Discover Fayetteville 2017-18 edition
A guide to living in the Cape Fear region.
Discover Fayetteville is produced annually by The Fayetteville Observer, 458 Whitfield St., Fayetteville, N.C., 28306. ©2017 GateHouse Media. No content from this publication can be used or reproduced without written permission from
Members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association place a wreath on Memorial Day at Freedom Memorial Park in downtown Fayetteville.
the management.
EDITORIAL
[Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Publication editor: Matt Leclercq Content editors: Lorry Williams, Kim Hasty Content contributors: Greg Barnes, Andrew Barksdale, Kathy Barnes, Sammy Batten, Drew Brooks, Andrew Craft, Steve DeVane, Amanda Dolasinski, Michael Futch, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Kim Hasty, Beth Hutson, Chick Jacobs, Bill Kirby Jr., Rodger Mullen, Patrick Obley, Myron Pitts, Thomas Pope, Raul F. Rubiera, Mariano Santillan, Jaclyn Shambaugh, Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson, Monica Vendituoli, Paul Woolverton, Alan Wooten Cover photo: Andrew Craft.
CONTACTS
Always something new to discover
W
elcome to the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg region. Whether you're a visitor, new to town or a true local, there's always more to discover in our All-America City and the North Carolina Sandhills. We live in a uniquely diverse region that's rich in culture, Southern traditions and history. Fayetteville traces its roots back more than 250 years with a proud tradition of patriotism, from the Revolutionary War to the battlefields where our soldiers fight today. We're home to the largest, most
strategically advanced Army installation in America — which means your friends and neighbors come from all around the world. Fayetteville is truly an international city, but you'll always feel like you're part of a tight-knit community here. That's because this city is full of friendly people who are among the most caring you'll ever meet, not to mention generous in every way. Discover Fayetteville is produced by the reporters, editors and photographers at The Fayetteville Observer. We hope you enjoy discovering our city as much as we enjoy telling its stories.
News & editorial: 910-486-3500 Advertising: 910-486-2726 On the web: Fayobserver.com
Discover Fayetteville CONTENTS Community Shopping Food & Drink Entertainment Outdoors Sports Military Business Education Health Region
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Stay connected The Fayetteville Observer is the oldest newspaper still in publication in North Carolina, marking its 201st anniversary in 2017. The Observer also is one of the best newspapers in the state, winning first place for general excellence multiple times in recent years from the N.C. Press Association. You can trust our experienced journalists to keep you informed about local news, entertainment and sports, plus we have team coverage of Fort Bragg. Print editions of the Observer include Sunday Life magazine, the Weekender entertainment section, Saturday Extra community news, the Military section on Sundays, and the TV Week guide in Sunday home delivery editions. The Observer also produces special publications throughout the year, such as Discover Fayetteville, and premium publications exclusively for subscribers. Here's more about our newsroom.
FAYOBSERVER.COM For breaking news throughout the day, bookmark our website on your computer or mobile device. You'll also find event calendars, photo slideshows and expanded coverage of our community.
NEWS DESK Our reporters cover Fayetteville, Cumberland County and surrounding communities. For story suggestions, news tips or to speak with an editor, call 910-486-3524 or send an email to news@ fayobserver.com. For the newsroom general number, call 910-486-3500.
WEEKENDER Our weekly entertainment guide published on Fridays highlights our best bets for family entertainment, events, restaurants and anything else you can imagine under the category "fun." Get updates throughout the week at fayobserver.com/weekender.
REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE The weekly magazine in Saturday's Observer features scores of properties for sale or rent in our region, including your neighborhood.
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FOLLOW Chick Jacobs Weather expert
NEWS ALERTS
@FO_Weather
Get breaking news alerts from the Observer newsroom. Go to fayobserver. com/email to register for alerts or change your settings. You also can sign up for daily emails of the latest headlines.
Drew Brooks Military editor @DrewBrooks
WEATHER Our longtime weather expert and blogger Chick Jacobs (@ FO_Weather) keeps you informed about Sandhills weather, from hurricane threats to snowstorms and everything in between.
MILITARY COVERAGE Military editor Drew Brooks (@DrewBrooks) has traveled around the globe with our troops. He covers issues affecting Fort Bragg and veterans in his blog, Fort Bragg Report. Amanda Dolasinski (@AmandaDFO), covers Fort Bragg and military issues. Contact our military team: military@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3567.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS We cover prep sports like no one else in the 10-county Cape Fear region, from football in the fall to softball in the spring. Follow our 910Preps writers Jaclyn Shambaugh (@jaclynshambaugh) and Patrick Obley (@FO_PMO). Contact our sports team: sports@fayobserver. com
RACING COVERAGE Sports editor Thomas Pope (@FO_ ThomasPope) is a NASCAR writer and one of the best motorsports journalists in the country. Keep up with the latest in NASCAR at his blog, Full Throttle. You can reach Thomas at tpope@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3520.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACC sports are huge here. Our sports columnist Sammy Batten (@FO_SammyBatten) has 30-plus years experience
Amanda Dolasinski Military reporter @AmandaDFO
Jaclyn Shambaugh 910Preps Writer @jaclynshambaugh
covering football, recruiting and southeastern North Carolina college sports. You can reach Sammy at sbatten@ fayobserver.com or 910-486-3534.
Patrick Obley 910Preps Writer @FO_PMO
SOCIAL MEDIA Connect with our reporters, editors and photographers, and you'll never be out of the loop. Facebook: fayobserver and 910Preps Twitter: @fayobserver, @FO_Sports and @910Preps Instagram: fayobserver Snapchat: fayobserversnap
A few more to follow: • Andrew Craft, @aacraft on Instagram. The award-winning Observer photographer can do amazing things with his iPhone. • Monica Vendituoli, @mvendituoli on Twitter, covers the city of Fayetteville. • Steve DeVane, @WriterDeVane on Twitter, covers Cumberland County government and local communities. • Paul Woolverton, @FO_Woolverton on Twitter, covers local and state politics, courts and government. • Nancy McCleary, @FO_McCleary on Twitter, is the crime and public safety reporter. • Myron Pitts, @FOmyronpitts on Twitter, is a news and opinion columnist. • Lorry Williams, @FO_Williams on Twitter, is senior editor of the newsroom.
Thomas Pope Motorsports writer @FO_ThomasPope
Sammy Batten Sports columnist @FO_SammyBatten
Paul Woolverton Staff writer @FO_Woolverton
Andrew Craft Senior photographer @aacraft
Monica Vendituoli Staff writer @mvendituoli
Community
New to town? Here’s what you need to know
Turn on the lights Four companies provide electricity to different parts of Cumberland County: • The Fayetteville Public Works Commission: 910-483-1382 or faypwc. com • Duke Energy Progress: 800-452-2777 or duke-energy.com • Lumbee River Electric Membership Corp.: 910-843-4131 or www. lumbeeriver.com • South River Electric Membership Corp.: 910-892-8071 or sremc.com
Natural gas •
Piedmont Natural Gas: 800-752-7504 or piedmontng.com
The rising sun is framed by the arches of the historic Market House in downtown Fayetteville twice each year: late January and mid-November. It is a popular spot to take photos on Hay Street. [Johnny Horne/The Fayetteville Observer]
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Community
Internet, TV, telephone service • •
Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable): spectrum.com or 855-243-8892 CenturyLink: centurylink.com or 877-862-9343
Child care
These agencies can help you find child care: • Partnership for Children of Cumberland County: The nonprofit organization provides free, unbiased referrals and financial assistance with child care costs. You can also learn about state-funded, community-based pre-kindergarten designed to provide 4-year-olds a valuable educational experience. 910-8679700 or ccpfc.org • The N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education: The state agency is a source of public records on regulated facilities including star-rated license information, sanitation scores, complaint investigations and administrative actions taken. ncchildcare.nc.gov (select the “Parents” tab) or 800-859-0829
Municipal trash collection
Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills collect their residents’ garbage. • Fayetteville: The city has weekly pickups of trash and recyclables, as well as curbside yard waste collection. You can schedule pickups
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Caden Douglas, left, and Jayson Wright play in their class at Wonder Years Learning Center in 2015. [Johnny Horne/ The Fayetteville Observer]
•
•
of bulk items. fayettevillenc.gov or 910-433-1329 Hope Mills: 910-424-4555 or townofhopemills.com (select “Public Works” in the “Departments” menu) Spring Lake: 910-497-3390 or spring-lake.org (select “Sanitation” in the “Departments & Services” menu)
Cumberland County trash collection People outside the city limits can hire a private trash hauler or take their
trash to one of 17 collection sites. Cumberland County operates a landfill on Ann Street, the Wilkes Road Yard Waste Treatment & Processing Facility and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. To find a drop-off collection site near you, call Cumberland County Solid Waste Management at 910-321-6920 or go to co.cumberland.nc.us (select “Solid Waste Management” in the “Departments” menu). Some private trash haulers: • All American Sanitation: allamericansanitation.com or 910-484-8576 • All-Points Waste Service: allpointswasteservice.com or 866-207-0059 • Cashwell Sanitation Service: cashwellsanitation.com or 910-305-2917 • Cumberland Garbage: cumberlandgarbage.com or 910-483-7100 • Jacobs Trash: 910-483-6359 • J.P. & Sons Sanitation: jpandsonssanitation.net or 910-670-0272 • Southview Sanitation: 910-424-7007 • Waste Industries: wasteindustries. com or 910-423-4122 • Waste Management: wm.com or 888-964-9730
Driver license or state ID To get a North Carolina driver license, you’ll need to pass a written test, a sign recognition test, a vision test and a driving test. You also need various documents to verify your ID, prove you live in North Carolina and show that you have liability insurance. For most drivers, the license costs $40 and lasts eight years.
State IDs are similar to licenses but don’t confer any driving privileges. They cost $13 for most residents; some people qualify to get them for free. For details, go to ncdot.gov/dmv or a Division of Motor Vehicles driver license office, or call 919-715-7000. Driver license offices in Cumberland County: • DMV Building at 4705 Clinton Road, Stedman • South Fayetteville Driver License Office, 2439 Gillespie St., Fayetteville • Soldier Support Center, 2843 Normandy Drive, Fort Bragg (Open six days per month) • Eutaw Village North Shopping Center, 841A Elm St., Fayetteville
REAL ID An upgraded form of identification called REAL ID is being implemented nationwide. North Carolina’s standard driver licenses and ID cards don’t meet REAL ID standards, but the state has begun offering REAL ID versions for residents. They look like driver licenses but have a gold star at the top. • REAL ID will be needed for airline passengers starting Jan. 22, 2018. • Oct. 10 is the last day that North Carolinians’ old IDs are to be accepted for entry on military bases, federal courthouse and federal prisons. This date could be extended. • REAL ID driver licenses and state IDs cost the same as standard ones. • To get a REAL ID, go to a driver license office and present documents to verify your identity, date of birth, Social Security number
Community
and North Carolina residency. For details, go to ncdot/gov/dmv or a driver license office, or call 919-715-7000.
Check out a book
Vehicle registration New residents and owners of newly purchased vehicles must register and title their vehicles in North Carolina. Military personnel living in North Carolina are allowed to register and title their vehicles in their home states. To register a vehicle, you’ll need ID, proof of liability insurance and possibly additional documents. Fees and taxes include $52 for a title, $36 for a license plate, a 3 percent highway use tax and local property taxes. Go to ncdot.gov/ dmv or visit a license plate office: • Eutaw Village North Shopping Center, 815 Elm St., Fayetteville • Spring Lake Plaza shopping center, 316-C N.C. 210 North, Spring Lake • Hope Mills Crossing shopping center, 3333 N. Main St., Suite 140, Hope Mills
[Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Pet license Cumberland County has an annual pet tax for dogs and cats that are at least 4 months old. It’s $7 per spayed or neutered animal, and $25 for intact animals. There is no tax for the first three animals if the owner is 65 or older. Pay online at the Cumberland County Animal Control webpage at co.cumberland.nc.us, call 910-321-6852 or go to 4704 Corporation Drive.
[Cindy Burnham/The Fayetteville Observer]
Register to vote The deadline to register to vote is 25 days before an election. You can register at the Cumberland County Board of Elections at 227 Fountainhead Lane, a public library or a Division of Motor Vehicles office. Voters also can register by mail. Download the form and instructions from ncsbe.gov or call 910-678-7733 for assistance.
Cumberland County has nine public library branches. To find the one nearest you, go to www.cumberland.lib. nc.us or call 910-483-7727. Library cards are free for county residents (and $25 annually for others). You can check out printed books, electronic books and videos. Apply for a library card on the library’s website or visit a library branch. You’ll need a photo ID and proof of a Cumberland County address.
Keep up with the news The Fayetteville Observer covers Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Cumberland County and the surrounding areas. Visit FayObserver.com or pick up a printed copy of the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores throughout the area. To arrange home delivery, call 910-323-0701 or go to fayobserver.com/subscribe.
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Community
City of Fayetteville
MAYOR Nat Robertson Twitter: @NatRobertsonNC 433-1992 mayor@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 5 Bobby Hurst Twitter: @bobbyhurst 286-5804 rhurst@ci.fay.nc.us
CITY MANAGER Doug Hewett 433-1990 dhewett@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 1 Kathy Jensen Twitter: @sixjsandak 433-1992 kjensen@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 6 Bill Crisp 864-1669 wcrisp@ci.fay.nc.us
POLICE CHIEF Gina Hawkins Twitter: @ginavhawkins 433-1819 GVhawkins@ci.fay.nc.us
• Sixth largest city in North Carolina with 204,759 people • Named in honor of French Gen. Marquis de Lafayette • Home to Fort Bragg, the largest Army installation in the world by population City Council City Council members and the mayor serve two-year terms that are set to expire in December. The nine council members serve in districts, and the mayor is elected citywide. All seats are on the ballot this fall. Fayetteville's municipal primary is Oct. 10; the general election is Nov. 7. To find out who your council representative is and his or her mailing address, go to fayettevillenc.gov/ government/city-council/ district-finder, or call 910-433-1992. ONLINE FayettevilleNC.gov Twitter: @cityoffaync Instagram: cityoffayetteville Periscope: CityOfFayNC Facebook: cityoffayettevillegovernment Government access TV: faytv7.com Pinterest: cityoffaync Youtube: youtube.com/user/ CityOfFayettevilleNC Google: plus.google.com/ u/0/+CityOfFayettevilleNC LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ company-beta/5032898 Nextdoor: nextdoor.com/ city/fayetteville--nc
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DISTRICT 2 Kirk deViere Twitter: @kdeviere 433-1992 kdeviere@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 3 Mitch Colvin, mayor pro tem 670-5186 mitch.colvin@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 4 Chalmers McDougald Twitter: @clmcdougald 433-1992 chalmers.mcdougald@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 7 Larry Wright Twitter: @low58 433-1992 larry.wright@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 8 Ted Mohn Twitter: @TedMohn 495-3634 tmohn@ci.fay.nc.us
DISTRICT 9 Jim Arp Twitter: @JimArpNC 433-1992 jarp@ci.fay.nc.us
Corporate communications Kevin Arata 433-1978 karata@ci.fay.nc.us
Cumberland County
Community
POPULATION 2015 estimate: 323,838 Rank in N.C.: 5 Median age: 32 White: 44% Black: 35% Hispanic or Latino: 11% Asian: 2% American Indian: 1% Median household income: $42,107
MUNICIPALITIES Eastover: 3,681 Falcon: 226 Fayetteville: 201,965 Godwin: 140 Hope Mills: 16,123 Linden: 169 Spring Lake: 13,336 Stedman: 1,313 Wade: 560
GOVERNMENT County Courthouse, 117 Dick St., Room 554, Fayetteville, NC 28301 910-678-7771
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Glenn B. Adams, chairman District 1 223-1400 gadams@ co.cumberland.nc.us Charles Evans, vice chairman At-large 978-6643 cevans@ co.cumberland.nc.us Michael C. Boose District 2 678-7771 mboose@ co.cumberland.nc.us
Jeannette M. Council District 1 jcouncil@ co.cumberland.nc.us 488-0691 Marshall Faircloth District 2 323-1917 wmfaircloth@ co.cumberland.nc.us Jimmy Keefe District 2 323-1791 jkeefe@co.cumberland. nc.us
COUNTY MANAGER Amy Cannon 678-7723 acannon@ co.cumberland.nc.us
SHERIFF Ennis Wright 323-1500
Larry L. Lancaster At-large 484-2774 llancaster@ co.cumberland.nc.us
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Community
What your money can buy Whether you prefer the historic charm of Haymount cottages or a newer home outside the city, there are plenty of options for buyers in the Fayetteville market. Here are some recent sales.
