This Frying Pan Doesn’t Fit on the Stove
We weren’t expecting much when we pulled into Rose Hill, North Carolina—just a quick photo-op with the World’s Largest Frying Pan and maybe a chuckle. But wow. This skillet is legit.
Hidden behind a modest fence and nestled under a covered shelter, this massive frying pan could probably moonlight as a wading pool. It was built in 1963 for the local Poultry Jubilee (yes, that’s a thing!), and it’s not just a big metal circle—it’s a full-on functioning frying pan. We’re talking over 2 tons of steel, a diameter of 15 feet, and enough space to fry up 365 chickens in one go. Basically: chicken math meets small-town engineering.
Once a year, during the North Carolina Poultry Jubilee, local fire departments team up and fire up this beast. With over 200 gallons of oil bubbling inside, the pan comes to life as a community centerpiece—serving up fried chicken, music, pageants, and a whole lot of small-town pride.
Is it practical? Not really. Is it magical? Absolutely.
Did You Know?
Built in 1963
Weighs 2 tons
15 feet wide
Cooks 365 chickens at once
Still used annually during the Poultry Jubilee
📍 Know Before You Go
🕒 Best Viewing: Any day, but you’ll only catch it sizzling during the Poultry Jubilee (held in November)
📸 Free to visit, great for quirky photo ops
📖 Don’t skip the visitor logbook—yep, it’s real, and it’s full of poultry-themed gold
🧭 Address: World’s Largest Frying Pan 103 E. Church Street, Rose Hill, NC 28458 Located near the Rose Hill Museum & Town Hall
If you love weird North Carolina icons, check out The Angus Barn Kicking Booth and The Half-Horse-Half-Tractor Driven by a Cat while you’re road-trippin’.
Want even more offbeat treasures? My full list of Things To Do in North Carolina is packed with ’em!