEM IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY.

(Randy) WHEN DID YOU START?

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVEN HEARD HOW LONG THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON.

(Richard) THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE '96.

IT WAS RIGHT AFTER MY MAMA GOT ILL.

I JUST PICKED UP A PIECE OF STYROFOAM AND WENT ON FROM THERE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A BOUTONNIERE PIN, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL YOUR FLORAL WIRE FOR YOUR FLOWER.

(Mike) YOU'RE USING GLITTER AND STUFF?

THAT'S RIGHT, GL ITTER.

GLITTER AND GLUE?

THAT WHAT THAT IS?

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

(Randy) HAD YOU SEEN OTHER PEOPLE MAKING THINGS WITH IT?

I NEVER HAVE.

IT'S SOMETHING I-- JU ST COME NATURAL.

(Mike) WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU MADE?

DO YOU REMEMBER?

THE FIRST THING I MADE-- IT WAS A CRANE, ONE OF THE HI GH WIRES AND CRANE.

THIS IS A MILITARY CRANE.

WHERE YOU SEE THAT STUMP TRACK, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE WHERE MEN WOULD COME FROM UNDER THAT.

THIS IS A MILITARY CRANE TOO.

(Mike) NO W, IN THE MILITARY, IS THERE REALLY A CRANE LIKE THAT?

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT.

IT WAS A MIND THING TO ME.

A CRANE TO ME, THAT'S WHAT IT HAVE BEEN.

NONE OF US HAVE SEEN THIS STUFF.

SEE, MOST OF THIS STUFF'S SUPPOSED TO BE THAT ALREADY DONE HAPPEN.

(Mike) JU ST LIKE SOMEBODY FOUND THEM WA Y IN THE FUTURE, BUT THEY FOUND THEM 100 YEARS AFTER TH EY'D ALREADY BEEN.

RIGHT.

SEE, WHAT I DO: I VISUALIZE THINGS IN MY DREAMS, AND WHEN I DREAM ABOUT THEM, I HAVE TO GET UP AND PUT IT TO WORK.

NONE OF THIS STUFF THAT I'VE EVER SEEN AROUND HERE.

MOST OF THIS STUFF IS SUPPOSED TO BE FROM LIKE IT DONE BEEN, LIKE THE FUTURE PAST.

NOW, DO YOU SK ETCH IT OUT FIRST AND MAKE DRAWINGS?

I JUST GET THE PIECE OF STYROFOAM, AND I GO FROM THERE.

THIS IS JUST LIKE A PICTURE BEFORE ME.

(Randy) DO ES IT HELP TH E FLOWER SHOP BUSINESS TO DO THESE THINGS?

WELL, I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO'D LIKE TO COME IN, BUT I DON'T EXPOSE IT OUT AND LET A LOT OF FOLKS SEE IT.

I DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT PUBLICITY.

WHETHER IF IT DON'T EVER GET ANYWHERE, I JUST LIKE DOING IT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET STARTED ON IT, YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP.

AND THAT'S WHY I HAD TO KIND OF STOP: 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA FILL THE PLACE UP.

I WAS RUNNING OUT OF ROOM.

[Mike laughs] (Don) RICHARD'S DREAMS MUST BE AWFULLY VIVID, SINCE IN HIS WAKING LIFE, HE'S GOT NO NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE OR MILITARY TRAINING WHATSOEVER.

WHAT HE NEEDS IS MORE ROOM, WHICH WILL BE COMING SOON AT A SPACIOUS NEW LOCATION WHERE HE CAN STACK STYROFOAM FREELY.

THERE'S YOUR DAMN DUO WATER TOWER SHOT.

COME ON, DON.

(Don) OUR FUTURE PAST, HOWEVER, REQUIRES THAT WE LEAVE LITTLETON AND HEAD FOR ROANOKE RAPIDS, OR JUST OUTSIDE IT, WHERE RANDY IS ONCE AGAIN HOT ON THE TRAIL OF SOMETHING LARGE FOR US TO LOOK AT.

(Randy) NOW, THIS THING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO COME FIND HERE USED TO BE DOWNTOWN.

IT USED TO BE UP ON TOP OF A BUILDING, AND THEY SIGN-ORDINANCED IT OUT OF TOWN.

