18 Guinness World Records held by North Carolina
From giant cookies to a llama that’s almost 30 years old, discover the unique things that put North Carolina in the Guinness World Records.
North Carolina is known for many things, such as its natural beauty, barbecue, and craft beer scene, but the Tar Heel State also holds several Guinness World Records for massive baked goods and burgers, impressive physical feats, and quirky collections.
Read on to discover 18 of the most interesting Guinness World Records held by the Tar Heel State and its residents.
1. Largest walk-through zoo
North Carolina is home to the world’s biggest walk-through zoo. The North Carolina Zoo, located in Asheboro, spans about 2,800 acres and has about five miles of walking trails to explore. It’s home to about 1,700 animals, such as African elephants and lions, polar bears, giraffes, and Southern White Rhinoceros, with additional species coming in 2026. Adult peak-season tickets purchased online start at $18 per person.
2. Highest launch from a Galilean cannon
Members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s physics and astronomy department reached new heights when they set a world record for the highest launch from a Galilean cannon. (A Galilean cannon launch involves dropping a stack of balls arranged from heaviest to lightest, which launches the lightest, topmost ball into the air.) The launch reached a height of 42 feet, 10 inches, and took place during the North Carolina Science Festival on March 6, 2020.
3. Largest ice cream making lesson
Hundreds of ice cream lovers gathered in Gastonia to learn how to make the frozen dessert—and set a world record in the process. The Schiele Museum of Natural History hosted an ice cream-making class for 274 participants, making it the largest-ever lesson of its kind. The class was held on May 23, 2015, and took place outside to accommodate the large number of students.
4. Largest vegetarian burger
Ice cream isn’t the only tasty treat that has earned North Carolina recognition in the Guinness World Records. In Greenville on Sept. 29, 2022, famed YouTuber MrBeast set a record for the largest vegetarian burger.
The burger, which took 43 people to prepare, weighed 4,612 pounds, 15.24 ounces, and measured 2 feet, 10.25 inches tall and 7 feet in diameter. It included two soy-based patties, each weighing a whopping 900 pounds, plus 200 pounds each of cheese, onion, and lettuce.
5. Largest biscuit/cookie
North Carolina isn’t known only for its big burgers—local bakers have also made a name for themselves with their colossal culinary creations. Flat Rock’s Immaculate Baking Company set the record for the largest biscuit/cookie on May 17, 2003, with a chocolate chip cookie that weighed 40,000 pounds and measured 101 feet in diameter.
Immaculate Baking Company sold slices of the cookie for $10 to members of the crowd that formed to watch the unveiling and raised almost $20,000 to build a folk art museum next to the bakery.
6. Largest knitted/crocheted stocking
Food items aren’t the only thing North Carolinians make in epic proportions. On Dec. 8, 2015, in Fayetteville, yarn company Caron United unveiled the world’s largest knitted/crocheted stocking. The sizable stocking measured 142 feet and 5 inches by 74 feet and 6 inches. It was crafted from more than 1,100 blankets submitted by individuals from all 50 states, plus four Canadian provinces and Ireland.
Caron United encouraged knitters to make the blankets using its own yarn, as 15 cents per package is donated to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. The stocking was displayed through the holiday season and later disassembled so the individual blankets could be donated to hospitals.
7. Largest paint brush mosaic (image)
Not long after the Tar Heel State earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest knitted stocking, it set another record for a different oversized craft. On June 6, 2016, in Charlotte, Olympic Stains achieved the record for the largest paintbrush mosaic of an image. More than 30,000 paint brushes were used to create the mosaic, which measured 332 square feet and 29 square inches.
8. Most different varieties of beer on tap (commercially available)
North Carolinians know the state’s beer scene is strong—and thanks to a Nov. 21, 2015, Guinness World Record, so does the rest of the world. The Raleigh Beer Garden set the record for having the biggest variety of beers on tap, with 369 draft brews available.
The beer garden features local North Carolina beers on its first floor and brews from the rest of the U.S. and other countries across the globe on its second “international” floor. The beer styles offered are varied, ranging from ambers and brown ales to blondes and IPAs to porters and stouts.
9. Tallest potato plant
Potatoes are a major crop in North Carolina, but one potato plant in particular stands out among the rest. Gertrude, grown by Nebo’s Cecelia Smith, earned the distinction of the tallest potato plant by the Guinness World Records on July 13, 2023. Smith began growing the plant in February, and it grew to 11 feet 3 inches tall.
10. Farthest blindfolded catch of an American football (stationary)
As far as sports records go, North Carolina has several, including one for the farthest blindfolded catch of a football while stationary. The record—41 yards—was set by Delaware Jefferson and Connor Sutton at Bank of America Stadium on July 23, 2019.
11. Longest American football pass caught between the legs (team of two)
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton and Garrett Niconienko, former on-screen talent and social media manager for MrBeast, teamed up to set a record for the longest football pass caught between the legs. The catch—39 yards—was completed on July 22, 2019, also at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
12. Most one-handed American football catches in one minute
Cam Newton set another record on July 22, 2019—this time with Chandler Hallow, also of MrBeast fame. The duo set a Guinness World Record by completing 51 one-handed football catches in one minute. Despite being a famed quarterback, Newton actually received the catches in this record-setting attempt rather than throwing them.
13. Most underwater rope jumps in one hour
Professional jump rope skipper Peter Nestler set a record for the most underwater rope jumps in one hour. Nestler completed 1,871 jumps in Raleigh on Oct. 13, 2014, beating the previous record of 900 jumps.
14. Oldest llama living in captivity
Whitetop The Llama is a Guinness World Record setter, earning the designation of the oldest living llama in captivity. Born on May 30, 1997, Whitetop now resides in Randleman at Victory Junction, which offers camping experiences for children with challenging medical conditions.
15. Largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia
North Carolinian Debbie Indicott has set the record for the largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia multiple times. Most recently, she reclaimed the title on June 19, 2025, with a collection of 5,623 items. Indicott first started collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia in 1990 and earned her first Guinness World Record in 2020 with 2,028 items. She beat her own record in 2023 with 5,070 items, but later lost it to another collector.
16. Most people hugging soft toys simultaneously
Students at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva came together to help their community while also setting a Guinness World Record. A total of 835 students set the record for the most people hugging soft toys simultaneously. The Feb. 14, 2020, gathering was meant to foster school spirit and collect toys to donate to multiple local organizations.
17. Largest gathering of people wearing sweatbands
Another large gathering—this time in Durham—earned North Carolina recognition in the record books. During a Minor League Baseball game on July 13, 2018, 4,990 people donned sweatbands to set the record for the largest gathering of people wearing sweatbands.
18. Longest model train
The Wilmington Railroad Museum Model Railroad Committee set a Guinness World Record for the longest model train on April 23, 2011. The train measured 925 feet and 6 inches long and consisted of 31 locomotives and 1,563 carriages.
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