by John Condit
Like all of us who grew up watching old movies—and I mean the really old ones, we probably got our notion of the perfect little town from our memories of those films. For some, it might have been Andy Hardy’s Carvel. For others, it was George Bailey’s Bedford Falls, so memorable in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” No matter which town, from which movie, we all created an idea of the town where we’d like to live…if we could. Southern Pines, North Carolina is the kind of place that evokes those movie memories.
Like in the movies, Southern Pines has a broad avenue--in fact, Broad Street--with a tree-covered green running down the center and where you park diagonally, so no one has to trouble with parallel parking. On Broad Street, it’s great to stroll past the old theater, which actually still operates as a theater…marquee and all. Most of the buildings are a hundred years old and built of brick and charm. Behind the vintage storefronts, the shops and cafes have friendly people, just the right stuff to buy and certainly great things to eat and smell. Yes, Southern Pines could easily remind you of Carvel or Bedford Falls--only it’s real.
A couple I met recently told me a story that proves my point. They were traveling by rail, passing through Southern Pines in the middle of the night. When the train stopped in town, they woke up and peered out. Looking to them just like the “town” set of an old movie, they first saw our time-capsule depot and the Sunset Theater. What they saw from their train window that night hooked them. When they got home, they jumped in their RV and immediately made the trip back to North Carolina. Within a week of their return, they bought a house here…and that was two years ago. And all because Southern Pines reminded them of an old movie, they now live in their movie town.
Southern Pines certainly has unique appeal…unique enough to touch you like Hollywood once did.