(Mike) LOOK AT THAT.

WHAT IS HE HOLDING?

(Randy) HE 'S A SHRINER.

JUST DANIEL BOONE WITH AN OIL CAN FEZ.

DON'T GO AWAY.

I JUST WANT YOU TO GET A SENSE OF SCALE HERE.

(Don) THAT WOULD BE THE BALLS OF HIS FEET.

THAT REALLY IS AN OIL CAN.

(Don) THAT'S AN OIL CAN?

THAT IS AN OIL CAN.

(Mike) 55-GALLON DRUM.

30-WEIGHT, I THINK.

HE'S BIG, AND HE'S JUST A FORERUNNER OF SOMEONE WE'LL SEE TOMORROW.

SHALL I JUST LE AVE IT AT THAT?

(Mike) WELL, IF YOU MUST.

(Don) YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

NOW, NATURALLY, DRIVING SO MANY BACK ROADS TAKES A TOLL ON EVEN THE FINEST MINIVAN FINISH, SO WE TRY TO TOUCH IT UP ONCE IN A WHILE, THOUGH NEVER AT A PLACE QUITE LIKE THIS, ON THE GROUNDS OF A GIANT PAPER MILL WITH A BIG CIVIC HEART.

(Randy) WE LL, I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GONNA BE FANCY, BUT, DON, IT'S FREE.

THEY WENT TO A LOT OF TROUBLE AND MADE THIS CAR WASH, AND...WHEW.

OH, MAN.

I WAS GOING FOR THE DELUXE WASH. YOU CAN TELL ME.

HOW IS IT?

(Mike) IT'S PRETTY STINKY OUT HERE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

YEAH, I LIKED IT BETTER WHEN THE WINDOW WAS UP.

WOULD YOU MIND?

(Don) TH IS IS HOW THEY-- (Mike) HEY, HEY, HEY.

HEY.

(Don) I THINK THIS IS HOW THEY GE T RID OF THEIR SEWER WATER.

(Randy) I THINK IT IS TOO.

(Don) AT LEAST NO FACTORY GOONS ACCOSTED US, JUST AN OLFACTORY ASSAULT FROM THAT SMELL.

PEW.

MAN, THAT'S AWFUL.

BUT THE CAR IS SHINY CLEAN.

OH, YEAH.

IT'S REAL CLEAN.

OH, MAN.

(Don) THAT SMELL FINALLY LIFTED ON THE DRIVE OUT TO GARYSBURG, REPLACED BY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR CALLED ELOISE STEPHENSON, PROUD OWNER OF NEW KNEES AND WIDOW OF Q.J.

STEPHENSON, TRAPPER, CONSTRUCTION WORKER, AND BUILDER OF HIS OWN EARTH MUSEUM IN THE FRONT YARD.

(Eloise) HE DIDN'T FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.

HE DIDN'T FINISH THE SEVENTH GRADE.

HE WAS OUT HUNTING IN THE WOODS.

WELL, HE'D RUN A DRAG LINE, AND HE TRAPPED IN THE WINTER.

SO THEN HE STARTED DIGGING UP ALL THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW.

(Randy) WELL, THERE SEEMS TO BE A STORY HERE THAT Q.J.

WAS TRYING TO TELL ABOUT THESE PARTS.

IS THAT WHAT THIS IS?

(Eloise) OH, YEAH.

(Randy) WHAT STORY IS IT?

(Eloise) ABOUT THE INDIANS AND THINGS THAT THEY DID A LONG TIME AGO.

HERE, SEE THE STUMP THERE?

(Mike) YEAH.

HE FOUND PETRIFIED WOOD AND ALL KIND OF ROCKS AND STUFF.

HE FOUND A METEORITE, AND HE FOUND A DINOSAUR TUSK AND DIFFERENT THINGS LI KE THAT.

HE MADE A LOT OF IT-- HIS VERSION OF WHAT THE WORLD WAS WAY BACK YONDER.

HE DIDN'T WANT NOBODY TO SEE HIM DO ANY OF THIS, NOT NOBODY.

A MAN UP THE ROAD TOLD HIM, HE SAID, "IF YOU'LL SHOW ME HOW YOU PUT THOSE LEAF PRINTS IN THE CEMENT," HE SAYS, "I'LL PAY YOU $50."