Arrans Cove - $180,000s
Ellerslie - $140,000s
$140,000s BONE CREEK Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,773 square feet, single garage Built: 1988 School district: Westover ELLERSLIE Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,528 square feet, double garage Built: 1987 School district: Pine Forest HAYMOUNT Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,381 square feet, detached garage Built: 1949 School district: Terry Sanford
$160,000s BRIGHTMOOR Details: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,986 square feet, double garage Built: 2006 School district: South View
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Arlington Plantation - $160,000s
ARLINGTON PLANTATION Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,740 square feet, double garage Built: 1996 School district: Gray's Creek HUNTERS CROSSING Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,188 square feet, double garage Built: 2005 School district: Terry Sanford
$180,000s ARRANS COVE Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,842 square feet, double garage Built: 2016 School district: Jack Britt THE MAPLES AT WESTGATE Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,837 square feet, double garage Built: 2011 School district: Hoke County
COUNTRY CLUB NORTH Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,890 square feet, double garage Built: 2005 School district: E.E. Smith
$240,000s FAIRFIELD Details: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,704 square feet, double garage
Community
Highgrove at Anderson Creek - $240,000s
Gates Four - $300,000+
$300,000+
Built: 2000 School district: Seventy-First HIGHGROVE AT ANDERSON CREEK Details: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 3,375 square feet, double garage Built: 2009 School district: Overhills FOREST LAKES Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,215 square feet Built: 1941 School district: Terry Sanford
GATES FOUR Details: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,531 square feet, double garage Built: 1999 School district: Jack Britt BAYWOOD Details: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 3,669 square feet, double garage Built: 2004 School district: Cape Fear CAROLINA LAKES Details: 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3,785 square feet, double garage Built: 2013 School district: Overhills [Photos: FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS/MLS]
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Community
Home values by high school district Here’s a sampling of subdivisions and neighborhoods in Cumberland County, along with the average tax value after the 2017 revaluation. CAPE FEAR Allendale Baywood Bethany South Eastover Air Ranch Mill Run River Glen Riverside Estates Stone Creek DOUGLAS BYRD Acorn Ridge Beaver Creek Bordeaux Brookshire Firestone Montclair Saddleridge Welmar Heights E.E. SMITH Broadell Country Club Hills Country Club North Kornbow Lake Hillendale McKinley Reserve Summer Lakes Tiffany Pines Woodfield GRAY’S CREEK Arlington Plantation Cashwell Farms Dalton’s Ridge Gallberry Farms Roslin Farms West Rustic Acres Village on Asphens Creek
No. Homes
Tax Value
102 469 197 88 47 127 33 96
$149,398 $271,305 $59,033 $337,889 $225,323 $200,513 $282,645 $257,551
No. Homes
Tax Value
474 183 362 338 152 868 273 694
$133,649 $160,498 $96,680 $159,763 $126,198 $83,422 $131,689 $69,277
No. Homes
Tax Value
91 201 189 257 417 30 67 682 58
$95,682 $179,633 $194,907 $60,973 $157,468 $389,843 $156,124 $71,896 $164,864
No. Homes
Tax Value
151 104 54 49 200 67 233
$187,344 $216,938 $320,939 $274,527 $243,620 $171,833 $170,255
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JACK BRITT Arran Lakes West Camden Woods Gates Four Landsdowne Stoney Point Tarleton Plantation Traemoor at Lakewood Turnberry of Gates Four Williamsburg Plantation Woods at Birch Creek PINE FOREST Ascot College Lakes Greystone Farms The Hamptons at King’s Grant: Holly Hills King’s Grant Kinwood Laketree SEVENTY-FIRST Arran Hills Beaver Run Cliffdale Forest Cliffdale West/East, Woodmark Farrington James Creek at Treyburn Hunter’s Crossing Kings Mill Rayconda SOUTH VIEW Fairway Forest Fox Meadow South Hampton at Timberlake Southview Steeplechase Timberlake Upchurch Farm Worthington TERRY SANFORD Briarwood Hills Buckhead
No. Homes
Tax Value
1,034 139 509 150 212 164 111 68 219 161
$131,990 $285,219 $347,707 $172,908 $126,263 $151,544 $389,350 $234,787 $152,478 $246,919
No. Homes
Tax Value
260 1,093 166 48 369 349 243 129
$139,133 $109,174 $444,933 $435,954 $75,439 $248,363 $168,741 $144,833
No. Homes
Tax Value
620 361 437 854 76 327 443 65 235
$84,252 $136,005 $105,051 $125,565 $184,504 $229,237 $169,213 $143,262 $253,653
No. Homes
Tax Value
546 196 199 364 337 166 69 175
$126,730 $222,923 $162,312 $163,653 $188,001 $135,268 $170,706 $145,451
No. Homes
Tax Value
437 189
$177,152 $322,233
Clairway 186 Cumberland Heights 237 Glendale Acres 271 Haymount (N. of Fort Bragg Road) 888 Haymount (Dobbin/Magnolia avenues area) 33 Haymount (Devane Street/Valley Road area) 158 Huntington Park 227 Murray Hill 95 Pinecrest Drive area 76 Summertime 172 VanStory Hills 512 WESTOVER No. Homes Cottonade 839 Devonwood 381 LaGrange/Deerwood 854 Lakeshores 230 Loch Lomond 526 Montibello 369 Murray Fork 206 Summerhill 592 Water’s Edge 484 SOURCE: Cumberland County tax office, 2017
$206,094 $92,549 $130,427 $178,315 $344,230 $275,107 $194,974 $226,214 $152,282 $510,932 $251,600 Tax Value $137,983 $138,928 $94,823 $156,800 $73,413 $115,550 $120,719 $116,188 $101,947
Property tax rates Tax rate per $100 in property value. Municipalities levy additional property taxes on top of these rates. Bladen: 82 cents Columbus: 80.5 cents Cumberland: 79.9 cents Harnett: 75 cents Hoke: 75 cents Lee: 79.5 cents Moore: 46.5 cents Robeson: 77 cents Sampson: 83 cents Scotland: $1.02
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Community
Getting around town A new $12.6 million transit hub, which has been years in planning and development, is expected to open in fall 2017 off Robeson Street. It is the most significant investment in mass transit in the city’s history. Funded by a mix of federal, state and local funds, the hub is the main transfer center for Fayetteville Area System of Transit buses. It will also serve as the hub for Greyhound, other long-distance carriers and the Megabus inter-city carrier. The transit hub is located across from Highsmith Rainey Specialty Hospital, a block south of the Amtrak train station, and includes a taxi stand. Ways to get around Fayetteville include: Amtrak: amtrak.com for schedules and booking FAST bus system: ridefast.net or 910433-1747. For ADA reservations, call 910-433-1234 Fayetteville Regional Airport: Direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. Go to fayettevillenc.gov Greyhound: greyhound.com for schedules and booking Lyft and Uber: Available in Fayetteville and surrounding areas. Check your phone apps.
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The new Fayetteville transit center at Robeson and West Russell streets. [Raul F. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer]
Community
A place of faith to set your soul at ease New residents in Fayetteville are often greeted with these three questions: What’s your name? Where are you from? What church do to go to? With more than 500 places of worship in the area, it’s clear that there is plenty of room for all beliefs. Fayetteville is home to Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i congregations. And because we’re a military community with residents from all over the world, we have congregations that speak Korean, Spanish and many other languages. Faith has long been a bedrock of our community. It’s been this way since 1758, when Scottish settlers
opened Old Bluff Presbyterian near the town of Wade with worship conducted in Gaelic for nearly a century. Fayetteville’s catastrophic fire in 1831 destroyed many of the city’s historic churches, but not its faith. Several beautiful sanctuaries soon rose in their place downtown and continue to call worshipers with chiming carillons. Most churches welcome people from all backgrounds. Anyone looking for a new church home can choose from congregations of a few dozen to massive sanctuaries with televised screens that unite thousands in prayer. Some faithfully follow time-honored services, others enjoy the spontaneity of contemporary worship.
For many local churches, faith reaches beyond the sanctuary walls. Congregations often gather to work together on community projects. Interfaith gatherings help us understand and respect our beliefs. And during disasters, such as Hurricane Matthew’s flooding in 2016, churches mobilize with incredible numbers to deliver food, water and comfort to victims. From the first Scottish settlers to one of the first integrated churches in the South, to the church that spawned an outreach program that has grown nationwide, much of our history is tied to religion. So, if someone greets you by asking where you go to church, they aren’t being nosy. They want you to feel welcome.
Worshipers from Manna Church at an Easter service at the Crown in 2016. [Shannon Millard/The Fayetteville Observer]
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Shopping
A shopping
destination Fayetteville, which has long been a shopping destination for the region, is going through a boom in retail development. In the past year or so, retailers new to our market have started opening locations here, including HomeGoods, Publix and Buy Buy Baby. With Belk, Macy’s, J.C Penney and Sears doing business at Cross Creek Mall, and Best Buy, Target, Barnes & Noble, TJMaxx, Marshalls and Kohl’s in other centers, the city draws shoppers by the multitudes. “A lot of communities would love to have the diversity and volume that we have,” said John Meroski, who heads up the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Shopping is a top activity to do. There are a lot of communities that don’t have that amenity.” Cross Creek Mall remains the retail epicenter of the region. Stores include Aeropostale, Bath & Body Works, DTLR, Forever 21, H&M, LOFT, Men’s Wearhouse and White House Black Market. Nearby, the former indoor Marketfair Mall has been rebuilt as an open-air shopping center with Gander Mountain, Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop, Lumber Liquidators and several restaurants. New development is going up along Ramsey Street in northern Fayetteville and along Skibo Road, which is the main retail drag. Meanwhile, the downtown district is undergoing a renaissance with new specialty shops, restaurants and brew pubs. Just up the street in Haymount is a small shopping enclave with local merchants. “You’re going to continue to see the growth of Fayetteville,” Meroski said. “We’re starting to get noticed by people you never thought would look at us. And why wouldn’t they?
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Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop at Marketfair shopping center features novelty candies and other treats. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
We’re getting looked at and getting chosen, and we’re on the radar of companies.” At Skibo and Cliffdale roads, the 400,000-square-foot Freedom Town Center was nearing completion in fall 2017. The new stores include Field & Stream, HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby, Marshall’s, Osh’Kosh, Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetCo, Sprouts, DSW, Burke’s Outlet and Buy Buy Baby. Off Raeford Road, in Tallywood Shopping Center, the new 49,533-square-foot Publix grocery store is going up near the site of the former Belk. In July, a spokeswoman for Publix said while several factors can affect an opening date, the hope is to open the store before the end of the year. Once it opens, the supermarket will offer another option for shoppers in a city where Harris Teeter, Fresh Market, Food Lion, Super Compare, Carlie C’s IGA, Aldi and Kinlaw’s already are established. “We’re a service community, and
H&M opened in Cross Creek Mall in fall 2015. [Cindy Burnham/The Fayetteville Observer]
we have plenty of services,” Meroski said. “We’re very fortunate to have what we have, and see how it’s growing and progressing.” The new Fayetteville Commons shopping center along Skibo Road, which is already anchored
by Burlington and Academy Sports+Outdoors, continues to grow. The Tilted Kilt pub with its staff of tartan-clad lasses will soon be joining such other establishments as Duck Donuts and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom in the retail center.
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Shopping
Shop local for unique treasures What is that delightful aroma? Chances are it’s something wonderfully eclectic. That’s one of the little extras about doing your shopping in one of Fayetteville’s locally owned boutiques. Depending on the season, you walk in the door and are instantly transported to somewhere with turquoise waters or fresh flowers or even lush forests. But the fragrance is not the only sweet thing about shopping local. You’ll find unique items that range from pottery mugs to tasseled swimsuit coverups to holiday decorations and just about everything in between. In many places, your purchase comes with beautiful gift-wrapping. Many shops host Christmas open houses in November with refreshments and discounts, too. Downtown Fayetteville is where you’ll find many of the most popular local boutiques, but other gems are throughout the city. Here are a few places certain to help you cross off every item on your gift list. Betty Kelly’s Gift Shop in Haymount, 1228 Fort Bragg Road, offers Julie Vos jewelry, Boho beads, handpainted pillows, scented candles, unique clothing items and a bridal registry that features everything from china place-settings to linen napkins. Pick a gift for that bride on your list and they’ll let her know it’s wrapped and waiting for pickup. The Pilgrim Gift Shop, 160 Westwood Shopping Center, has Lilly Pulitzer items such as agendas and wine glasses, a large assortment of Vera Bradley’s colorful quilted bags, bath accessories, jewelry, clothing, candle, art by local artists and shoes. Since 1951, Fleishman’s Tiny Town at 3015 Fort Bragg Road has offered unique children’s clothing and shoes, as well as toys and nursery furniture. The family-owned business offers a baby registry service for parents-to-be. 20 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
Leclair’s General Store opened in 2017 in Haymount, selling antiques, craft beers, artwork and locally made products. [The Fayetteville Observer]
Bell’s Seed Store, which has been around since 1919, may be best known for tomato plants and pansies, but the family-owned business at 230 E. Russell St. also has a gift shop that offers patio accessories, pottery, decorative flags and a selection of the famed Big Green Egg grills. Top of the Hill Boutique , 118 Hay St., offers women’s and children’s clothing, handbags and monogrammed items. It’s worth the climb to reach Fabulous Finds Boutique , located in the loft space over Blue Moon Cafe at 310 Hay St. The shop offers women’s clothing item, jewelry and
accessories.
Epiphany Boutique, 3710 Morganton Road, sells the latest styles in women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and shoes. Vibra’s of Fayetteville, 1110 Hay St., is an authorized dealer of chalk paint by Annie Sloan, in addition to selling women’s clothing and accessories. In other words, you can find a new outfit and learn to refurbish that old dresser in the same place. Leclair’s General Store, 1212 Fort Bragg Road, is a boutique of Americana antiques, craft beer, art, locally made candles and lots more items that you never knew you needed til you walked in the door.
Anne Catherine McLean, left, gets help from business owner Fran Morketter at Betty Kelly’s Gift Shop in 2016. [Alicia Banks/The Fayetteville Observer]
Shopping
Farm-fresh produce at these markets
The Murchison Road Community Farmers Market is in the parking lot of Bronco Square across from Fayetteville State University. [Cindy Burnham/The Fayetteville Observer]
Operating hours are from summer 2017. Check with the markets for updates. To find more markets in our region, go to ncfarmfresh.com or localharvest.org. Fayetteville and Cumberland County City Market at the Museum: 325 Franklin St., outside the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. Wednesday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 910-433-1944, HBleazey@ci.fay.nc.us or find on Facebook Gillis Hill Produce: 2899 Gillis Hill Road. April through January, MondaySaturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 910-308-9342, gillishillroadproduce@gmail.com Murchison Road Community Farmers Market: 1047 Murchison
Road, in the parking lot of Bronco Square. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 910-672-2413. Paul’s Produce: 1010 Marlborough Road. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 484-4794. Reilly Road Farmers Market: 445 N. Reilly Road. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 910-868-9509 or find on Facebook. Sandhills Farmers Market of Spring Lake: 230 Chapel Hill Road, Spring Lake. June through October, Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 910-463-3406. T&T Farmers Market: 3755 Cumberland Road. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. West Produce: 2026 Hayes Road, Spring Lake. April through November,
See markets, page 22
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 21
markets Continued from Page 21 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. 910-497-7443
Cape Fear region Bladen County Farmer’s Market: U.S. 701 South, Elizabethtown. June through November, Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to sellout. 910-862-4591 Bladenboro Farmer’s Market: 204 N. Main St., Bladenboro. MondaySaturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., depending on harvest and season. 910-872-1752 Cape Fear Farmers Market: 106 Martin Luther King Drive, Elizabethtown. All year, Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. 910-862-2066 Columbus County Community Farmers Market: 132 Government Complex Road, Whiteville. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-noon. 252-588-0300 or columbuscountyfarmersmarket.com. Dunn Farmers Market: 200 N. Clinton Ave., Dunn. May through October,
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Peaches at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market in front of the Fayetteville transportation museum. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon. 910-624-0642 or find the market on Facebook. Lillington Farmers Market: U.S. 401 North, Lillington. June through October, Wednesday, 2-5 p.m. 498-2357 Moore County Farmers Market: Three locations with varying hours. FirstHealth, 170 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst, Monday, 2-5:30 p.m.; Armory Sports Complex, Morganton Road, Southern Pines, Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Southeast Broad Street and New York Avenue in downtown Southern Pines, Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon. 910-947-3752, 910-690-9520 or moorecountync.gov, or find on Facebook.
Robeson County Farmers Market: 8th and Elm streets, Lumberton. Wednesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. 910-671-3276 or find on Facebook. Sandhills Farmers Market: Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. April through September, Wednesday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 910-687-0377 Sanford Farmers Market: 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford. April through October, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. 919776-8497 or find on Facebook
State market State Farmers Market: 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh. Seven days, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 919-733-7417 or statefarmersmarket.org
Community-supported agriculture and cooperatives Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative: Local farms and bakeries sell fruits, vegetables and bread to consumers who subscribe to a weekly service. There are 25 food order pickup sites in Cumberland, Moore, Hoke, Harnett, Lee and Scotland counties. Fayetteville
pickups are Wednesday, 3-6 p.m., at Jumpin’ Java Coffee Shop, 7737 Good Middling Drive, and Thursday at the following times and locations: 2-5 p.m., Howard Hall Elementary, 526 Andrews Road; 2-5:30 p.m. at Fayetteville transportation museum complex, 325 Franklin St.; 3 to 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Synagogue, 2204 Morganton Road; 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic School, 1620 Marlborough Road; and 3 to 6 p.m. at The Heights at McArthur Park Apartment Homes (residents only), 2523 Mulranny Drive. 910-7221623, info@sandhillsfarm2table.com or sandhills.deliverybizpro.com. Black River Organic Farm: The Sampson County farm in Ivanhoe sells organically grown vegetables at regional farmers markets and through subscriptions. 910532-2437 or find on Facebook.
