Gimghoul Neighborhood Historic District, Historic residential district in Chapel Hill, United States.
Gimghoul Neighborhood Historic District is a residential area in Chapel Hill comprising 42 buildings spread across 35 acres, displaying Colonial Revival and Craftsman architectural styles. The houses line Gimghoul Road, Ridge Lane, and Gladon Drive, forming a cohesive neighborhood from the interwar period.
The district developed from 1924 onward after the Order of Gimghoul sold their land to fund construction of their headquarters at Hippol Castle. Most homes were built during the 1920s and 1930s, with later structures displaying more standardized Colonial Revival designs.
The neighborhood was created as the first faculty housing development separate from the University of North Carolina campus, drawing professors and their families together. This layout fostered a tight-knit community of scholars living near one another.
Any modifications or new construction in the district requires special approval, meaning visitors will find a well-preserved, protected neighborhood. Walking the main roads is the best way to explore the area, as it is organized for historical protection.
The Order of Gimghoul, a secret student society, sold this land to finance and build their mysterious Hippol Castle headquarters. This surprising connection between a faculty residential neighborhood and a hidden social order shapes the place's historical identity.
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