HE SAID, "DO LIKE I DID: FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF," AND HE WOULD NOT SHOW HIM.

HE BELIEVED IN ROOSEVELT.

(Randy) HE WAS A ROOSEVELT FAN?

(Eloise) YES, SIR.

HE READ A LOT OF BOOKS: OH, ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND HE WAS JUST INTERESTED.

SEE?

THIS IS SOME OF THE STUFF HE TRAPPED: MUSKRATS.

(Randy) LOOK AT THIS GUY.

(Eloise) THAT'S MY SISTER.

(Mike) THAT'S YOUR SISTER?

(Randy) NOW, SEE, SHOW ME SOME RESEMBLANCE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?

(Mike) IT LOOKS LIKE WIENIES ON A STICK.

IT'S CATTAILS.

(Mike) CATTAILS.

THAT WAS GONNA BE MY SECOND GUESS.

CATTAILS, CORN DOGS-- WHO CAN TELL?

CORN DOG, DON?

BEFORE YOU GO IN, THOUGH, WHAT ABOUT THE CRITTER?

OH, ISN'T HE PRETTY?

OH, LORD.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

IT'S LIKE A-- OH, IT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER WORLD.

MUST HAVE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS OUT HERE.

(Eloise) EVERY WAKING MINUTE.

(Randy) WOULD THIS BE SOMEONE WE WOULD KNOW?

(Eloise) THAT WAS HIS FIRST GIRLFRIEND.

WOULD IT ALSO BE-- [giggling] (Mike) TH AT BETTER BE YOU.

(Randy) EVERY LITTLE SPACE IS DIFFERENT.

HE DIDN'T REPEAT HIMSELF, DID HE?

KIND OF LOOKS TO ME LIKE HE GOT ONE THING GOING, THEN HE MOVED ON.

(Eloise) HE'D STOP WORKING ON THAT AND HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, AND HE'D START WORKING ON SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT'S WHY HE'S GOT SO MUCH STUFF UNFINISHED.

ANYBODY BRING HIM ANYTHING, HE'S GONNA PUT IT IN CEMENT.

I SAID ONE THING'S SURE: TO NOT COME BACK AND ASK FOR IT, BECAUSE IT'LL BE BURIED IN CEMENT.

(Randy) DID HE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME SEE THIS STUFF?

(Eloise) OH, YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT HE BUILT IT FOR.

HE TOLD ME NEVER TO SELL IT, NEVER GET RID OF IT.

THIS IS WHAT HE LIVED FOR.

HE WOULDN'T CUT THE GRASS.

HE'D GET THE BOY TO CUT THE GRASS, AND THEN HE'D BE OUT HERE DIDDLING AND DADDLING OR IN THE BACK DIDDLING AND DADDLING, SO... (Mike) IS THAT A TECHNICAL TERM: DIDDLING AN D DADDLING?

[laughing] OR WHATEVER.

IF HE LIKED YOU, HE LIKED YOU.

IF HE DIDN'T LIKE YOU, TOUGH LUCK.

(Don) THINK HE'D LIKE THESE GUYS?

(Eloise) OH, YEAH, HE'D LIKE THEM, 'CAUSE THEY LIKE HIS ROCKS.

[laughing] (Don) DONATIONS.

HERE--CAN I HAVE A SACAGAWEA?

(Mike) PROBABLY THE FIRST SACAGAWEA, WOULDN'T YOU THINK?

PROBABLY.

IT WAS NICE OF ME TO DO THAT.

(Don) ELOISE AND HER KNEES SEEMED PLEASED TO SHOW US AROUND, GIVING A STELLAR TOUR OF Q.J.

'S LODGE, MUSEUM, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

I'M SURE HE'D UNDERSTAND THAT AT THIS POINT, I'D JUST LIKE TO CALL IT A DAY.

(Mike) SHE IS SO SWEET.

(Randy) HEY, NOW, ENJOY THAT T-SHIRT.

(Mike) BYE-BYE.

THANKS.

[cow moos] (Don) REMEMBER THAT PROMISE OF SOMETHING BIG?

WELL, THIS ISN'T IT, BUT SOMEHOW, OUR SEARCH FOR A GIANT PLASTIC WOMAN HAS LED BACK HERE, TO THESE LOCKED GATES THAT GUARD THE GROUNDS OF MNO, ROCKY MOUNT'S MEN'S NIGHT OUT.