Local food subscription delivery The Produce Box: The company offers direct delivery in the Fayetteville and Lumberton areas. Sign up online, and choose or customize a box to receive weekly delivery. Prices vary. theproducebox.com
Food&Drink
A truly international city, with the cuisine to match
T
here are times when Gwen Holtsclaw walks into her restaurant, Scrub Oaks, and sees familiar faces at the bar and tables. "But then sometimes we'll walk in and we won't know anyone there,'' she said. That's typical of Fayetteville, where Fort Bragg's military influence lends itself to an ever-changing community of people who have traveled all over the world. Added to that dash of worldliness are the people who have lived here all their lives, and the large segment of the population who fall somewhere in between. It makes for an interesting mix of people, and an interesting dining landscape. Here you can walk into a place that offers down-home Southern cooking, but you can also find international cuisines from
Caribbean to Vietnamese. That culinary diversity is celebrated every last weekend of September at the International Folk Festival, where you can find dozens of dishes from around the globe. But you don't have to wait until then. If you're willing to be adventurous, you can travel the world through Fayetteville's restaurant scene any time you want. You'll find many of our mom-and-pop international restaurants closer to Fort Bragg, such as along Yadkin and Reilly roads. Most of the city's chain restaurants are clustered around Cross Creek Mall and along Skibo Road. Want something unique? Downtown has several great local options, from sports bars to a more formal dining experience.
Linguini Aglio Olio at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. [Cindy Burnham/ The Fayetteville Observer]
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 23
Food&Drink
Best bets for local restaurants in Fayetteville Downtown dining With a new baseball park on the horizon, the already bustling restaurant scene downtown promises to grow. For now, here are some popular places for everything from a quick sandwich to leisurely dining to a sweet treat. A bonus is that at many downtown restaurants, you have the option of sitting indoors or outside. Sherefe: Mediterranean dishes such as gyros and moussaka, and can accommodate special diets such as vegetarian and gluten-free. Circa 1800: The intimate setting is great for a date night or entertaining guests, as well as lunch and Sunday brunch. People rave about dishes such as the baconencrusted pork chop and stuffed french toast. Taste of West Africa: Authentic Ghanaian food, including goat and oxtail stews, peanut butter soup and sweet-fried plantains. Blue Moon Cafe: Sandwiches, salads and flat bread pizzas with outdoor seating that's popular for people-watching. Pierro’s Italian Bistro: Italian food in an intimate setting with indoor or outdoor seating. A great option for special events, business guests, a night out with the family or just a glass of wine. Huske Hardware House Restaurant & Brewery: Burgers, sandwiches, salads and British-themed entrees including shepards pie, bangers & mash and fish & chips, along with steaks, salmon and tuna. The brewery has plenty on tap, too. Next door is TapHouse at Huske, a sports bar with more beer options than you could ever sample. Reyhan Turkish Kebaps: A small restaurant offering Turkish food with generous portions. The shish kebabs are popular. The Fayetteville Pie Co.: A small, friendly joint with a menu of savory and sweet
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Sherefe in downtown Fayetteville features an ever changing menu of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes [Raul R. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer]
pies that changes daily. Favorites include the pulled pork and sweet potato pie and the truffle mac and Gruyere. Just looking for a snack, sweets or a cup of coffee? Check out The Wine Cafe, Just Desserts Bakery, the Coffee Cup, Rude Awakening Coffee House and The Sweet Palette.
Date night
Besides the downtown restaurants, good options for a special night out include: Chris’s Open Hearth Steakhouse: A Fayetteville favorite for more than 40 years with hand-cut steaks cooked over real charcoal, as well as wide-screen TVs in the bar and patio so you can watch the big game. Luigi’s Italian Restaurant: On North McPherson Church Road, this landmark offers pasta dishes based on a sauce recipe straight from central Greece, as well as a
Tandoori Bites in the Marketfair shopping center. [Contributed]
variety of gourmet seafood specials, steaks and chicken dishes. Luigi’s, which is open for lunch, offers an award-winning wine list, Thursday wine tastings and live music on weekends. Scrub Oaks-Contemporary American Pub: On the north side of town, Scrub Oaks serves up grilled shrimp salad with mango, spinach and bacon, as well as prime rib sandwiches, bourbon milkshakes and pineapple martinis. The restaurant also does summer trivia, neighborhood wine walks and live music. Mash House Brewery and Restaurant: This popular option is off Sycamore Dairy Road near Cross Creek Mall. It offers a large variety of craft beers and a full-service menu where you can never go wrong. Latitude 35: A Haymount neighborhood favorite with trivia night and live music on its tiki-theme patio, as well as a full-service menu and bar that stays open until 1 a.m. on weekends. Morgan's Chop House: In McPherson Square off McPherson Church Road, Morgan's offers a romantic atmosphere along with a menu that includes the pork chop special on Thursdays.
International flair
One of the best things about living in Fayetteville is the chance to sample cuisines from all over the world. Here are just a few to try: Habana Cuban Restaurant: A variety of authentic dishes, as well as tres leches for dessert. Max & Moritz: German cuisine including jaegerschitzel, bratwurst and German potato salad. Bombay Bistro: Fayetteville's oldest Indian restaurant and offers an impressive buffet lunch.
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Food&Drink
Grilled pork & egg roll vermicelli at Grilled Ginger. [Raul R. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer]
Tandoori Bites: The city's newest Indian restaurant with a swanky interior and lunch buffet. Grilled Ginger: Vietnamese food in a relaxed atmosphere, including various curry dishes. Saigon Bistro: A great spot for Vietnamese pho, noodles and tea, popular with carry-out. Wasabi: Fresh sushi and a hibachi menu. El Cazador Restaurant: An extensive selection of authentic Mexican food, including steak, chicken, seafood and house specialties. Umami: Japanese fusion with California style, including rice bowls, ramen and curry.
Food trucks
Food trucks are trucking along in Fayetteville. The "Where’s the Truck" event each Wednesday in downtown's Festival Park is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a variety of trucks setting up to serve lunch. Among the trucks participating are Babann’s Southern Fried Chicken, Bowls on a Roll, R Burger, Elite Catering, Dhan’s Kitchen and Flavapooza. The trucks are scheduled at other venues during the rest of the week, and most food trucks post daily menus and locations on Facebook and Twitter. Hope Mills will also be getting into the act with regularly scheduled "Hope Meals'' food truck rodeos. 26 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
Angelia and Arthur Johnson order food from the Oak City Fish and Chips food truck at Fayetteville After 5 in Festival Park in August. [Raul F. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer]
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Food&Drink
Brew pubs becoming the rage in Fayetteville
L
ong before craft breweries became the rage, Fayetteville had two venerable stalwarts — The Mash House Brewing Co. and Huske Hardware House Restaurant & Brewery. Huske is the grandaddy, opening more than 20 years ago following extensive renovations to a hardware store that had operated at 405 Hay St. in the historic downtown from 1903 until 1972. Huske offers a wide selection of year-long and seasonal craft beers to go with a menu heavy on British fare. A covered porch and the adjoining Huske Hardware Tap Room are all part of the property. The Mash House, at 4150 Sycamore Dairy Road, opened in 2001 after taking over and renovating Cross Creek Brewing Co., which had opened about the same time as Huske. Like Huske, the Mash House offers a full menu and a full slate of craft beers that are brewed on site. Its Special Apple Ale won best in show at this year’s BluesN-Brews Festival. Once alone in their craft, the Mash House and Huske Hardware now have plenty of company. Lake Gaston Brewing Co. opened in summer 2017 at 124 Hay St. The establishment seats about 100 with an available banquet room that accommodates another 30. You can also sit outside. The brewery is in the former Horne’s Deli space. Earlier in 2017, Bright Light Brewing Co. opened in a nearby warehouse at 444 W. Russell St., about a block behind City Hall. The brewery featured 10 craft beers on tap when it opened, along with six wine selections. It plans to replace most of its 28 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
tap beers with beer brewed on site. The brewery is family- and dog-friendly. Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom opened at 3623 Legion Road in Hope Mills in 2015. But its roots go back to 2009, when two young military veterans started brewing in a garage. They, along with a third veteran owner, adopted the slogan: “For the Refined Taste of the Common Man.” The space features a handcrafted bar with handmade stools, recycled accessories and cornhole boards. Before Dirtbag, the founders opened Railhouse Brewery in Aberdeen. Railhouse’s English Brown Ale was awarded first place in the North Carolina Brewer's Cup in 2013. It won a gold medal the same year in the International Craft Beer Awards. In neighboring Southern Pines, three other veterans — Army Green Berets, to be precise — opened Southern Pines Brewing Co. at 565 Air Tool Drive. The brewery prides itself on being part of the community. Its website says the owners believe possessing a “cultural fit” is critical. Although not a brewery in the true sense, World of Beers at 1944 Skibo Road in Fayetteville features hundreds of craft beers from around the country.
TOP RIGHT: Dirtbag Ales on Legion Road often has a food truck parked outside. [Michelle Bir/The Fayetteville Observer]
BOTTOM RIGHT: Huske Hardware has been a downtown destination for more than 20 years.
Food&Drink
Cheers to North Carolina’s
local winemakers Wine was once big business in the Cape Fear region. At one time, the Tokay Vineyards that grew along what is now Ramsey Street was one of the largest commercial vineyards in the Eastern United States. Now, more than 100 wineries continue the tradition of wine-making statewide. Go to ncwine. org for a full list of vineyards and more about the state’s native grape, the scuppernong. Here are some of the wineries within a couple of hours of Fayetteville: Adams Vineyards and Winery: N.C. 42, east of Fuquay-Varina, an hour’s drive from Fayetteville. Open to visitors Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 2-6 p.m. 919-567-1010 or adamsvineyards.com
Black Rock Winery: U.S. 501, between Pinehurst and Carthage. Open to visitors Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. 910-295-9511 or blackrockvineyard.com. Cape Fear Winery: 195 Vineyard Drive, Elizabethtown. Open to visitors SundayTuesday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 844846-3386 or capefearwinery.com Cypress Bend Vineyards: 21904 Riverton Road near Wagram. Open to visitors Sunday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 910-369-0411 or cypressbendvineyards.com Duplin Winery: 505 N. Sycamore St., Rose Hill. Open to visitors MondayThursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday and
Grapes growing at Lu Mil Vineyard. [Cindy Burnham/The Fayetteville Observer]
Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 800-774-9634 or duplinwinery.com Grapefull Sisters Vineyard: 95 Dots Drive, near Tabor City. Open to visitors
Monday-Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. 910-6532944 or grapefullsistersvineyard.com Gregory Vineyards: 275 Bowling Spring Drive, near Angier. Open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. 919894-7700 or gregoryvineyards.com Hinnant Family Vineyards & Winery: 826 Pine Level Micro Road, near Pine Level. Open to visitors Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. 919-9653350 or hinnantvineyards.com Locklear Vineyard & Winery: 1872 Preston Road, between Maxton and Pembroke. Open to visitors Monday, 3-6 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m.; Sunday, 2-4 p.m. 910-316-0767 or locklearwinery.com Lu Mil Vineyard: 438 Suggs-Taylor Road, Dublin. Open to visitors Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. 910-866-5819 or lumilvineyard.com Stephens Vineyard & Winery: Smith Mill Road, between Lumberton and Dublin. Open to visitors Friday and Saturday, noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. 910-7341829 or stephensvineyardandwinery.net
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Entertainment
Stadium at center of $100M investment Picture this: An average of 3,000 people converging on downtown Fayetteville over 70 days each spring and summer to shop, eat, drink and watch minor league baseball. By spring 2019, that’s what is expected to happen, on what will soon become the most valuable slice of real estate in Cumberland County — a 9-acre tract behind the former Prince Charles Hotel. In August, the city broke ground on the $33 million stadium for a Class A Houston Astros affiliate. The Astros have signed a 30-year lease with the city for its Carolina League team to play in the new stadium. The stadium will be the anchor for another $65 million in private investment on the surrounding property in the heart of downtown. A hotel is planned. So is a parking deck and retail shops wrapping around the ballpark. The Prince Charles will get another facelift, $1 million alone on windows and facade. The building will be converted into upscale apartments. Soon, downtown is expected to nearly triple the number of its residents — from 100 to about 275. “Transformational,” former Mayor Tony Chavonne calls the stadium — the catalyst that will make other downtown dreams a reality. Already, Chavonne and others say, people are gearing up to lease retail shops in the historic district. The city and the state are doing their parts to ensure that the transformation occurs in an orderly and complete fashion. “I am pumped,” said John Malzone, who has been marketing downtown and its buildings for 45 years. “There are a lot of really good things happening.” Those good things include the prospects of a $65 million N.C. Civil War History Center proposed for Hay Street near the Martin Luther
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This illustration shows how the stadium likely will look when it opens in spring 2019. [Mariano Santillan/The Fayetteville Observer; images from Google, city of Fayetteville]
Artist rendering of the baseball stadium. [Contributed photo]
King Jr. Freeway, just up the hill from downtown. Funding is coming from the state, city, county and private sources. Discussions are also underway
on funding for a performing arts center downtown, and the city has spent more than $900,000 buying property at the southern ends of Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard, where a $24.3 million project is underway for a new bridge and the realignment of Rowan Street, Bragg Boulevard and Murchison Road into a major intersection. The list of likely improvements in and around downtown goes on and on. It includes a skateboard park at Russell and Maxwell streets and a river park off Person Street along the Cape Fear River. The city already has a new $12.6 million transit hub off Robeson Street. The newly created Cool Spring
Downtown District will be the organization that markets and coordinates events, aiming to grow the city center as a destination for entertainment, dining and shopping. A big part of that is the new stadium, which Chavonne envisions will be used for more than just baseball. He sees football games, concerts and other events filling the more than 4,000 seats. Most important, Chavonne believes the stadium will transform the ever-improving image of Fayetteville itself, attracting diverse business and industry and keeping the adults of tomorrow in a city they will be proud to call home.
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Entertainment
Discover downtown Longtime Fayetteville residents remember when downtown was a place to be avoided. Times have changed. Downtown is now a destination. The blocks surrounding the Market House at the traffic circle have become magnets for community activities, including the monthly Fourth Friday event, the Fayetteville After 5 concert series in the summer, and a growing array of coffee houses, restaurants, boutiques and galleries. The largest investment in downtown kicked off this summer with the groundbreaking of a $33 million minor league baseball stadium on Hay Street, which will be followed by $65 million in private development including a hotel, retail space and apartments. Here’s more on what downtown has to offer. Food truck Wednesdays A new addition to Fayetteville’s downtown lineup is Food Truck Wednesday. Trucks featuring a variety of foods gather at Festival Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays through October. Parking is nearby off Ray Avenue. Fourth Fridays On the fourth Friday of the month, this family-friendly event fills the streets with artists and musicians, while shops and restaurants stay open late and downtown galleries showcase works by local artists. Fayetteville After 5 The free summer concert series is hosted by the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. The event at Festival Park is monthly from May through August.
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A horse-drawn carriage carries riders along Hay Street in 2014. [Johnny Horne/The Fayetteville Observer]
Carriage tours A unique way to see the downtown is on one of the old-fashioned carriage tours sponsored by the Downtown Alliance. The tours are held the second Saturday of each month, March through November. Some feature themes, such as the Mother’s Day and Christmas rides. More information is available by calling 910-222-3382. Festival Park The park, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is the site of the Dogwood Festival in April, the Blues-N-Brews beer and music festival in June, Fayetteville After 5 and symphony concerts,
and the International Folk Festival in September. Other events are throughout the year, such as a large Easter egg hunt and several foodrelated events.
the parking lot of the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum to sell their wares. Farmers market hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Market House
Antiquing
Sitting at the juncture of Hay, Gillespie, Person and Green streets, the iconic structure is perhaps Fayetteville’s most recognized. The Market House was built in 1831 at the site of the former State House where North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution.
If you love hunting for treasures, you could spend an entire day exploring the several antique stores throughout downtown. Check out the Cotton Exchange and neighboring Livery just off Franklin Street. Hay Street has Diane's Vintage Market, City Center Gallery and Books, and the Shops at 123 Hay Street. Lodestone Art & Antiques is over on Russell Street, and the Pickin' Coop is off Ramsey Street just north of downtown.
