Mary's Gone Wild — Attraction in North Carolina

If you are anywhere near Holden Beach, a visit to Mary's Gone Wild is an absolute MUST. This isn't your typical tourist souvenir shop; it's a vibrant, whimsical, and joyful folk art gallery created by the incredible Mary Paul herself.

From the moment we arrived, we were captivated. The entire property is a masterpiece of colorful mosaics, recycled art, and playful sculptures. We spent a good 15 minutes just walking around the outside, discovering new details in every nook and cranny—from the bottle-cap creatures to the painted seashells.

Inside is even more magical. The sheer creativity on display is breathtaking. We ended up purchasing a one-of-a-kind painted flip-flop magnet and a beautiful, hand-crafted sea glass wind chime. The quality is evident, and knowing each piece was made by Mary and her team makes it so special.

The highlight of our visit was meeting Mary. She is as warm and wonderful as her art. She took the time to chat with us, share stories behind some of her pieces, and her passion is genuinely infectious. You can feel the love and soul she has poured...

Wow! All I can say is wow!

So fair warning, you are not coming to a museum, so don't expect AC or an indoor bathroom. In the middle of the day it is hot, and everything is outside, so expect it as such. You will encounter nature, as everything is open air all the time.

She has a lot of really nest folk art, and she paints many of her things on the back side of glass windows. That means she's painting everything backwards, even her signature and date!

There are lots of pieces and things for sale, from full size paintings, to small toilets, and even small rings that she has collected over the years. She's very nice to talk to and loves people.

The proceeds she makes go towards supporting ministries and causes that take care of children. You can purchase or just donate. There is no cost or obligation to do either, and...

Ms. Mary's little museum, as soon as you get out and start exploring you will soon be able to tell that she has put alot of blood sweat and tears into the place. I only got to talk to her for a short time and you could tell that she had a heart of gold and she loved what she did and all the donations was giving to the county to feed all the hungry children and that really made me feel so much better knowing that there are still people that have a big heart. If you ever get out her way you won't miss it and you will start feeling your own heart getting bigger. God Bless You MS Mary. Until...