SHE'S SUCH A TEMPTRESS, THEY HAVE TO KEEP HER BEHIND BARBED WIRE.

SHE USED TO BE OUT ON HIGHWAY 301.

EVERYBODY KNEW HER.

SECURITY'S TIGHT.

THERE SHE IS.

CAN YOU SEE HER NAVEL RING?

(Don) WELL, SHE'S KIND OF-- SHE'S GOT A MODESTY BRANCH.

SHE'S COMELY.

IS THAT A WORD?

IT IS.

NOT AS GOOD A WORD AS PULCHRITUDINOUS.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BOYS, BUT I THINK SOMETHING KINKY WAS GOING ON BACK HERE.

(Randy) KINKOMETER?

KINKOMETER IS WHOOP, WHOOP, WHOOP.

(Don) SO, LACKING ANY BETTER IDEAS, THE BOYS GRABBED THEIR GLOVES AND THREW SOME QUICK CAROLINA CATCH.

OW.

(Don) THEN IT WAS BACK IN THE VAN AND BACK TO SCHOOL.

THIS PRETTY LITTLE CAMPUS BELONGS TO NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN, HOME OF THE FOUR SISTERS GALLERY AND THE ROBERT LYNCH COLLECTION OF OUTSIDER ART, GATHERED UP BY A NATIVE NORTH CAROLINIAN WHO MADE IT BIG IN NEW YORK BUT LOVED THE STUFF MADE AROUND HERE BEST.

(Everett) ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IN UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF SELF-TAUGHT ART OR VISIONARY ART IS THAT PEOPLE'S MOTIVATIONS USUALLY ARE NOT CONVENTIONAL.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY MOTIVATED BY RELIGION.

SOME OF THEM ARE MOTIVATED BY BEING ALIENATED FROM MAINSTREAM SOCIETY.

SOME OF THEM ARE MOTIVATED FOR JUST THE PURE PLEASURE OF MAKING SOMETHING IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL MANNER.

THIS PARTICULAR EXHIBITION IS CALLED ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.

THE CRITERIA FOR THE EXHIBITION IS THAT IT HAS TO HAVE ANIMALS.

(Mike) I GOT TO INTERRUPT YOU HERE, BECAUSE I THINK ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL IS A TRADEMARK PUBLIC TELEVISION NAME.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT... [laughing] THAT'S A GOOD LOOK.

(Adelman) LET ME SHOW YOU THE GREATEST ANIMAL.

WE HAVE THE PURPLE SEA MONSTER, WHICH IS OVERHEAD HERE, WHICH IS A TEN-FOOT-LONG PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD WHICH WAS FASHIONED BY A MAN WITH MY NAMESAKE, EVERETT MAYO.

EVERETT MAYO IS FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, AND SINCE I'M MENTIONING RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, AND ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, ROUTE 301 NORTH OF THE EXIT FROM I-95-- (Don) PLENTY OF FREE PARKING.

PLENTY OF FREE PARKING.

THE TERRITORY THAT THE FOUR SISTERS GALLERY USES TO COLLECT IS WHAT'S CALLED THE COASTAL PLAIN: FROM VIRGINIA DOWN INTO GEORGIA AND OVER TO THE PIEDMONT WHERE YOU SAW CLYDE JONES, AND CLYDE JONES IS AT THE CUTTING-OFF POINT.

AFTER CLYDE JONES, THERE REALLY IS NO MORE FOLK ART.

VERNON BURWELL WORKED ON THE RAILROAD.

RETIRED.

A LOT OF THESE MEN WERE USED TO WORKING, AND WHEN THEY WERE FORCED INTO RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTH OR BECAUSE OF THEIR PARTICULAR AGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY COULDN'T STOP WORKING.

AND VERNON BURWELL WAS VERY PROLIFIC, MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF SCULPTURES.

ONE OF THE GREAT PANTHEISTS OF THE COLLECTION, OF COURSE, IS QUENTIN J. STEPHENSON.

I KNOW YOU VISITED HIS WIDOW.

HE LOVED DIFFERENT MATERIALS.

HE WOULD NEVER TELL YOU WHAT HE PAINTED OR CEMENTED THINGS TOGETHER WITH.