City Market Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., farmers and craftsmen pack
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Entertainment
Festivals, fairs and the biggest events of the year
T
here’s always reason to celebrate in the Cape Fear region. From the International Folk Festival in the fall to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival in the spring, here are some of the most popular family-friendly events we recommend. SEPTEMBER International Folk Festival: Downtown Fayetteville, Sept. 22-24. One of the largest region events, a celebration of the dozens of countries represented by people who live in Cumberland County. Tons of food from various countries, costumes, cultural entertainment and a Saturday Parade of Nations down Hay Street. 910-3231776 or theartscouncil.com Heritage Festival: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville, Sept. 30. Experience life from the olden days such as churning butter, weaving corn husk dolls, pony rides, pumpkin painting, crafts and games. capefearbg.org/ member
OCTOBER
Denim Days: Erwin, Oct. 7. A celebration of Erwin’s days as the “Denim Capital of the World” with a parade, music and contests. 910-897-7300, erwin-nc.org or erwinchamber.org Scotland County Highland Games: Historic John Blue House complex, Laurinburg, Oct. 7. Piping, drumming, Highland dancing and competitive feats from Scottish traditions. 910276-2995 or schgnc.org Fall Antiques Street Fair: Cameron,
Oct. 7. Dealers display their antiques and collectibles along streets in the historic district of this little Moore County town. A spring antiques fair is in May. 910-245-3055 or antiquesofcameron.com Autumnfest: Downtown Park, Southern Pines, Oct. 7. Small-town festival featuring 5k, arts and crafts, live entertainment and youth activities. 910-692-7376 or mooreart.org Indigo Moon Film Festival: Downtown Fayetteville, Oct. 13-15. Works from filmmakers around the world at various venues, including documentaries and animation. groundswellpictures. com Worldwide Hollerin’ Festival: Paradise Acres, Hope Mills, Oct. 14. Hosted by a past champion of the National Hollerin’ Contest, formerly in Spivey’s Corner. worldwidehollerinfestival.org Shaw House Vintage Collectibles & Antiques Fair: Southern Pines, Oct. 14. Antiques, collectibles, food, vintage craft demonstrations and silent auction. 910-692-2051 or moorehistory. com John Blue Cotton Festival: Laurinburg, Oct. 14-15. Music, arts and crafts, tractors and engines, pre-Civil War cotton gin, grist mill and shingle mill operations. 910-276-3761 or Facebook. Aberdeen Sardine Festival: Aberdeen Lake, Oct. 13. Sardine Queen Parade and a menu of sardines, saltines, moon pies and soda. 910-944-4573 or Aberdeen Sardine Festival on Facebook Dogwood Fall Festival: Fayetteville's Festival Park, Oct. 19-21. About 40 food trucks, craft beers, haunted house, hayrides, walking
Jessica Noddin and Sarah Helweg pour beer for Dirtbag Ales at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s Blues-N-Brews in 2016. [Shannon Millard/The Fayetteville Observer] tours of Cross Creek Cemetery and performances by several bands. 910323-1934 or faydogwoodfestival.com. Storytelling Festival of Carolina: John Blue House Complex, Laurinburg, Oct. 20-22. Nationally renowned storytellers and authors. 910-277-3599 or storyartscenter.org Fayetteville ComicCon: Crown Expo Center, Fayetteville, Oct. 21-22. A celebration of pop culture with vendors, panels, games and special guests. 910-316-7251 or fayettevillecomiccon. com. Holly Arts and Crafts Festival: Pinehurst, Oct. 21. Woodworkers, jewelry makers and metal sculptors, plus food and entertainment. 910-420-8655 or pinehurstbusinesspartners.com Ole Mill Days: Hope Mills Municipal Park, Oct. 20-21. Crafts, food, music, tractor pull, haunted house, storytelling, children’s rides and costume contests. 910-426-4109 or townofhopemills.com. North Carolina Yam Festival: Tabor City, Oct. 20-28. Food, crafts, vendors and parade. 910-653-3458 or
ncyamfestival.com Fayetteville State University Homecoming: Oct. 21. Downtown parade, concerts, football game and step shows. 910-672-1474 or uncfsu.edu Zombie Walk: Downtown Fayetteville, near Halloween. Hundreds of people participate by dressing up in ghoulish makeup in a parade of the dead.
NOVEMBER
Holly Day Fair: Crown Expo Center, Fayetteville, Nov. 2-5. The Junior League of Fayetteville sponsors the largest gift and craft show in eastern North Carolina. 910-323-5088 or jlfay. org N.C. Cotton Festival: Dunn, Nov. 4. Family fun, entertainment and education. 910-892-3282 or nccottonfestival. com When Pigs Fly All-American BBQ Festival: Fayetteville's Festival Park, Nov. 18. N.C. Barbecue Association sanctioned competition, live music
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MAY
and kids zone. cisofcumberland.org/ when-pigs-fly Festival of Trees: Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst, Nov. 29-Dec. 3. Lavishly decorated trees and wreaths, bands, silent auction and pictures with Santa to benefit Sandhills Children’s Center. 910-692-3323 or festivaloftrees.org Seagrove Pottery Festival: Historic Luck's Cannery, 798 N.C. 705, Seagrove. Nov. 17-19. North Carolina potters present their works to crowds who travel from miles around. 336873-7887 or visitseagrovenc.com Cameron Antique Dealers’ Christmas Open House: Cameron, Nov. 18-19. 910245-3055 or antiquesofcameron.com A Dickens Holiday: Downtown Fayetteville, Nov. 24. Carolers, carriage rides and costumed actors portraying characters from “A Christmas Carol.” At dusk, Hay Street is illuminated by hundreds of hand-held candles. 910-323-1776 or theartscouncil.com Fort Bragg Christmas Tree Lighting: Main Post Parade Field, Nov. 30. Entertainment, refreshments and a Golden Knights demonstration. 910396-9126 or bragg.armymwr.com
Concours d’Elegance: Pinehurst Resort, early May. Classic car show, special events. 910-973-6594 or pinehurstconcours.com Sanford Arts & Vine Festival: Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, May 5-6. Pottery from across the Southeast, live music, wine tasting, food vendors and displays. sanfordartsandvine.com Carthage Buggy Festival: May 12. Old-fashioned buggy displays, children’s activities, car show, crafts and entertainment. 910-947-2331 or thebuggyfestival.com Ham and Yam Festival: Smithfield, May 5. Celebrating Johnston County’s agricultural heritage with all things ham and yams. 919-934-0887 or hamandyam.com Field of Honor: Airborne & Special Operations Museum, May-June. U.S. flags honor veterans and active servicemen. 910-222-3382 or ncfieldofhonor.com All American Week: Fort Bragg, late May. The 82nd Airborne Division troop review, run, competitions and memorial ceremony. facebook. com/82ndAirborneDivision
DECEMBER
Kwanzaa Celebration: Smith Recreation Center, Fayetteville, Dec. 30. Entertainment, food and Parade of Kings and Queens. 910-485-8035, 910483-6152 or umojafaync.org
The Dogwood Festival attracts thousands with food, crafts and concerts in April. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade: Downtown Fayetteville, Jan. 13. Begins at the Cumberland County Courthouse and ends at the Amtrak train station. 910-222-3382 or Visitdowntownfayetteville.com
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
Heart ’n Soul of Jazz: Pinehurst Resort, Feb. 10. Annual fundraiser for the Arts Council of Moore County. Featuring the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet. 910-692-2787 or mooreart.org
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Seabrook Auditorium, Fayetteville State University, Jan. 15. 910-672-1474 or uncfsu.edu
North Carolina Pickle Festival: Mount Olive, April 28. Award-winning festival features a pickle train, pickle walk,
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APRIL
pickle popcorn and pickle poetry contest. 919-658-3113 or ncpicklefest.org Fayetteville Dogwood Festival: Fayetteville's Festival Park and downtown, April 27-29. Tens of thousands of people attend this large street fair that takes over downtown with food, arts and crafts, children's activities and a midway. Live music from local and national acts, including concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. 910323-1934 or faydogwoodfestival.com MerleFest: Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, April 26-29. Music festival and song-writing contest. 336-838-6412 or merlefest.org Fort Bragg Fair: Fort Bragg Fairgrounds, April 26-May 13. Rides, food and concerts, open to the public. 910396-9126 or fortbraggmwr.com
JUNE
Ammon Blueberry Festival: Ammon, June 2. Pancake breakfast, parade, rides, crafts and antique car show in Bladen County. 910-588-4592 Blues-n-Brews: Fayetteville's Festival Park, June 2. Dozens of microbrews and live blues music. 910-323-4234 or cfrt.org Lumbee Homecoming: Pembroke, late June-early July. Sports, pageants, crafts and powwow. 910-521-8602 or lumbeehomecoming.com
JULY Fourth of July: The most patriotic community in America goes all out on Independence Day. Fort Bragg's fireworks show and entertainment attracts thousands. Cities and towns across the region celebrate with games, music, food and fireworks. Blues Crawl: Downtown Southern Pines. Live music featuring bands at several venues, plus food, wine and beer. 910692-8501 or sunrisetheater.com
AUGUST
Robbins Farmers Day: Robbins, early August. Wagon train festival, parade of horses, street dances, music and clogging in this Moore County town. 910-295-7808 or robbinsfarmersday. com. Fine Arts Festival: Campbell House Galleries, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Works by local and national artists in a variety of styles and mediums, as well as an art competition. 910-692-2787 or mooreart.org Umoja Festival: Fayetteville's Seabrook Park, Aug. 26. This family festival with an emphasis on
Nicole Egerton representing Panama during the Parade of Nations at the 2015 International Folk Festival. [Johnny Horne/The Fayetteville Observer] African-American heritage features storytellers, artists, dancers, music and a health clinic. 485-8035, 483-6152 orumojafaync.org
SEPTEMBER
Greek Fest: Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 614 Oakridge
Ave. Greek food, pastries, bands, and dance troupes. 910-484-2010, 910-4848925 or stsch.nc.goarch.org Cumberland County Fair: Crown Center. Rides, games, food, live entertainment and agricultural exhibits. cumberlandcountyfair.org Lafayette Birthday Celebration: Downtown Fayetteville. Activities
commemorating the city’s namesake include walking tours, music, French wine and cheese tasting, living history and 3k pooch run. 910-678-8899 or lafayettesociety.org Cypress Bend Fall Harvest Festival: Wagram. Highlights include live music, wine tasting, picking and traditional grape stomp. 910-369-0411 or cypressbendvineyards.com North Carolina Poultry Festival: Raeford. The celebration features plenty of turkey (and other food), arts and crafts, music, car show, dog show and parade. 910-904-2424 or facebook. com/ncfallfestival Fort Bragg Renaissance Faire: Smith Lake Recreation Area. Masquerade ball, juggling lessons, sing-a-longs, jousting and other medieval diversions. 540-294-1846 or medievalfantasiesco.com Eats, Beats and Brews: Pinehurst Arboretum. Food trucks, craft beers, entertainment. 910-295-1900 or vopnc. org Benson Mule Days: Races, entertainment, rodeo, parade, carnival rides and street dance in the Johnston County town. 919-894-3825 or bensonmuledays.com
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 37
Entertainment
Galas, soirees and formals — all for a good cause
I
f you’re new to town, you’ll soon find that Fayetteville is full of generous people ready to give back to the community. Here’s a glance at galas and fundraisers scheduled this year and in 2018 that raise money for a host of good causes. Keep up with the latest events at fayobserver.com. NAACP Life Membership Banquet: For more than 25 years, the fundraising banquet has honored life members every September. Includes a guest speaker. This year’s event was Sept. 23. 910-484-6166 Woofstock: Fundraiser for the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society is Oct. 6 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden with a catered dinner, live music and a 1960s theme. Proceeds benefit a no-kill shelter. fapspet.org or 910-864-2077. The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball & Auction: The Oct. 14 gala at the Metropolitan Room downtown raises money for the Child Advocacy Center, which provides a safe place to interview, investigate and support abused children. childadvocacycenter.com When Pigs Fly BBQ: The annual festival is Nov. 18 at Festival Park to raise money for Communities in Schools of Cumberland County, which helps students stay in school and succeed. cisofcumberland.org Circle of Friends Gala: The Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation gala is a formal black tie dinner and dance held in January. Since 2007, the event has raised more than $1.3 million for the health system’s philanthropic arm. cfvfoundation.org Evening of CARE Dinner: This event, scheduled for Feb. 3, is a catered dinner hosted in private homes to benefit The CARE Clinic, which helps low-income, uninsured adults in the Cumberland County area. thecareclinic.org The Soiree: The March benefit has a different theme each year with dinner, dancing and an auction to benefit the Partnership for Children, which helps 38 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
Supporters of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation dance during the annual Circle of Friends Gala in 2016. [Alice Nalepka for The Fayetteville Observer]
children begin school healthy and ready to succeed. ccpfc.org Dancing with the Fayetteville Stars: A show on March 31 to raise money for the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development. CEED’s programs include entrepreneurship, self-sufficiency and housing. ncceed. org Fayetteville Police Foundation Ball: The ball has been held the last two years in the spring at Highland Country Club. 433-1746 or 988-0797 Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity fundraiser includes lunch, dessert and champagne. fayettevillenchabitat.org A Garden Party: The fundraiser in April is for the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland County. The get-together was held in Cross Creek Park with guests wearing hats, sun dresses and bow ties. ccbgc.org Fayetteville Uncorked: A Toast to our Troops: The Fayetteville Wine Society’s charity social supports military families. It is held at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in May. fayettevilleuncorked.com The Frye Foundation’s Gala to Fight Diabetes: Raises money to fight juvenile diabetes and mental illness. The event has been held in June in the Crown Coliseum Ballroom. Acclaimed track coach and Vass native Curtis Frye created the foundation.
Entertainment
Things to do in Fayetteville Movie theaters Cameo Art House Theatre: 228 Hay St. 910-486-6633 or cameoarthouse.com AMC Market Fair 15: 1916 Skibo Road, 910-868-9791 or amctheatres.com Millstone 14: 3400 Footbridge Lane, Hope Mills. 910-354-2124 or stonetheatres.com Omni Cinemas 8: 3729 Sycamore Dairy Road. Shows second-run films at a discounted price. 910-487-5530, omnicinemas.com AMC Fayetteville 14: 4761 Lake Valley Drive. Features an IMAX screen along with regular screens. 910-252-9684, amctheatres.com
Skateboarding Fort Bragg Skatepark: Cleland Multipurpose Complex, Fort Bragg. 910-396-5127.
Bowling lanes B&B Bowling Lanes: 3003 Fort Bragg Road. 910-484-5179 or bandblanes. com Lafayette Bowling Lanes: 3313 Raeford Road. 910-484-0113 or Facebook North View Lanes: 5307 Ramsey St. 910-822-6446 or Facebook Dragon Bowling Center: Next to the Mini Mall on Reilly Road on Fort Bragg. 910-907-2695 Airborne Lanes: Bastogne Drive and Ardennes Street on Fort Bragg. 910-432-6899
Kids in Sports: 1916 Skibo Road, 910-401-3739 Megaplay: 217 Skyland Shopping Center, Spring Lake. 910-339-9119 Monkey Joe's: 102 Westwood Shopping Center. 910-423-5637 Bravery Kids Gym: 886 Elm St. 910-779-0623 Countryside Gymnastics: 330 McArthur Road. 910-488-9380
Roller skating Round-a-Bout Skating Center: 880 Elm St., 910-484-4465, and 115 Skateway Drive, 910-860-8900.
Ice skating Cleland Multipurpose Sports Complex: Reilly Street on Fort Bragg. 910-396-5127.
Miniature golf Putt-Putt Fun Center: 3311 Footbridge Lane. 910-424-7888 or puttputt.com Mountasia Fantasy Golf and Games: 3729 Sycamore Dairy Road in Omni Plaza. 910-487-6001 or mountasiagolf.com
Paintball Black River Paintball: 2500 Carson Gregory Road, Angier. 919-567-9977, brpball.com Black Ops Paintball: 2112 River Road. 910-876-4444 or blackopspaintball.org
Climbing places
Escape rooms
The Climbing Place: 436 W. Russell St. 910-486-9638 or theclimbingplace.com Triangle Rock Club: 5213 Raeford Road, Suite 103. 910-868-7625, trianglerockclub.com
Escape Room Fayetteville: 3639 Sycamore Dairy Road. 910-920-1781 Xscape Factor: 136-A Bow St. 910-676-8926
Children gyms The Little Gym: 4011 Sycamore Dairy Road. 910-223-3496
Skydiving Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving:
See to do, PAGE 44
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 39
Entertainment
Concerts, symphonies and choir schedules Community Concerts The series enters its 81st season with an Oct. 20 concert by blues-rockers ZZ Top. Other shows are “Dirty Dancing,” Nov. 11; “Riverdance,” Jan. 30; The Commodores, April 14 and “The Illusionists,” May 10. 910-323-1991 or community-concerts.com Crown complex Scheduled concerts include Thomas Rhett, Oct. 6; REO Speedwagon, Oct. 7; WIDU anniversary celebration, Oct. 12; traditional gospel night, Oct. 13; WIDU anniversary celebration featuring Kirk Franklin, Oct. 14; ZZ Top, Oct. 20; Keith Sweat Renaissance Tour, Dec. 2.
stages most of its concerts at Owens Auditorium on the campus of Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst. 910-687-0287 or carolinaphil.org Eighth Annual Gala for Music Education: “Imaginings,” Oct. 6, Carolina Hotel Grand Ballroom; Holiday Pops, Nov. 22 and 25; Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 19, Owens Auditorium, SCC; Symphonic Masterworks: Beethoven’s Fifth & Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphonies, Jan 10, SCC; “A Night at the Opera,” Feb. 7, SCC; “A Walk on Broadway,” March 17, SCC; Broadway Cabaret, April 21, SCC; Season Finale: Symphonic Salute, featuring internationally renowned violinist, Natasha Korsakova, May 19, SCC.
Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra The Pinehurst-based orchestra, under the direction of David Michael Wolff,
Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra The orchestra’s 61st season will be its first under new conductor Stefan
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Sanders. 910-433-4690 or fayettevillesymphony.org “Cape Fear,” Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University, Oct. 14; “A Carolina Holiday,” Dec. 2, Huff Concert Hall; “The French Connection,” Jan. 11, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 302 Green St.; “Music of the New World,” Jan. 25, St. John’s Episcopal Church; “18672017: A 150 Year Celebration,” Feb. 10, Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University; “Americana,” March 10, Huff Concert Hall; “Appalachian Spring,” April 21, Seabrook Auditorium. Cumberland Oratorio Singers This season is the first for new artistic director Jason Britt. The theme of the season is “Why We Sing,” and each concert attempts to answer that question. singwithcos.org
“We Sing to Relate,” Oct. 20, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road; “We Sing to Remember,” Dec. 16, First Baptist Church, 201 Anderson St.; “We Sing to Experience,” April 27, Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Fort Bragg Road. North Carolina Symphony The Raleigh-based symphony offers a series of concerts at Pinecrest High School, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane in Southern Pines. 919-733-2750 or ncsymphony.org “Beethoven and Rachmaninoff,” Sept. 29; “Classic Pops,” Oct. 12; “Holiday Pops,” Dec. 21; “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Jan. 11; “Dvorak Serenade for Strings,” Feb. 1; “Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony,” April 19; “Movie Music,” May 29.
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 41
Entertainment
Discover Fayetteville theaters Cape Fear Regional Theatre The professional theater at 1209 Hay St. stages a full season of comedies, dramas and musicals. “Dreamgirls,” through Oct. 8; “Wait Until Dark,” Oct. 26- Nov. 12; “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Nov. 30 - Dec. 17; “Seussical: The Musical,” Feb. 1-25; “Disgraced,” March 15-25; “Sense and Sensibility,” April 12-29; “Crowns: A Gospel Musical,” May 17- June 3. 3234233 or cfrt.org.
Gilbert Theater Located at 116 Green St. in downtown Fayetteville, the theater features a mix of professional and amateur actors. “Evil Dead: The Musical,” Sept. 22Oct. 8; “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Nov. 24 - Dec. 17; “Venus in Fur,” Feb. 2-17;
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“Antigone,” April 6-22; “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” June 1-10. 678-7186 or gilberttheater.com.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare
The company presents indoor and outdoor productions at a variety of locations. “King Lear,” through Sept. 30; “MidsummerLIT,” October and November; “Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata,” Dec. 7-9; “Songs for a New World,” Jan 25 - Feb. 4; “Jane Eyre,” April 26- May 6; “The Tempest” and “Pericles,” June 7-17. Sweetteashakespeare.com or 420-4383.
Temple Theatre
The theater at 120 Carthage St. in
See theaters, PAGE 44
Patrick Poole, Ashlee Olivia Jones and Beethoven Oden starred in the drama “Intimate Apparel” at Cape Fear Regional Theatre last season. [staff file photo]
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 43
theaters Continued from Page 42 Sanford offers a season of comedies, musicals and dramas. “Footloose,” through Oct. 1; “Clue: The Musical,” Oct. 19 - Nov. 5; “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 29- Dec. 17; “Classic Nashville Roadshow: The Sequined Sequel,” Jan. 11- 21; “The Odd Couple,” Feb. 1-18; “Church Basement Ladies,” March 8-25; “Beauty and the Beast,” April 19May 13. 919-774-4155 or templeshows. com.
Methodist University
The university stages plays featuring students, faculty and community members. 630-7483 or methodist.edu. Plays include “Works in Progress,” featuring scripts written by veterans and others, mid-September or early November; and a spring musical, either “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” or “Side by Side,” Feb. 22-25.
Fayetteville State University
The university stages plays in Butler Theater and Seabrook Auditorium. “The Pillowman,” Nov. 16-18; “Alice in Wonderland,” Feb. 15-17; sesquicentennial play, April 19-21. 672-2574 or uncfsu.edu/arts
to do Continued from Page 39 190 Paraclete Drive, Raeford. Features a vertical wind tunnel in which guest can “fly” on a column of air. 910-8482600 or paracletexp.com Raeford Parachute Center: 143 Airport Drive, Raeford. Offers tandem jumps and sky diving for beginning and experienced jumpers. 910-904-0000 or skydiveparacletexp.com
Zipline Zipquest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure: 533 Carvers Falls Road.
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North Carolina State Ballet “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 1-10, Crown Theatre; Spring Festival of Dance, June 3. 484-3466 or charlotteblumeschoolofdance.com
Fayetteville Technical Community College Most of the college’s shows are in Cumberland Hall Auditorium. 678-0092 or faytechcc.edu. Fall musical, Nov. 3-19; spring comedy, Feb. 23- March 3; spring drama, April 27- May 6; summer comedy, June 22- July 1.
Givens Performing Arts Center
The center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke features a wide variety of plays, concerts and other events. 910-521-6361 or uncp.edu. “Extreme Illusions and Escapes,” Sept. 22; Derik Nelson and Family,” Sept. 26; Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, Oct. 14; “Who’s Bad?” Tribute to Michael Jackson, Oct. 27; Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Nov. 20; “Chicken Dance,” Nov. 28; holiday extravaganza, Dec. 1; Well Strung String Quartet, Jan. 23; “Amazing Grace: The Musical,” March 13; “Wizard of Oz: The Musical,” March 19; “On Golden Pond,” April 6; “Nugget and Fang,” April 24.
Features zip lines, suspension bridges and platforms. 910-488-8787 or zipquest.com
Arcade Fun Fun Fun: 4670 Cumberland Road, Hope Mills. Arcade and laser tag. 910487-8585 or gofunfunfun.com
YMCA The organization has three Cumberland County locations: 2717 Fort Bragg Road, 3725 Ramsey St., and 3910 Ellison St. in Hope Mills. Fitness classes, programs, summer camps, youth sports, swim lessons and more. 910-426-9622 or ymcaofthesandhills. org
You want pools?
We got ’em. Splash pads, too.
Fayetteville summers can be sultry, making the city’s three public swimming pools a refreshing way to cool off. Two of the pools have been built in just the past two years, ending a drought of more than 50 years since a public pool was constructed. Chalmers Pool at Seabrook Park has been around the longest. It is at 1520 Slater Ave., off Murchison Road. In 2015, the Westover Aquatic Center opened at 266 Bonanza Drive, in western Fayetteville. And in 2016, the Keith A. Bates pool debuted at 4945 Rosehill Road. The three sites include lap pools and a smaller, shallower area for children. The city charges $1 or $2 for admission. In addition to the pools, the city opened three splash pads in summer
2017, and four more are planned. The splash pads mark the first wave of a $35 million in parks and recreation projects approved by voters in a March 2016 referendum. Each pad, which has a $425,000 construction budget, comes with playground-like equipment that shoots and sprays water, plus underground storage tanks and a water filtration system. The pads will go up at six recreation centers across the city, as well as at the future minor league stadium in downtown. The first three that opened in 2017 are at the Kiwanis Recreation Center at 352 Devers St., the Massey Hill Recreation Center at 1612 Camden Road and the Myers Recreation Center at 1018 Rochester Drive. Four more are planned at the
Outdoors
Fayetteville’s long-awaited second pool, the Westover Aquatic Center, opened in 2015. A third one opened on Rosehill Road in 2016. [Cindy Burnham/The Fayetteville Observer]
Gilmore, Cliffdale and E.E. Miller recreation centers, and at the minor league baseball stadium. The $33 million stadium will open in spring 2019. In addition to the seven splash pads, the bond package approved by voters includes two senior citizen
centers, improvements to seven parks, a skateboard park downtown, a river park off Person Street, a multi-field complex and a tennis center. The city plans to break ground on a $5 million Western Senior Center on Lake Rim in fall 2017.
Discover Fayetteville // 2017/2018 45
Outdoors
The great outdoors You don't have to go far to escape city life. Fayetteville and the surrounding region have plenty of local and state parks with everything from bike trails to fishing holes. Here are five that we recommend checking out.
ANDERSON CREEK COUNTY PARK 1491 Nursery Road, Lillington. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Open all days except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day One of the area's newest parks, Anderson Creek is on 1,014 acres between Nursery Road and Powell Farm Road north of Spring Lake. The recently completed Phase I includes walking trails, a picnic pavilion, interpretive signage, observation areas, restrooms, playgroud and a disc golf course for all skill levels. It features hole distances ranging from 170-465 feet, requiring tight, straight shots. To reach the course, follow the sidewalk to the right of the playground, then follow the path to the left toward the woods to reach the first tee.
CAPE FEAR RIVER TRAIL Along Ramsey Street, between Jordan Soccer Complex and PWC Hoffer plant. 8 a.m.-dusk, 365 days You probably know all about the 5.3mile trail, for it is one of the city's most popular walking venues. The paved trail is open to pedestrians, joggers, bicycles,
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A father and daughter at Lake Rim Park. [Shannon Millard/The Fayetteville Observer]
roller blades and other non-motorized transport. An abundance of wildlife and views of the river and marshland are highlights, including several bridges. New this year is a mountain bike trail, about a mile north up the main trail from the park. After crossing Eastwood Avenue, you will see signs. This area is a more technical ride near the river with surfaces than can become slippery after a rainstorm. The bike trail then crosses over the river trail on a flat but winding path. The section is considered accessible to beginners. The mountain bike trail currently is 3 miles but may be expanded one day.
DOROTHY D. GILMORE PARK 1600 Purdue Drive. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. This park is part of a unique recreation center that caters specifically to those with disabilities. The center's motto:
"Where Abilities and dis-Abilities Become POSS-ABILITIES." The park features a handicapped-accessible playground. Inside the center, seniors or those with disabilities can choose from a variety of offerings, including yoga, Zumba, Tai Chi, line dancing and aerobics. There is a daily adaptive open gym session from 3-5 p.m. geared to those with disabilities who would like to play basketball. The center also offers an array of programs from baking to knitting. 910-433-1000.
LAKE RIM PARK 2214 Tar Kiln Drive. March-October, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; November-February, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. If you are an outdoors novice wanting to learn the ins and outs of such things as fishing and backpacking, Lake Rim Park is the place to go. Among
the unique offerings is a fishing tackle loaner program, allowing you to try your hand at fishing without going through the expensive step of purchasing equipment. The program allows you to borrow a rod and reel for 24 hours with a valid driver's license or ID. Participants must follow all state fishing license requirements. If you ever wanted to go on an extended hike like the Appalachian Trail or do some primitive camping, Lake Rim Park annually offers an Introduction to Backpacking course. As for the park itself, picnic areas, horseshoe pits, trails, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, ball fields, playgrounds and natural areas are readily available. Along a trail, you can see remains of the Weed's Lightwood Plant that manufactured turpentine with the use of pits called tar kilns. 910-433-1018.
AVERASBORO BATTLEFIELD 3300 N.C. 82, Dunn. Hours vary. Somewhat forgotten during the final days of the Civil War, the Battle of Averasboro was March 16, 1865, on the grounds of Oak Grove near Erwin, straddling the Harnett-Cumberland county line. Union forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum were attacked by Confederate Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee while they were separated from the rest of Union Gen. William T. Sherman's forces. Slocum's soldiers had crossed the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville and were moving along the Raleigh plank road when they were engaged at Averasboro. The Confederate assault drove back the Union,
Outdoors
A reenactment of the the Battle of Averasboro in 2016. [Shannon Millard/
The Cape Fear River Trail is popular with bikers, joggers and families. [Raul
The Fayetteville Observer]
R. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer]
but when reinforcements arrived, the Union counterattacked and drove back the Confederates. Both sides incurred about 700 casualties. The skirmish was a precursor to the important Battle of Bentonville three days later. Averasboro contains the Ellerslie and Lebanon plantations, which were used by the Union for supplies, quarters and as a field hospital. A small graveyard with soldiers from both sides and a museum replete with a gift shop also are on the grounds. The museum and gift shop is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 910-891-5019
Work on the park may not be completed until 2018. crosscreeklinearpark.com Douglas Byrd Middle School/Park: Ireland Drive. Walking trail, baseball/ softball fields, multipurpose field for football and soccer, green space. Eastover Community Park: 2721 Ball Park Road. Ball fields, pavilion. 485-7424. Fayetteville Community Garden: Intersection of Vanstory and Mann streets. About 100 plots over 5 acres available to residents for planting vegetables, flowers and herbs. 433-1547. Festival Park: Ray Avenue and Rowan Street. Lawn area of 3.5 acres in front of covered amphitheater. 433-1547. Freedom Memorial Park: Intersection of Hay Street and Bragg Boulevard. War monuments. freedommemorialpark. com. Glen Reilly Park: In Glen Reilly neighborhood off Reilly Road. Green space, horseshoe pit, pavilion, playground, walking path. Glendale Acres Elementary School/ Park: 2915 Skycrest Drive. Playground, ball fields, walking path, green space. Godwin Park: Markham Street. Playground, walking trail, picnic shelters, volleyball court. Hall Park: Hall Park Road in Gray’s Creek. Ball fields, picnic shelters. Honeycutt Elementary School/Park: Lakewood Road. Ball fields, playground, green space. Honeycutt Park: Fort Bragg Road and Devers Street. Ball fields, playgrounds, trail, picnic tables, recreation center, green space. 433-1568. Lake Rim Elementary School/Park: Hoke Loop Road. Recreation center, ball fields, gym, playground, walking path.
Fayetteville-Cumberland County parks Arnette Park: 2165 Old Wilmington Road. Picnic areas, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, horseshoes, sand volleyball court, ball fields and disc golf. Christmas in the Park in December. 433-1547. Arsenal Park: 801 Arsenal Ave. Nearly 5-acre site contains remnants of the U.S. Arsenal, built to store arms in 1836. Green space, trails. 486-1330. J. Bayard Clark Park: 631 Sherman Drive. Trails and nature center on 76 acres. Picnic tables, playground, primitive camping, waterfall, mountain bike trail, ranger-guided tours. 433-1579. College Lakes Park: 4846 Rosehill Road. Situated on 11.5 acres, the park is now renovated. Ball fields, playground, walking trail, green space. Cross Creek Linear Park: Plans to connect this park to the Cape Fear River Trail have been delayed while repairs continue in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Several bridges and walkways were destroyed or rendered unusable.
Lamon Street Park: Lamon and Ann streets. Ball fields, playground, picnic tables, pavilion. Adult softball leagues play here. 433-1004 Martin Luther King Jr. Park: Blue Street. Statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., picnic pavilion, open space. Massey Hill Park: 1612 Camden Road. Ball fields, recreation center, horseshoe pit, picnic tables, playground, in-line skating rink. 433-1569 Mazarick Park: Belvedere Avenue. Disc golf course, picnic shelters, trails, tennis courts, ball fields. 433-1547 Max Abbott Middle School/Park: Winding Creek Road. Ball fields, gym, walking path, green space. E.E. Miller Elementary School/Park: Rim Road. Recreation center, ball fields, playground, green space. Montclair Elementary School/Park: 555 Glensford Drive. Ball fields, playground, walking path, green space. Myers Park: 1018 Rochester St. Ball fields, horseshoes, playground, green space.
Nick Jeralds Middle School/Park: 2517 Ramsey St. Ball fields, gym, green space. North Carolina Veterans Park: 300 Bragg Blvd. Pays tribute to veterans from all branches of the military. Peaceful sitting areas, fountains, water features and bronze sculptures of the hands of 100 veterans. Visitors center. 433-1457 or ncveteranspark.org Pine Forest Middle School/Park: 6901 Ramsey St. Recreation center, ball fields, playground, walking path. Ponderosa Elementary School/Park: 311 Bonanza Drive. Ball fields, playground, green space. Reid Ross Classical School/Park: 3200 Ramsey St. Ball fields, gym, track, green space. Riverside Dog Park: 555 N. Eastern Blvd. Separate enclosures for small and larger dogs. All dogs must be legally licensed and have current vaccinations. Tags must be securely attached to their collar. 433-1547 Rowan Park: 725 W. Rowan St.
