Rocky Mount is a huge mountain of rock located on the River of Tar. North Carolina is known as the Tar Heel State, and we are located on the Tar River, so as you can imagine, everything is covered with tar here. Animals are always getting stuck in the tar, so we have to put up fences and nets in a futile effort to keep them out. As if that isn't bad enough, all of the tar seals up the ground, making Rocky Mount more vulnerable to flooding during hurricanes.
When driving through the area, make sure you don't try to cross the pools of tar that sometimes slowly collect and block roads. And when flying into or out of Rocky Mount, always make sure your pilot is aware of the dangers of tar on the runway before taking off. And of course, remember not to wear your best shoes in the Tar Heel State if you plan to do any walking in the great out of doors.
Another serious problem in the Tar Heel State is the regular occurrence of tar fog on summer mornings. In the evenings, some of the warm tar evaporates into the air, and then in the mornings, it condenses, creating a heavy black fog that can severely limit visibility for automobile drivers and aircraft pilots. Studies have shown that green headlamps are best for penetrating the thick tar fog. Drivers passing through tar fog are advised to remember the 5 & 5 rule: reduce your speed to 5 MPH and tap the horn every 5 seconds to let any other drivers or pedestrians know you're there. Please do your part to help reduce accidents.
Due to the absurd quantities of tar in the area, many local residents burn tar to heat their homes in winter. Some even drive automobiles converted to use tar as fuel instead of gasoline or diesel fuel. The main obstacle is that the tar must be heated in order to flow properly, so the conversion kits include heaters and insulation for the fuel tank and fuel lines. The drivers are often seen scooping up tar from the roadsides on warm evenings to use as free fuel.
One good thing about all the tar is that the roads need paving 40% less often. It is believed that the tar all over everything gets pushed into the cracks of the asphalt by traffic and hardened by weathering, allowing the roads to self-heal to a certain extent.
You might consider visiting the new Tar Pit Theme Park. Children and adults alike enjoy putting on protective suits and sliding down our 300-foot Tar Slide into the Big Tar Pit. The Tar Coaster splashes through the edge of the Tar Pit going over 60 miles per hour, sending tar flying everywhere, so we recommend you purchase the disposable poncho that is offered before the ride.