THAT WAS A TRADE SECRET.

THIS PARTICULAR OBJECT'S MADE BY JEFF WILLIAMS.

I'VE NEVER MET JEFF WILLIAMS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE IS SO INCREDIBLY CLEVER WITH IS THE WAY HE ASSEMBLES AND THE ENERGY AND THE VITALITY IN HIS ANIMALS.

I'VE GOT DOGS THAT LOOK JUST LIKE THIS.

(Mike) THEY'RE USUALLY ON MY LEG, AND I USUALLY SMACK THEM.

GARY GREGANIS IS A-- I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL HIM A HORTICULTURIST.

HE GROWS TREES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GARY DOES SO WELL IS, HE CARVES NARRATIVE THINGS.

HE SAID THAT BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS A KID, HE AND HIS BROTHERS WOULD BE SITTING AROUND THE DINNER TABLE WAITING TO EAT SUPPER, AND HIS DAD WOULD READ SCRIPTURE AND READ AND READ AND READ.

AND SO THEY WOULD TIRE OF THE SCRIPTURE, AND THEY WOULD DAYDREAM.

THIS BLACK NOTCH-CARVED STICK WAS GIVEN TO ROBERT LYNCH FROM LEROY PERSON.

THIS IS NEW YORK CITY REFUSE THAT ROBERT LYNCH BROUGHT BACK TO LEROY PERSON, WHO THEN IN TURN FASHIONED IT INTO HIS TWO-HEADED PEACOCK OR SNAIL.

A LOT OF THESE FOLK ARTISTS USE OBJECTS RESOURCEFULLY BECAUSE THERE IS AN INVESTMENT, THEY FEEL, IN TRANSFORMING THE ORDINARY INTO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

IF YOU'RE ON I-95 HEADED TO FLORIDA, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

(Mike) MIGHT AS WELL GET OFF RIGHT HERE.

GET OFF AT ROCKY MOUNT AND COME SEE THE GALLERY.

(Mike) WHERE WOULD THAT GALLERY BE?

(Everett) ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, THE FOUR SISTERS GALLERY ON ROUTE 301 NORTH OF ROCKY MOUNT FIVE MILES ON YOUR LEFT, AND... (Mike) PLENTY OF FREE PARKING.

(Don) OF COURSE, PARKING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE SELDOM DO FOR LONG, LIKE EATING AND RESTING, THOUGH FAR BE IT FROM ME TO COMPLAIN AS WE CRUISE THROUGH THAT COASTAL PLAIN ON OUR WAY TO WILSON, WHERE, IN THE SPACE OF ONE CITY BLOCK, YOU CAN SEE TWO OVERSIZED OBJECTS, BOTH WITH A MARITIME THEME.

(Mike) YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SEEING THOSE ANNOYING LITTLE LIGHTHOUSES IN PEOPLE'S YARDS ALL OVER, THE WHOLE TIME WE'VE BEEN DRIVING.

MAN, WHAT IS WITH THOSE THINGS?

THEY ARE UGLY.

THEY GOT IT FROM US, ACTUALLY.

(Randy) HOW BIG IS THAT?

(James) 40 FOOT.

(Randy) NOW LET ME GET THIS RIGHT: IT'S THE BIGGEST REPLICA OF TH E WORLD'S BIGGEST LIGHTHOUSE.

LIGHTHOUSE IN WILSON, RIGHT, AND THE ONLY.

BIGGEST LIGHTHOUSE IN WILSON.

DO YOU KNOW THE WORD AMBERGRIS?

NO.

(Don) WHAT IS AMBERGRIS?

(Randy) THAT'S WHALE PUKE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY MAKE PERFUME OUT OF.

ARE Y'ALL REALLY GONNA FILM THIS?

I DON'T HAVE TO PAY AN YTHING, THOUGH.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY US ANYTHING TO BE ON OUR SHOW.

OKAY, GIVE ME FIVE BUCKS.

(Don) NOW, GETTING PAID PEANUTS IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT WHAT REALLY HURTS IS BEING TOLD YOU'LL GET TO THROW A FEW TOO, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE PERFECT PLACE THEY HAD IN MIND ISN'T SO PERFECT AFTER ALL.