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Outdoors Recreation center, picnic tables, playground, tennis courts, amphitheater, the blue whale. 422-1547 J.W. Seabrook Park: 708 Langdon St. Ball fields, basketball courts, recreation center, playgrounds, pool. 433-1571 Senior Center: 739 Blue St. Horseshoes, recreation center, walking path, picnic tables. Holds weekly and monthly programs and special trips. 433-1574 Christina Smith Park: 500 Fisher St. Playground, splash pad, ball fields, basketball court, recreation center, sand volleyball court, picnic tables, horseshoe pit, green space. 433-1572 Mable C. Smith Park: 1367 Shadbush Lane. Basketball courts, football/soccer field, picnic tables, playground, walking trail, horseshoe pit, green space. 433-1547 Stedman Elementary School/Park: Circle Drive. Recreation center, ball fields, playground, walking path. Stoney Point Elementary School/ Park: 7411 Rockfish Road. Recreation center, playground, walking path, green space. Tokay Park: 328 Hamilton Drive. Ball fields, recreation center, picnic tables, playground, tennis courts, rubberized track, green space. 433-1547 Vander Park: 128 Rockhill Road, off Old Clinton Road, in Vander. Walking trail, playground. The Vander Pig Cookoff is held here each fall. Westover Park: Bonanza Drive, next to Westover High School. Ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, trail, green space.
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State parks Here are some popular state parks within about two hours drive from Fayetteville. Carvers Creek State Park: Cumberland County’s first state park. Public access at the Long Valley Farm section at 2505 Long Valley Road, off East Manchester Road, in Spring Lake. The farm was once the estate of James Stillman Rockefeller. Includes historic structures, 100-acre millpond, fishing, hiking, picnicking and environmental education. A site for fishing is a halfmile from the park office. Private boats not permitted. The millpond and dam were damaged by Hurricane Matthew and some trail opportunities are temporarily interrupted as repairs are being made. Distance from downtown Fayetteville — 14 miles. 910-436-4681 Raven Rock: In Harnett County, about eight miles northwest of Lillington off U.S. 421. Includes fishing, hiking, primitive camping, a mountain bike and hand cycle trail, picnicking and nature programs. Distance from Fayetteville — 37 miles. 910-893-4888 Jones Lake: In Bladen County, four miles north of Elizabethtown on N.C. 242. Includes swimming, fishing, picnicking, canoeing/kayaking, hiking and camping. Distance from Fayetteville — 37 miles. 910-588-4550 Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve: About 3 miles east of Southern Pines off U.S. 1. Includes hiking, picnicking and nature programs. Distance from Fayetteville — 40 miles. 910-692-2167
Carvers Creek State Park in Spring Lake is a preserve with walking trails and an old mill pond. [Andrew Craft/ The Fayetteville Observer]
Singletary Lake: In Bladen County, about 10 miles southeast of Elizabethtown on N.C. 53. Includes group camping, hiking, water sports and nature study. Developed primarily for organized group camping. Must arrange for access by contacting park staff. Distance from Fayetteville — 57 miles. 910-669-2928 Lumber River: In Robeson County, about 13 miles south of Lumberton, on Princess Ann Road. Includes canoeing/ kayaking, fishing, hiking, picnicking and primitive camping. Distance from Fayetteville — 47 miles. Access also at Chalk Banks access area, U.S. 401 N., Wagram. 910-628-4564 Jordan Lake: Largely in Chatham County, 21 miles southwest of Raleigh off U.S. 64. Includes bald eagle watching, boating, primitive camping, fishing, hiking and swimming. Distance from Fayetteville — 66 miles. 919-362-0586 Cliffs of the Neuse: In Wayne County, 11 miles southwest of Goldsboro on
N.C. 111. Includes rowboat rentals, swimming, fishing, camping, nature programs, hiking and picnicking. Impressive cliffs overlooking the Neuse River. Distance from Fayetteville — 67 miles. 919-778-6234 Lake Waccamaw: In Columbus County, 12 miles east of Whiteville. One of the most unique bodies of water in the world. Includes primitive camping, fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking. Alligators have a presence. Distance from Fayetteville — 81 miles. 910-646-4748, 910-646-1843 Morrow Mountain: Six miles east of Albemarle off N.C. 740. Includes camping, fishing, picnicking, horse trails, hiking, nature programs, boating and swimming. Distance from Fayetteville — 93 miles. 704-982-4402 Carolina Beach: Ten miles south of Wilmington on U.S. 421. Includes camping, hiking and a marina. The unique and state protected Venus flytrap grows here. Distance from Fayetteville — 105 miles. 910-458-8206 Hammocks Beach: In Onslow County between Jacksonville and Morehead City off N.C. 24. The three-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island is accessible only by ferry or private boat. Includes boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming. Distance from Fayetteville — 115 miles. 910-326-4881 Kerr Lake: In Vance County, off Interstate 85, about 9 miles north of Henderson. Includes sailing, fishing, swimming, water skiing and camping. Distance from Fayetteville — 116 miles. 252-438-7791
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Outdoors
Recreation, hiking, runs and more Swimming Holes Chalmers Pool: Seabrook Park, one of three public pools in Cumberland County. Chalmers, Westover Pool and Bates Pool are open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Monday. Admission for county residents is $1 for ages 12 and younger, and $2 for everyone else. Out-of-county residents pay $2 for 12 or younger and $4 for everyone else. During summer, the pool offers swim lessons for children and adults. There also is a junior lifeguard program. Chalmers is at Smith Recreation Center, 1520 Slater Ave. 433-1571. Westover Pool: Westover Recreation Center on Bonanza Drive. The facility features an eight-lane competition pool with a depth range of 4 to 6 feet, a wading pool with a zero entry and
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a maximum depth of 3.5 feet, and a 12-foot water slide. 433-1383. Keith A. Bates Pool: College Lakes Recreation Center. Bates was a city councilman who died in 2014 at age 55. 433-1547. Smith Lake: On Fort Bragg, open to the public. Beach, canoe and paddle boat rentals, camping and Wake Zone Cable Park. The Smith Lake park area is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from May through September and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from October through April. 396-5979 or bragg.armymwr.com. Fantasy Lake Water Park: Man-made water park covering 6 acres with beaches, rope swings and picnic areas. Park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $16 for 11 and older, $10 for children 3-10 or patrons 60 and older, and free for infants accompanied by
a paying adult. The park is at 5869 Permastone Lake Road in Hope Mills. 424-9999 or fantasylakewaterpark. vpweb.com Lake Waldo’s Beach Campground: Swimming pools, water slides and rope swings in summer. The park is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for people ages 10 and younger and $12 for ages 11 and older daily. The venue is at 6742 Waldo’s Beach Road. 423-8701 or lakewaldosbeachcampground.com. Lake Pines Swim Club: 1231 Lake Pine Drive. Swimming area is more than 2 acres with diving boards and water slides. Volleyball and horseshoes, and a snack bar. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is $11 for ages 12 and older,
$9 for ages 6-11, $5 for ages 2-5, and free for under 2. 488-6050 or 822-2003
Hiking & Biking Cape Fear River Trail: 10-foot-wide paved trail for hikers, joggers and bicyclists. The trail has wooden bridges, including a covered bridge, and a 700foot boardwalk through the marsh and wetlands near Clark Park and 365 additional feet of boardwalk a section that opened in December 2014. The nearly 5.3-mile path has entrances at Jordan Soccer Complex at Treetop Drive, Clark Park at 1572 Sherman Drive and off Eastwood Drive. The trail is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. For a trail map, go to fcpr.us. Cross Creek Park: This Green Street park in downtown is along Linear
Outdoors
Park Trail. It boasts a statue of city namesake and Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette. A fountain facing Green Street is a popular site for weddings. Lake Rim Park: This 30-acre park offers a little something for everyone. There’s space to play a game of soccer, a one-mile border trail through the wetlands to Bone Creek and places for a family picnic. The park is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during summer months and 7a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February. 2214 Tar Kiln Drive. 433-1018 or fcpr.us. Mazarick Park: Shady dirt trails are part of this 80-acre park. Some lead to the 21-acre Glenville Lake and the disc-golf course. The park is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Access points are at 1612 Belvedere Ave. and 1368 Belvedere Ave. 433-1545 or fcpr.us. J. Bayard Clark Park: The city’s second-largest regional park features three trails and a nature center on 76 acres. Activities include boat launching, fishing, picnic tables, a playground, primitive camping, waterfall and ranger-guided tours. The
The All American Marathon and Mike to Mike Half Marathon attract thousands of runners each spring. [Michelle Bir/The Fayetteville Observer] park also has TRACK Trails, self-guided brochure hikes designed to encourage children to explore the outdoors. TRACKers can record their adventures on the Kids in Parks website to earn prizes and plan
more adventures. The Clark Park TRACK Trail is a 0.3mile loop that follows parts of the Cape Fear River and Wetlands trails. 631 Sherman Drive. 433-1579 or fcpr.us
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Outdoors
Bill Hefner Elementary School mountain bike trail: This single-track loop is maintained well and features some bridges and technical obstacles. An entrance is on the northeast corner of the playground. The school is at 7059 Calamar Drive. Smith Lake: Known as an introductory trail for mountain bikers, the paths at Smith Lake on Fort Bragg are divided into three interlocking loops ranging from an easy green trail to the black trail’s logs, climbs and bridges. Daily fee is $5; annual fee is $20. 1129 Smith Lake Road. 396-5979 or bragg.armymwr.com. All-American Trail: This unpaved pathway is designed for bikers and hikers. Terrain is mixed with sections from flat to slightly hilly — mostly flat. A 1,000-foot boardwalk over Rockfish Creek and its wetlands has been completed. The trail follows the perimeter of Fort Bragg. Access it just before the gate on Vass Road in Hoke County. The trail is closed during hunting season. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve: Six hiking trails and a bridle trail run 4.6 miles through this 900-acre Sandhills nature preserve in Moore County, near Fort Bragg. Ancient long leaf pines shade the paths. There are hiking and nature
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Mazarick Park tennis courts. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Outdoors activities. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from March to October. The museum was recently turned into an interactive Discovery Room. 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. 910-692-2167 or ncparks.gov.
Game Lands Bullard and Branch hunting preserve: 256 acres in Robeson County. Deer, small game. Open three days a week. No camping. Nicholson Creek: Hoke County off U.S. 401. 1,021 acres. Deer, turkey, small game, dove, warm-water fish. Open three days a week. No camping. Rhodes Pond: Cumberland and Harnett counties on U.S. 301 near Godwin. 461 acres. Permit-only area. Deer, small game, waterfowl, warm-water fish. No camping. Robeson County: Two miles off N.C. 130 on State Road 2455. 42 acres. Deer, small game, waterfowl. Open three
days a week. No camping. Rockfish Creek: Hoke County on N.C. 211. 2,689 acres. Deer, turkey, small game. Open three days a week. No camping. Sandhills: Hoke, Moore, Richmond and Scotland counties. 62,735 acres. Deer, turkey, small game, dove, warm-water fishing. Open three days a week. Camping in designated areas. Suggs Mill Pond: Bladen and Cumberland counties off N.C. 53. 11,030 acres. Permit-only area. Deer, turkey, small game, dove, waterfowl, fishing. Open three days a week. Camping in designated areas.
Tennis Courts Arnette Park: 2165 Wilmington Highway. Eight lighted hard courts open to the public 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 433-1547 Fayetteville Racquet Club: 2636 Owen Drive. Four lighted hard courts at private club for members only. 485-4098
Mazarick Park Tennis Center: 1612 Belvedere Drive. Eight lighted hard courts open to the public. Courts were resurfaced and repainted in 2016. 433-1575. Tokay Park: 328 Hamilton St. Six hard courts, not lighted, open to the public. 433-1547 Lake Rim Park: 2214 Tar Kiln Drive. Two lighted hard courts open to the public. 433-1018 Cumberland County schools: Courts open to public when school isn't in session.
Runs Joint Special Operation 10k: November, one of the more challenging in the area, the off-road race begins at McKellar’s Lodge on Fort Bragg. The Special Operations Communicators Association will host the 21st annual running in 2017. thesoca.org The Green Beret Jingle Jog: December,
benefits Fallen Heroes, Gold Star families, Operation Christmas Cheer and Wounded Warriors programs. Ryan’s Reindeer Run: December, honors Ryan P. Kishbaugh, who died of Hodgkins lymphoma. Mike to Mike Half Marathon and All American Marathon and 5k: March 25, a joint effort between Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. Runners in the fifth annual marathon and half marathon will start in downtown Fayetteville, pound the pavement on the All American Freeway to Fort Bragg and cross the finish line at the post’s Main Parade Field. fortbraggmwr.com The Firecracker 4 Miler: July. The Fayetteville Running Club’s flagship race, attracts hundreds of runners to downtown. For more, contact the Fayetteville Running Club at 910-494-6708 or the Cross Creek Cycling Club at crosscreekcyclingclub.org.
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Sports
Professional sports teams, motorsports and equestrian venues Buies Creek Astros Professional baseball returned to the Cape Fear region in 2017 after a 16-year absence when the Houston Astros relocated their Advanced Class A affiliate to Buies Creek and the campus of Campbell University. The Carolina League franchise will eventually wind up with a new name and playing in Fayetteville, which last fielded a minor league team in 2000. A new $33 million stadium recently broke ground in downtown and is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2019 season. Until then, the Buies Creek Astros will call Campbell University’s Jim Perry Stadium home. Located just 36 miles northeast of Fayetteville in the heart of Campbell’s campus, the 1,500-seat facility features a turf field, new video scoreboard, locker rooms and coaches offices, all upgrades paid for by the major league team. The Buies Creek Astros compete in the 10-team Class A Carolina League and play a 140-game split-season schedule that runs from early April through the first week of September. Seventy of those games are played at Jim Perry Stadium, where individual game tickets are $5 for general admission and $7 for reserved chairback seats. For information on season tickets or group rates, call the team box office at 910-893-1459. The inaugural season in 2017 for the Astros featured some of Houston’s top prospects, including outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker, the fifth overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, batted .288 with nine homers 54 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
and 43 RBIs for Buies Creek before being promoted to Class AA Corpus Christi in late May. Cape Fear Heroes After going dormant for a year, the Cape Fear Heroes arena football team returned to the field in 2017 as part of the new Supreme Indoor Football brand. Developed by Cape Fear owner Barbara Spigner, the SIF featured four teams in its debut season, two of which were designated as “travel only’’ squads. The league is hoping to expand its footprint for the 2018 season to include new franchises in Georgia and South Carolina. The Triangle Torch completed the SIF’s inaugural regular season unbeaten and gained the top seed for the postseason playoffs, which included the Cap City Bulls and Heroes. Cape Fear, led again by longtime arena coach Charles Gunnings, played a six-game schedule in 2017 from April to June, including four SIF games. The Heroes finished the regular season 4-2 with their only two losses coming against the Torch. Cape Fear plays its home games at the Crown Coliseum. Tickets for Heroes games can be purchased at capefeartix.com. Fayetteville Marksmen A new era in professional ice hockey dawned in the spring of 2017 when new owners purchased the Fayetteville FireAntz and changed the team nickname to the Marksmen. Former Fort Bragg soldier Chuck
Fayetteville Marksmen co-owners Chuck Norris, left, and Jeff Longo unveil the team’s jerseys. [Thomas Pope/The Fayetteville Observer]
Norris and partner Jeff Longo purchased the Southern Professional Hockey League franchise in April from a seven-person group that had owned the FireAntz since 2002. The final edition of the FireAntz finished the 2016-17 season with a 36-17-3 record and earned a second consecutive berth in the SPHL playoffs. But the team was quickly eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by losing two straight against the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Fayetteville goalie Sean Bonar set league records for wins (32) and minutes played on the way to earning SPHL Most Valuable Player honors. Bonar was joined on the AllSPHL first team by forward Tayler
Thompson, who led the league in scoring. The Marksmen will drop the puck on their inaugural campaign in midOctober when the SPHL’s 56-game regular season is scheduled to begin. The 10,000-seat Crown Coliseum will serve as home ice for 28 of those games. Tickets for home games range from $20 for adults to $5 for children under age 5. To inquire about season tickets, contact the team office at 910-321-0123. Fayetteville Swampdogs
The Fayetteville SwampDogs have provided summer baseball fun between May and August at J.P.
Riddle Stadium since 2001, making it the city’s longest-running sports franchise. The SwampDogs feature college players from around the country competing in the wood-bat Coastal Plain League. They play a 56-game regular-season schedule that concludes in early August and is followed by the Petitt Cup playoffs. Future major leaguers such as pitcher David Aardsma, infielder Mark Reynolds, outfielder Andy Dirks, pitcher Kevin Quackenbush and pitcher Layne Somsen developed their skills with the SwampDogs, while future all-stars such as Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander, Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Greg Holland toiled for CPL squads on their way to the big leagues. Single-game admission to games at the 2,500-seat Riddle Stadium costs $8 for general admission and $9 for box seats. For more ticket information, contact the SwampDogs at 910-426-5900. Motorsports From NASCAR to drag bikes to tractor pulls, the Cape Fear region has a rich tradition of providing exciting motorsports action. The main region venues are the Fayetteville Motor Speedway and Fayetteville Dragway, both on Doc Bennett Road off exit 46A on Interstate 95.
