Location: intersection of NC 73 and Old NC 220, Ellerbe
County: Richmond
Original Date Cast: 2025
Andre René Roussimoff, known worldwide as Andre the Giant, built a career that stretched from the wrestling rings of Paris and Montreal to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and Hollywood film sets. Yet for all the global fame he achieved, one place remained at the center of his heart for the last fifteen years of his life. That place was North Carolina.
Born in rural France in 1946, Andre grew up with acromegaly, a condition that caused his body to continually grow. By the time he was a teenager, he already stood six feet seven inches tall. His size drew the attention of French Canadian wrestler Edouard Carpentier, who encouraged him to come to North America. Under various ring names, and eventually as Andre the Giant, he became one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling. His star power quickly filled arenas and he even appeared in a record length feature in Sports Illustrated. Hollywood soon took notice and he acted in television and film roles, including his beloved performance as Fezzik in The Princess Bride.
Andre’s connection to North Carolina began through his wrestling schedule. By 1974, he was regularly traveling through the state, performing before enthusiastic crowds in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Rocky Mount, and smaller communities such as Pembroke. During these years he came to appreciate the quiet landscapes and close knit communities that reminded him of the countryside where he grew up.
On August 22, 1978, Andre made a decision that surprised many fans but delighted local residents. He purchased a 9.12 acre tract of land near Ellerbe in Richmond County. Over the next decade he continued to expand his property until he owned a 194 acre ranch along Big Mountain Creek. This land became his refuge. Although he was one of the most famous athletes in the world, in Ellerbe he could enjoy a slower pace of life, participate in the community, and even take part in local civic efforts. One of these efforts involved opposing a proposed radioactive waste site in Richmond County, where his voice carried significant influence.
The people of Ellerbe welcomed him not as a celebrity passing through but as a neighbor. Local residents came to know him as a gentle, thoughtful man who valued privacy and friendship. The Rankin Museum later established a permanent exhibit dedicated to his life and career. The exhibit includes books, magazines, his oversized recliner, clothing, and even a skull from one of his prized longhorn cattle.
Andre passed away on January 28, 1993, while in France for his father's funeral. Honoring his wishes, his ashes were returned to his North Carolina ranch. Today his legacy lives on both in the world of wrestling and in the community that claimed him as one of their own. For many, he will forever be remembered as the Gentle Giant who found his true home in Ellerbe.
References
Krugman, Michael. Andre the Giant: A Legendary Life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009.
Laprade, Pat, and Bertrand Hébert. Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press, 2013.
Markovich, Jeremy. "André The Giant: North Carolinian." Our State, 27 Oct. 2020, https://www.ourstate.com/andre-the-giant-north-carolina/
“Andre The Giant: Bio.” WWE. https://www.wwe.com/superstars/andrethegiant.
“Andre the Giant.” Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. https://www.biography.com/athletes/andre-the-giant.
Burkholder, Denny. “Being Andre the Giant.” CBS Sports. March 25, 2015. Archived August 8, 2022.
"Gentle Giant Andre Roussimoff Settled in Ellerbe." NC DNCR, 27 Jan. 2016, https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2016/01/27/gentle-giant-andre-roussimoff-s…
Hébert, Bertrand, and Pat Laprade, with Tony Stabile. The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of André the Giant. Toronto: ECW Press, 2020.