(Mike) LOOKS PRETTY BUSY TO ME.

NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SUN IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM.

MAYBE THIS ISN'T YOUR BETTER PLACE TO PLAY CATCH.

(Don) FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE AT HOME, IT'S BIG PLASTIC BRUTES, ONE, CAMERA GUY, ZERO.

[spits] WORDS FAIL ME.

NOW, IT'S OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP CURES EVERYTHING, BUT I WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, EITHER.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS, WE'RE BLOWING THROUGH BAILEYVILLE LOOKING FOR LUCAMA AND THE LEGENDARY VOLLIS SIMPSON.

JEEZ, OH, PETE.

(Don) AND THIS IS IT: THE WINDMILLS OF HIS MIND, SOMETIMES CALLED ACID PARK FOR THEIR PSYCHEDELIC QUALITIES AND BUILT, SOME SAY, IN TRIBUTE TO A TRAGICALLY DECEASED DAUGHTER, WHICH THEY'RE NOT.

WHAT THEY ARE IS ONE JAW-DROPPING SIGHT, CREATED BY ONE AMAZING MAN.

(Vollis) I COME OUT OF THE SERVICE IN '47, AND IN '50, WE BUILT-- THREE OF US BUILT THIS SHOP, AND THEY WORKED GOOD TILL THEY RETIRED, DRAWING SOCIAL SECURITY.

I STARTED THIS AFTER THEY LEFT.

I STARTED THIS RAINY DAYS, HOLIDAYS, THEN.

I DIDN'T NEVER STOP TILL I FINISHED ALL THIS OUT HERE.

DID IT ALL MYSELF, PUT IT UP MYSELF, EXCEPT TWO PIECES.

(Mike) AND HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, HERE?

ARE WE TALKING-- (Vollis) OH, TALKING ABOUT FOUR, FIVE YEARS.

MIGHT BE MORE THAN THAT.

I DIDN'T DO IT FULL-TIME.

(Randy) WHAT IF YOU'D DONE IT FULL-TIME?

OH, YOU COULDN'T HAVE PUT IT IN WILSON COUNTY.

(Randy) WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST WERE PUTTING THEM UP?

PEOPLE DOWN THE WAY, DID THEY GO-- (Vollis) MAN, THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT I WAS GONNA DO NEXT, AND IT WERE A MADHOUSE.

AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO THAT FOR?"

SOME OF THEM SAID I'M CRAZY.

THERE'S RIGHT WHERE THE SUN WILL HIT IT.

(Randy) YEAH, THERE IT COMES.

(Vollis) IT MIGHT WANT TO GO TOO FAR.

(Randy) NOW, I FORGOT TO ASK IF YOU HAVE NAMES FOR ALL OF THESE.

(Vollis) NO, NOT REALLY.

MOST ALL THESE, I'VE BEEN THERE.

THE HORSES, USED ON THE FARM OR THE MULE FOR THE PLOW.

AIRPLANES: I WAS DRIVING WORLD WAR II FOR ONE YEAR'S SERVICE.

DREW $21 A MONTH.

WAR BROKE OUT WHILE I WAS IN THERE.

STAYED IN THERE FIVE YEARS.

THOUGHT I'D NEVER GET BACK HERE.

AND MOST ALL THIS, I'VE BEEN THERE.

(Mike) SO HARD WORK'S JUST BEEN A WAY OF LIFE FOR YOU.

(Vollis) WELL, I'VE BEEN ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

ALL MY OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I THINK 72 IS AS HIGH AS THEY GO, AND I'M GOING ON 84.

(Mike) WOW.

(Randy) VOLLIS, YOU'RE 84?

YOU'RE ALMOST 84?

(Vollis) WELL, I WAS 83 ON JANUARY THE 17th.

(Randy) AND LOOK AT THOSE ARMS ON YOU TOO.

THEY'RE DRYING UP NOW.

WELL, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY TAUT.

WELL, THEY'VE BEEN THE BEST THEY'S EVER BEEN.

I'VE BEEN SPRUNG, BIT.

SEE, THIS ONE'S BEEN BROKE.

I GOT ARTHRITIS.

COURSE, I DON'T LET THAT BOTHER ME.

I LEAVE THAT GATE OPEN MOST OF THE TIME SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN HERE.