Sports
The Buies Creek Astros play at Campbell University. The team will move into a new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Fayetteville in 2019. [Raul F. Rubiera / Fayetteville Observer]
NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough were regular competitors at the Fayetteville Motor Speedway soon after it was built in 1968 as an asphalt track. These days the 4/10th-mile dirt oval is the site for a regular schedule of Late Model, Modified, Super Street, Pure Stock and U-CAR division racing from March to late October. It’s also a regular stop for the World of Outlaws Late Model and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt touring series as well as the Carolina Clash regional series. For ticket information, telephone the track at 910-223-7223. The Fayetteville Dragway features competition from May to November in Top ET, modified and Junior dragster classes. For race or ticket information, telephone 910-484-3677.
North of Fayetteville near I-95 in Benson is the multipurpose GALOT Motorsports Park. Named the 2016 Professional Drag Racers Association Track of the Year, GALOT stages everything from drag races to demolition derbies to monster truck events. Check out the track schedule at galotmotorsportspark. com/schedule and telephone 919894-1662 for ticket information. Other Cape Fear region tracks include: •Dublin Motor Speedway is located about 30 miles east of Fayetteville and just west of Elizabethtown. Re-opened in 2005, the 4/10th-mile dirt oval is active from March to October. Access the schedule at dublinspeedway.net or call 910-862-1663. •The New Thunder Valley Dragway about 30 minutes south of Fayetteville in Red Springs. You can check the race schedule at newthundervalleydragway.com and for ticket info telephone 910-843-2934. •Rockfish Motorsports Speedway is situated 10 miles east of Raeford in Hoke County. The facility conducts a variety of dirt track races. For more information, telephone 910-426-7092. •Triple T Raceway is about 17 miles down I-95 in the Robeson County town of St. Pauls. The 1/5thmile track features Kart racing from April to January. tripletraceway. com About an hour west, just outside
the Cape Fear region, motorsports fans can witness some of the best in the drag racing world or experience a bit of NASCAR nostagia. The Rockingham Dragway regularly holds major events from February to November. The annual featured competitions include the AMRA Jim McClure All Harley Nitro Nationals set for Oct. 12-15. For more information, telephone 910-582-3400 or go to rockinghamdragway.com. Just a few steps across U.S. 1 from the dragway is the Rockingham Speedway, or “The Rock’’ as it was known in its heyday between 19652004 when it was the site of annual events on the NASCAR circuit. The 34,500-seat track has also been utilized in several major motion pictures, including “Days of Thunder’’ and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.’’ The speedway was purchased in May 2016 by BK Rock Holdings and to date no further events have been scheduled. Equestrian
Less than an hour south of Fayetteville is the 250-acre Carolina Horse Park, which is regarded as the state’s premier equestrian park. A year-round schedule of competitions and training is offered at the park. For more information about training or events, telephone 910-875-2074.
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Youth sports in Cumberland County Children and adults of all skill levels can play recreation sports in Cumberland County. For fans of baseball, softball, basketball, football and soccer, there are lots of options. Growing sports such as lacrosse and rugby, plus nontraditional sports such as footgolf, are also available in the greater Fayetteville area. Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation is the leading source of youth sports leagues in the county. West Fayetteville Recreation, Hope Mills Parks and Recreation and Spring Lake Parks and Recreation serve residents of their communities. Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation fields independent leagues for youth baseball and softball. West Fayetteville Recreation, which holds Fayetteville’s only Little League charter, has been connected to that organization for more
than 40 years. There’s also Dixie Youth baseball and softball available to families in Hope Mills from mid-March to early June. Running, walking and bicycling on the 5.3-mile Cape Fear River Trail is popular, and many parks in the city offer tennis courts. Depending on interest and court availability, the John D. Fuller Recreational/Athletic Complex sometimes has adult basketball leagues. Footgolf, a newer sport in which players try to kick a soccer ball into an oversized hole along a standard golf course, is offered at Stryker Golf Course on Fort Bragg and Keith Hills Golf Club about 45 minutes north of Fayetteville in Buies Creek, the home of Campbell University. That’s a seven-days-a-week option at both locations, but after 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Keith Hills.
What you can play For youth sports, recreation departments are assigned by street address. Check out the zones at fcpr.us or call Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation at 433-1547. Hope Mills and Spring Lake have their own recreation departments. West Fayetteville Recreation fields Little League teams. Baseball and softball: Mid-April through mid-June. Players 13 to 16 can play at the end of the school year. Fall baseball and softball run September through October. Soccer: Spring season (indoor) runs midApril through June. Fall season (outdoor) runs September through October. Basketball: Late June for FCPR. Winter season is January and February. Football: September through November. Volleyball: June through July for FCPR. Fall season begins in mid-September. Bowling: Mid-June for FCPR.
Sports
Lacrosse: March for FCPR. Rugby: March for FCPR. Track and field: April for FCPR. FCPR also offers youth golf and tennis lessons.
For the adults FCPR and John D. Fuller Recreational/ Athletic Complex offer adult basketball leagues. FCPR runs a winter league, while the Fuller complex offers winter and summer leagues. In addition, FCPR offers adult programs in softball, flag football, tennis, volleyball, dodgeball and kickball.
Where to call Hope Mills Parks and Recreation, 4244500; West Fayetteville (baseball and softball only), 484-6140; Spring Lake Parks and Recreation, 436-0011; and John D. Fuller Complex, 868-2828.
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Military
Fort Bragg marks a century of service Fort Bragg celebrates its 100th birthday in 2018. A century ago, what was then known as Camp Bragg began as an artillery training post. It became a fort several years later, swelled during World War II as it welcomed the military's airborne forces, became a large training base during Vietnam, and today is home to much of the nation's quick reaction and special operations forces. Between 1918 and 2018, the only constant at Fort Bragg has been change. Fort Bragg's mission, however, remains key to America's national security. It's home to the Army's largest command, Forces Command,
Soldiers march by for a pass and review during the 18th Airborne Corps change of command ceremony on May 5, 2015, on Fort Bragg. [File photo/ The Fayetteville Observer]
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which prepares troops for overseas deployments, and U.S. Army Reserve Command. Other key commands include Army Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command and the 18th Airborne Corps. Fort Bragg soldiers are globally engaged, playing key roles in the war against the Islamic State and the war in Afghanistan. They also have key missions in support of allies around the world, often operating in so-called gray areas outside of conventional battles. What began as a temporary artillery training post is now arguably the most important military installation in the nation, if not the world.
Not bad for a post that was founded by chance among the sand and pine of North Carolina. According to official histories, the Army officer charged with finding a location for what would become Camp Bragg was ordered simply to find a suitable location in the Southeast. That officer, Col. E.P. King, searched throughout Maryland and Virginia but could not find what the Army needed. King resumed his search with a member of the U.S. Forestry Service, Dr. T. Wayland Vaughn. This new trip was equally unsuccessful as the two made their way south from Virginia, traveling “by the compass and dead reckoning,” according to Fort Bragg’s official
history. After leaving Richmond, the two men stayed in Emporia, Virginia, then Rocky Mount before finding themselves in Manchester, near present day Spring Lake. There, while buying a soda, a shopkeeper directed them to nearby Fayetteville. It was the first time King had ever heard of the city. But after spending the night, he and Vaughn found what they thought would be the perfect site. The two were originally supposed to travel to the Savannah River, but they called off the rest of their trek. Camp Bragg would be founded outside Fayetteville. The rest is history.
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1. 43rd Air Mobility 7. Fire station Operations Group 8. Fitness center 2. Shoppette 9. Arts and Craft Center 3. Chapel 10. Air Park 4. Child Development Center 11. Fort Bragg Family 5. Dental clinic Readiness Center 6. Soldier Readiness Center
17
8 11
28
29
16
27
2
10
6
1. 82nd Airborne Division 20. South commissary/PX 2. 18th Airborne Corps & 21. Bragg Main Post Cemetery Fort Bragg Headquarters 22. Fort Bragg Fairgrounds 3. USASOC Headquarters 23. Smith Lake 3a. Fallen Special Operations 24. Clay Target Center Soldiers Memorial Wall 25. Cleland Ice Rink 4. 82nd Airborne Division 26. Soldier Support Center Memorial Chapel 27. Marshall Hall: Forscom/ 5. Ryder Golf Course USARC Headquarters and 6. Hedrick Stadium Main Post Polo Field 7. Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union 28. Main Post Flagpole 8. Iron Mike statue and Main 29. Warrior Transition Battalion Post Parade Field 30. JFK Special Warfare 9. JFK Memorial Chapel Center and School 10. Main Post Chapel 31. Joint Special Operations 11. Throckmorton Library Command 12. North Post PX and commissary 32. U.S. Army Parachute Team 13. 82nd Airborne Division Museum 33. McKellar’s Lodge 14. Normandy House 34. Mini Mall 15. Stryker Golf Course 35. Moon Hall 16. Womack Army Medical Center 36. Hardy Hall 17. State Veterans Cemetery 37. Fort Bragg Conference and Catering Center 18. Tolson Youth Center 19. Sports USA
401
Camp Mackall 15
SCOTLAND COUNTY
Raeford
HOKE COUNTY
Laurinburg
ROBESON COUNTY
95
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Military
Just the facts about Fort Bragg How big is Fort Bragg? The nation’s largest military installation in terms of population, Fort Bragg is home to roughly 54,000 troops who live and train on nearly 163,000 acres. The post is also the largest in the Army by building space, with nearly 54 million square feet of space. More than 14,000 Department of Defense civilians work on the installation, along with more than 5,000 contract employees. In all, Fort Bragg supports a population of roughly 260,000, including military families, retirees and others. That results in an economic impact of about $9.8 billion each year on the local region, or about $26.9 million each day. Home of the Airborne and special operations: Fort Bragg proudly touts
its ties to the military’s airborne and special operations forces. Most of the post’s soldiers are paratroopers — meaning they are trained to jump from perfectly good airplanes onto one of Fort Bragg’s six drop zones. Those troops includes most special operations soldiers at Fort Bragg, the famed 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps, among others. Fort Bragg also is home to the bulk of the Army’s special operations forces, which includes Special Forces, civil affairs and
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Heavy infantry with 1st Brigade Combat Team fires off the single-use AT-4 rockets during a live fire training exercise on Fort Bragg on March 22. [Shane Dunlap/The Fayetteville Observer]
psychological operations troops. Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees some of the military’s most secretive and elite units, also calls Fort Bragg home. Nearby Camp Mackall, a satellite location west of Fort Bragg, hosts much of the training for those special operations forces. A booming past: While Fort Bragg’s
present is focused on paratroopers and special operators, its past is rooted in big guns. Fort Bragg began as an artillery training post when it was founded in 1918. Today, the installation is still home to some of the Army’s loudest and most powerful weapons, including howitzers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System,
or HiMARS. The post remains home to four large impact areas, supporting training not just for Fort Bragg artillerymen, but for Marines from Camp Lejeune and North Carolina National Guardsmen, too. Fort Bragg brass: Fort Bragg has no shortage of brass. The post is home to at least 37 general officers, including two foreign generals who serve with the 18th Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division, respectively. Only the Pentagon has more general officers. A global force: Soldiers at Fort Bragg train year-round, with millions of training hours, thousands of sorties and nearly 750,000 training events each quarter. The soldiers train at home and also routinely travel to train in new and different environments. The training is meant to help prepare soldiers for Fort Bragg’s steady deployments, with troops routinely serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. Fort Bragg is home to the Global Response Force, tasked with deploying around the world on short notice. And its special operations forces have long-standing relationships with allied nations around the world.
Fort Bragg Access Control Points Fort Bragg is an open installation. But if you are not a Department of Defense cardholder, you will need to obtain a visitor’s pass at the All American Visitor Control Center on the All American Freeway. The center is open seven days a week between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. It's a good idea to allow for extra time in case of lines. Cardholders simply swipe or show their ID cards at any of the gates to gain access. Longstreet: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Chicken Road at Mac Ridge Road: 24 hours a day, seven days a week North Reilly Road at Canopy Lane: 5 a.m.-9 p.m., weekdays; 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. weekends and holidays Yadkin Road: 24 hours a day, seven days a week All American Freeway: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Bragg Boulevard at Knox Street: 5 a.m.-9p.m., weekdays; 5 a.m.-1 p.m., weekends Bragg Boulevard at Knox Street truck plaza for commercial vehicles: 5 a.m.-9p.m., weekdays; 5 a.m.-1 p.m., weekends Honeycutt Road at Murchison Road: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Bragg Boulevard at Randolph Street: 24 hours a day, seven days a week Bragg Boulevard at Butner Road: 5 a.m.-9 p.m., weekdays Simmons Army Airfield: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for airfield entrance only Linden Oaks Parkway, Linden Oaks military housing community in Spout Springs: 24 hours a day, seven days a week for residents, guests and deliveries Manchester Gate at Pope Field: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., weekdays
Military
Fort Bragg has several access control points.
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Military
U.S. Army Forces Command: Gen. Robert B. “Abe” Abrams
82nd Airborne Division: Maj. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla
t o p l e a d e r s o n POST
Fort Bragg and 18th Army U.S. Army Reserve Forces 18th Airborne Corps: Lt. Reserve Gen. Command: Lt. Gen. Command Airborne Stephen J. Townsend Luckey Command Charles D. Corps
1st Special JFK Special Forces 1st Special ForcesWarfare Command and Command: Maj.Center Gen. Fran M. Beaudette School
U.S. Army Special Army 82nd Operations Command: Special Airborne Lt. Gen. Kenneth E. Division Tovo Operations Command
Army Special Joint Special Operations Command: Operations Lt. Gen. Austin S. Miller Aviation Command
3rd Civil Affairs & Womack Army Army Medical U.S. Psychological Army Civil Affairs andExpeditionary 3rd Expeditionary Garrison U.S. Army Special OperaOperations Psychological Operations Sustainment Center Commandtions Aviation Sustainment Command: Command: Command: Brig. Gen. Brig. Gen. Brig. Gen. John R. Evans Jr. Command Command Richard K. Sele (Interim commander as of June)
U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School: Maj. Gen. Kurt L. Sonntag
Fort Bragg Garrison: Col. Kyle A. Reed
Christopher Mohan
What color was that beret?
Air Force Army Scarlet: Combat controllers Maroon: Airborne soldiers Dark blue: Security forces Green: Special Forces soldiers — hence the nickPewter: Combat weathermen name of Green Berets Sage green: Instructors of Survival, Evasion, Tan: Rangers Escape Soldiers and airmen 18th wear Field a number of16th MilitaryBlack: The special 20th occasion headgear 525th of any sol- 44th Resistance and 43rd colorful berets. Here's what they tell you Police dier not entitled Pararescuemen to wear oneMilitary of the berets above. Artillery Engineer Mobility MedicalMaroon:Air about the wearer: air control parties, air liaison officers Brigade Intelligence Brigade Operations Brigade BrigadeBlack: Tactical
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Brigade
Group
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Military
A guide to military ranks and patches AIR FORCE ENLISTED
ARMY
OFFICERS
(Army and Air Force)
PRIVATE
AIRMAN
E-1 E-2
AIRMAN FIRST CLASS
E-3
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
AIRMAN BASIC
SENIOR AIRMAN
PRIVATE
FIRST LIEUTENANT O-2
CORPORAL SPECIALIST
STAFF SERGEANT
E-5
SERGEANT
CAPTAIN O-3
TECHNICAL SERGEANT
E-6
STAFF SERGEANT
MAJOR O-4
E-7
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
MASTER SERGEANT (FIRST SERGEANT)
SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT (FIRST SERGEANT)
E-8
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT
E-9
Forces Command
Army Reserve Command
LIEUTENANT COLONEL O-5
1st Special Forces Command
JFK Special Warfare Center and School
18th Field Artillery Brigade
16th Military Police Brigade
FIRST SERGEANT
BRIGADIER GENERAL O-7
MASTER SERGEANT
MAJOR GENERAL O-8
SERGEANT MAJOR
LIEUTENANT GENERAL O-9
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR
GENERAL O-10
18th Airborne Corps
Army Special Operations Command
3rd Civil Affairs & Psychological Expeditionary Sustainment Operations Command Command
20th Engineer Brigade
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WARRANT OFFICER W01
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2
COLONEL O-6
SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT
(Army)
SECOND LIEUTENANT O-1
E-4
MASTER SERGEANT
WARRANT OFFICERS
525th Military Intelligence Brigade
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW3
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW4
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW5
82nd Airborne Division
Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Army Garrison Command
Womack Army Medical Center
44th Medical Brigade
43rd Air Mobility Operations Group
Military
Fun things to do on Fort Bragg swim and aqua aerobics are offered. Atchley Outdoor Pool: Bastogne Drive and Ardennes Street. Closed for renovations. 910-908-6187 Normandy Outdoor Pool: By Ryder Golf Course, between Totten Street and Hunt Street. 910-432-5465 Tolson Indoor Pool: Normandy Drive and Reilly Street. Open for programming only. 910-643-8533 Tucker Indoor Pool: Tullidge Way and Bastgone Drive. 910-908-3198 Twin Lions Outdoor Pool: Normandy Drive and Ardennes Street. 910-432-7266
Fort Bragg's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office gives families plenty of options for on-post activities. For a complete list, go to fortbraggmwr.com.
