I know you've seen these in your travels.  There are several on Five Forks Drive near Solitude, and a few more on Stonebriar near Crabapple Lane.  

 

This is Devil's Walking Stick or Hercules Club, botanically, Aralia spinoza.  It is native to the Eastern US, and grows up to 25 feet.  Mostly, they are seen as understory trees at the edge of the woods.  

 

Look for them now while they are fruiting, remember the location, and go back later this fall to see them when they've changed color.  They're pretty then too.  No point looking for them in winter, they are bare stalks with lots of thorns.  But once you know their location, you can check on them again in spring when they sport fabulous umbrella heads of whitish yellow flowers.

 

HAPPY GARDENING !!!