I HAVE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND SCHOOL YOUNG ONES AND CHURCH CROWD COME, AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE PICNIC.

I CAN ACCOMMODATE 35 OR 40 IN THAT GAZEBO.

(James) I HAD SOME PEOPLE VI SITING US, FRIENDS OF OURS FROM ILLINOIS OUT HERE, A MAN AND HIS WIFE, AND THEY JUST WENT BERSERK.

THEY COULDN'T REALIZE THAT ONE GUY COULD DO ALL THAT.

(Vollis) ANY DAY, I DON'T CARE HOW HOT AND HUMID IT IS, IT'LL TAKE OFF AND QUIT, TA KE OFF, QUIT, TAKE OFF, QUIT.

THAT OPENING RIGHT IN HERE, MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S A-TURNING, 'CAUSE I ALWAYS TELL THE PEOPLE THAT'S THE LEGISLATURE-- HOT AIR FROM RALEIGH LEGISLATURE.

WHEN YOU STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT, SAY IF A GOOD WIND, THAT WHOLE THING TURNS.

NOW, IT TAKES A LITTLE POWER.

AND, I MEAN, THE BALANCE-- THAT'S WHAT AMAZES ME.

(Mike) FIRST THING WHEN WE DROVE UP, DON SAID IT LOOKS LIKE AN AMUSEMENT PARK HE REMEMBERS FROM KANSAS CITY.

WERE YOU INFLUENCED BY THINGS YOU'D BEEN TO LIKE THAT?

DIDN'T GO TO A LOT OF AMUSEMENT PARKS?

NO, I WENT TO THE RALEIGH FAIR AND WILTON FAIR HERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T-- DIDN'T SHAKE ME UP.

I THINK THE HOOTCHY-KOOTCHY DID... [laughing] BACK THEN.

(Don) THE HOOTCHY-KOOTCHY?

(Mike) YEAH, HOW DOES THAT HOOTCHY-KOOTCHY GO?

I USED TO KNOW THAT.

(Randy) WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER, VOLLIS.

WE'VE SEEN AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS DOING OUR SHOW, BUT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

(Vollis) WELL, THAT WAS MY IDEA: TO BUILD SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I'VE BUILT ALL MY LIFE.

(Mike) WAS THERE A CREATIVE STREAK IN YOUR CHILDHOOD, AN ART BACKGROUND SOMEWHERE OR ANY KIND OF-- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ART WAS BACK THEN.

DON'T KNOW NOW.

(Mike) SO WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY IT'S AN ART SITE?

(Vollis) WELL, I LET THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT TO.

THEY KNOW MORE THAN I DO.

(Randy) YOU DON'T TRY TO TALK THEM OUT OF IT?

(Vollis) NO.

(Mike) YO U DON'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY.

(Vollis) AIN'T NO TWO SEES ALIKE, ANYHOW.

PEOPLE'S ALL--"HOW YOU PUT THESE THINGS UP?"

I SAID, "WELL, I EAT A LOT OF WHEATIES OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS."

THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN YOUR LIFETIME AND MY LIFETIME TOO-- SOME OF IT FOR THE BETTER, SOME OF IT FOR THE WORST.

THIS COMPUTER AGE-- SOMEONE'S GOT TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY.

(Mike) THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT DON.

[laughing] (Don) AND THEY'RE DIRTY.

LOOK AT THIS.

AS ONE WILLING WORKER TO ANOTHER, I TIP MY HAT TO THIS GUY.

AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN WHAT'S IN HIS SHOP.

FROM A PLACE I'M TRULY GLAD I GOT TO SEE, THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNING OFF.

(female announcer) OWN A COPY OF THE COMPANION BOOK TO RARE VISIONS, COMPLETE WITH TIPS ON WHERE TO FIND FOOD, FUN, AND FASCINATING FOLKS.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE TV SHOW, ONLY IT DOESN'T MOVE.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS, WACKY SIGHTS, AND HOW YOU CAN SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF, GO TO: Captioning and audio description provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Captioning and audio description byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com (Don) HERE'S THE STUPID CREDITS RIGHT HERE.

GIVE ME THAT.

YEAH, I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE.

OH, MAN.

(Don) YO U SHOULD KICK YOURSELF.

(announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.