Things to do USO of N.C. Fort Bragg Center: Normandy Drive, on the first floor of the Soldier Support Center. Inside are a day room, TVs, children's play table and games, free drinks and snacks, computer lab with CAC card access, Operation Morale Call teleconferencing area, free Wi-Fi. The USO also has a center at Fayetteville Regional Airport. 910-495-1437 Armed Services YMCA: Rodney Trail. The Fort Bragg branch offers free or low-cost programs to support junior enlisted military service members and their families. 910-436-0500 Airborne Lanes: Bastogne Drive and Ardennes Street. 910-432-6900 Dragon Lanes: Next to the Mini Mall on Reilly Street. 910-907-2695 Bingo: All American Bingo, Gruber Road. Lunch and bingo Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Evening bingo, 3:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m.-12 a.m. Last Sunday of the month only, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 910-396-3310 Cleland Ice Rink: Reilly Street. Private rental, birthday parties, adult/youth hockey leagues and public ice skating hours. Admission, including skate rental, is $7 weekdays and $10 Friday through Sunday. Children age 5 and younger $4. Cleland also operates an outdoor inline skate rink and a 19,000-square-foot skate park. No fee to use inline rink or skate park. 910-396-5127 Group fitness: Fort Bragg offers a variety of classes at its gyms, including Zumba, yoga, kickboxing, exercise boot camp and cycling. Sports & Fitness Office: Reilly Street. Join an intramural team or tournament. 910-396-1217 Family runs: A 5k walk/run is held the last Saturday of the month at Hedrick Stadium.
Lakes
A tee-off at Stryker Golf Course. [Johnny Horne/The Fayetteville Observer]
Running trails All American Trail: Stretches from King Road to Upchurch Lake. Closed during hunting season. Coscom Trail: 0.6 miles on Logistics Street Engineer Trail: 1.6 miles on Kedenburg Road and Essayons Street Smith Lake Trail: 6.1 miles off N.C. 210
Tracks Hedrick Stadium: Longstreet Road and Reilly Street Hercules Track: Reilly and Armistead streets Towle Stadium: Ardennes Street and Bastogne Drive
Food & drink Iron Mike Conference and Catering Center: Reilly Road. Buffet that changes daily and catering for parties and weddings. Public lunch from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. weekdays. Public lunch buffet $9.50. Call for catering. 910-907-2582 Smoke Bomb Grille: Ninth and Buker streets. 910-907-4976
McKellar's Lodge: Gruber Road, overlooking McKellar's Lake. Daily lunch specials, a country-style buffet and catering services. 910-907-5253 Sports USA: Longstreet Road. Bigscreen TVs, pool tournaments, sand volleyball, video games, seating for more than 800, dancing, live bands and patio bar. 910-907-0739 Chain restaurants: Subway, Starbucks, Quiznos, Burger King and KFC have locations on post.
Golf Ryder Golf Course: Normandy Drive. The Divot restaurant, water holes, rolling hills. 910-907-4653 Stryker Golf Course: 18-hole Donald Ross layout. Amenities include practice facilities, clubhouse, golf shop and locker rooms. On Bragg Boulevard between Knox Street and Gruber Road. Civilians admitted. 910-396-3980
Aquatics Fort Bragg and Pope Field have three outdoor aquatics facilities and two indoor facilities. Swimming lessons, lap
All Fort Bragg lakes, except Smith Lake, are off limits to swimming, wind surfing, water-skiing and personal watercraft such as jet skis. There is no boating motor size restriction on McArthur, Big Muddy and Mott lakes. All others have a maximum 25 horsepower restriction. Smith Lake: Open to the public. Mountain bike and walking trails, beach with playground and swimming area, volleyball and pavilions for rent. Between May and October, the lake hosts outdoor movie nights. The Wake Zone Cable Park is open on weekends. 910-396-5979 Managed lakes: Texas (29 acres), McArthur (70 acres), Mott (138 acres), Little Muddy (31 acres), Big Muddy (66 acres), Overhills (36 acres), Lindsay (50 acres), Deer Pen (4 acres), Quail (5 acres), Croatan (3 acres) and Smith (68 acres) Catfish lakes: Lower McKellars (16 acres), Wyatt (8 acres), and Mossgeil (7 acres) Intensively managed lakes: Managed for largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. Simmons (13 acres), Holland (11 acres), McFayden (8 acres), Hurley (8 acres), Keist (14 acres) and Boundary Line (15 acres)
See to do, PAGE 69
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to do
and party supplies. Knox Street, 910-396-7060/7531
Towle Stadium: Ardennes Street and Bastogne Drive
Continued from Page 67
Auto Skills Center
Gyms
Do-it-yourself mechanics may rent work bays and tools to maintain their personal vehicles at two locations, East Bragg Auto Skills Center at East B and Lane Streets, 910-396-1486, and Rec Plex Auto Skills Center on Pope Field at 794 Armistead St., 910-394-2293
BlackJack Fitness Center: Goldberg Street, 910-432-7922. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Temporarily closed since March 2017. Callahan Athletic Center: Reilly Street, 910-396-3037. Daily 4 a.m.-11 p.m. (including training holidays and holidays) Dahl Physical Fitness Center: Logistics Street, 910-396-6226. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, training holidays and holidays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Frederick Performance Enhancement Center: Gruber Road, 910-432-7949. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; training holidays and holidays, closed. Funk Physical Fitness Center: Gruber Road, 910-432-8772. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, training holidays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; holidays, closed. Temporarily closed since March 2017. Hercules Fitness Center: Armistead Street, Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, holidays, training holidays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., 910-394-2892 Hosking Physical Fitness Center:
Hunting & fishing To hunt or fish on post, you need a North Carolina hunting and/or fishing license, as well as a post permit. To get the post hunting permit, you must show proof of completing a state hunter safety course in any state and complete the Fort Bragg hunter orientation. 910-432-5415/5427 McKellar’s Lodge Rod & Gun Club and Archery Range: Gruber Road, 910-432-1391 Clay Target Center: N.C. 87 North to East Manchester Road. Twelve competition-level fields, shotguns available to rent, ammunition for sale, 28 RV sites, bathhouse, pavilion and picnic areas. Open Friday and Saturday. 910-436-9489
Gear Fort Bragg's Recreation Equipment Checkout Center carries everything from campers, tents and athletic equipment to kayaks, boats
Athletic fields Bowley: Woodruff and Hamiliton ROTC No. 1 and No. 2: Arimstead and Letterman streets Hedrick Stadium: Reilly Street and Longstreet Road Ruth: Reilly and Woodruff streets Gruber: Gruber Road on east Fort Bragg Smith: Gruber Road and Kedenberg Street 20th Engineer 9: Bastogne Drive in the 20th Engineer area Ardennes: Ardennes Street near Longstreet Road Pike: Gruber Road and Pratt Street Ritz-Epps Softball fields #1-4 and Football/Soccer fields #1-2: Corner of Champion Main and All American Way
Ardennes Street, 910-432-6489. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, training holidays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; holidays, closed. Temporarily closed since March 2017. Iron Mike Fitness Center: Kedenburg Street, 910-432-5679. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Patriot Point Fitness Center: Air Defense Loop, 910-908-2766. MondayFriday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center: All American Way, 910-432-1031. MondayFriday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, holidays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; training holidays, 5 a.m.-1 p.m. Ryder Physical Fitness Center: Normandy Street, 910-396-7857. Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, training holidays, holiday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Towle Fitness Center: Bastogne Drive, 910432-6493, Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Tucker Performance Enhancement Center: Tullidge Way, 910-432-3573. Monday-Friday and training holidays, 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, noon-7 p.m. Warfighter Fitness Center: Kiowa Warrior (Simmons Army Airfield), 910-396-9660 or 910-432-9331. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
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B us i ness
Military dollars drive area’s economy As of 2015, $8.8 billion of Fayettevile’s $17 billion local economy was government
T
he federal tax dollar that underwrites Fort Bragg drives this region’s economy. Retailers, restaurants, apartment complexes, real estate agents, auto dealers and many other businesses are highly oriented toward the twice-monthly paydays of more than 50,000 uniformed personnel and their 70,000 dependents, plus about 20,000 civilian employees and military contractors. Fort Bragg has seen tremendous growth over the past 15 years. The installation has played a key role in the war on terror, and become even more important to the military with the addition of important commands. That is reflected in the Fayetteville metro's economy — since 2001, the overall government sector has more than doubled. As of 2015, $8.8 billion of our $17 billion local economy was government. The Fayetteville-Fort Bragg region has other economic engines, too. Manufacturing is a $1.5 billion industry here, including large industrial plants. Distribution centers, hospitals, health care services, and customer-service call centers employ tens of thousands of people. Two universities and a large community college are in Fayetteville, each with programs that help small businesses and entrepreneurs. The city's affordable cost of living and location along Interstate 95 — halfway between New York and Florida — make it an attractive community for industry. Plus, hundreds of highly skilled men and women transition out of the military every year, creating an available workforce like few others in the country.
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Barbers cut soldiers’ hair in a barber shop near Fort Bragg in 2010. The Fayetteville-area economy depends heavily on soldier spending. [File photo/The Fayetteville Observer]
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B us i ness
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employs about 2,500 workers and turns out about 32,000 tires each day at its plant in Fayetteville. [File photo/The Fayetteville Observer]
Cumberland County’s major manufacturers A look at some of the area’s major manufacturers: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employs
about 2,500 workers and turns out about 32,000 tires each day at its plant in Fayetteville. Opened in 1969, the Ramsey Street plant produces branded products — Goodyear, Kelly and Dunlop — for the replacement market with some original equipment production for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Mann+Hummel Purolator Filters LLC
employs about 1,100 people at its filter manufacturing plant on Natal Street. Purolator started making automotive filters in 1923 and took its name from its first filter, which
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was short for “pure oil now, pure oil later.” The Fayetteville plant makes oil, air, fuel and cabin filters for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Eaton Corp. employs about 650 people at its plant on Doc Bennett Road. The Fayetteville plant designs and manufactures motor control centers and enclosed control products. Delta Apparel Inc. employs about 500 workers off Dunn Road on a campus that has long been home to Soffe, the Fayetteville-born sports and military focused apparel brand purchased by Delta Apparel in 2003. Delta Apparel also owns Salt Life, a brand known for decals and beachy
T-shirts. Screen printing for Salt Life and Soffe is done on the Fayetteville campus, which in 2015 became home to Salt Life’s national distribution center. Chemours Fayetteville Works, just over the Cumberland County line in Bladen County, is where more than 460 people report to work. With more than 300 employees, Chemours — a chemical company that DuPont spun off in 2015 — has the largest presence at the Fayetteville Works site. DuPont, which developed the site in the late 1960s, still has about 40 employees there, and Kuraray America Inc. has about 120. Japan-based Kuraray bought DuPont’s vinyl and laminating
business in 2014.
DAK Americas LLC on Cedar Creek Road has nearly 140 employees, including some former contractors who were already working at the plant but were to make the transition to full-employee status in 2016. The plant manufactures polyethylene terephthalate resin — PET — which is sent to other manufacturers that use it to make plastic drink bottles and food packaging.
Cargill Inc. employs about 75 people at its plant on River Road, which processes soybean oil and peanut oil. The company built its crushing plant in 1970 and added the refinery in 1974.
B u s i ness
Business resources
Event space and venues
Center for Economic Empowerment & Development: 230 Hay St., 910-3233377, ncceed.org Center for Entrepreneurship at Methodist University: 5400 Ramsey St., 910-630-7642, methodist.edu/cfe Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp.: 910678-7644, thencalliance.com Fayetteville Business Center: 2520 Murchison Road, 910-222-8900, uncfsu.edu/ govandcommunity/community-affairs/ fayetteville-business-center Greater Fayetteville Chamber: 159 Maxwell St., 910-483-8133, faybiz.com Fayetteville State University Center for Entrepreneurship: 1200 Murchison Road, 910-672-2474, uncfsu.edu/ce Fayetteville Technical Community College Small Business Center: 2723 Fort Bragg Road, 910-678-8462, faytechcc.edu/ continuing-education/small-business-center
SkyView on Hay: 121 Hay St. A fourmeeting space complex in the heart of downtown. Rainbow Room: 223 Hay St. An intimate venue in downtown Fayetteville that can hold up to 125 people. Metropolitan Room: 109 Green St. Near the Market House, the Metropolitan Room has multiple rooms to offer for weddings and other events. Studio 215: 215 Williams St. A modern industrial event space with 6,100 square feet for flexible use. Crown Complex: 1960 Coliseum Drive. A five-venue complex with a 4,500-seat arena, a 9,200-square foot ballroom, a 10,880-seat coliseum, a 60,000-square foot exposition center and a 2,440-seat theater. Embassy Suites: 4760 Lake Valley Drive. The conference center has nearly 10,000 square feet of flexible space.
Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce: 5546 Trade St., 910-423-4314, hopemillschamber.org North Carolina Defense Business Association: 455 Ramsey St., 910-3073059, ncdba.com N.C. Military Business Center: 910678-0193, ncmbc.us Partnership for Defense Innovation: 455 Ramsey St., 910-307-3000 SCORE: 910-692-3926, sandhills.score.org Small Business and Technology Development Center: 1200 Murchison Road, 910-672-1727, sbtdc.org Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce: 300 Ruth St., 910-497-8821, springlakechamber.com U.S. Small Business Administration: 704-344-6563, sba.gov/nc Veterans Business Outreach Center at FSU: 1200 Murchison Road, 910-6722683, fsuvboc.com/home
Ramada Plaza and Bordeaux Convention Center: 1707-A Owen Drive. It has 16 venues that can accommodate up to 1,200 people. Cape Fear Botanical Garden: 536 N. Eastern Blvd. The Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex hosts weddings, children's parties, business meetings and military and other special functions. Iron Mike Conference and Catering Center: 2658 Reilly Road, Fort Bragg. The 15,000-square-foot space accommodates military functions, weddings, parties and job fairs. DoubleTree by Hilton: 1965 Cedar Creek Road. It has 15,000 square feet of event space and can hold 550 people in its ballroom. Ambiance Entertainment Venue: 2510 Legion Road. It includes 10,000 square feet of space for all occasions.
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Education
Schools dedicated to student success
C
umberland County Schools is the fifth largest system in the state with 87 schools and more than 51,000 students. We also have two charter schools and several private schools. For military families who live on Fort Bragg, there are elementary and middle schools on post. The Cumberland County system has 17 high schools, 18 middle schools and 52 elementary schools. More than 13,000 students, or 1 in 4 in the system, have relatives with ties to the military or federal government. The schools are diverse in cultures, languages and academic programs. As of 2016, Cumberland County Schools had 190 National Boardcertified teachers, and more than 6,000 total employees. The two charter schools in the county are Alpha Academy and Capitol Encore Academy. Alpha Academy, which is on Raeford Road near the CumberlandHoke county line, started 17 years ago and has about 700 students in kindergarten through ninth grade. It features the Katherine G. Johnson STEM Institute, which was named after a NASA pioneer who loved mathematics and teaching. Capitol Encore Academy, which is in its fourth year, is housed in the
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Cumberland County Percentage of students proficient or higher in end-of-grade tests (compared with state average) in 2016: Reading: 57.9 (57) Math: 49.9 (54.7) Science: 74.8 (72.7) Average class size (compared with state average): Kindergarten: 18 (19) Third grade: 17 (19) Sixth grade: 23 (21) Eighth grade: 23 (21)
Students at Warrenwood Elementary School were welcomed on the first day by members of Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity from Fayetteville State University. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
former Capitol department store building in downtown Fayetteville. Last year, it had more than 290 students in classes from kindergarten through seventh grade, with plans to add a grade each year. Measuring performance Public schools in North Carolina are measured using what the state calls Report Cards. The grades are intended to help parents understand
how schools perform in relation to other schools. The Report Cards include a profile of the school or district, its performance, school indicators, school environment and personnel. Report Cards are given to all public, charter and alternative schools, but those for charter and alternative schools differ slightly from those for traditional public schools. A link to the Report Card grades for all schools in the state is on the
Percentage of teachers with 10 or more years of teaching experience (compared with state average): Elementary: 44 (50) Middle: 51 (51) High: 55 (53)
Department of Public Instruction’s website at ncpublicschools.org/src. Click the “NC Schools Report Card” link, then “School Reports,” and search for your school. The Report Cards for Cumberland County and other systems are available by clicking on “District Reports.”
Education
CU M B E R L AND COUNT Y B OA R D O F E DUCATION
Greg West Chairman, Board of Education District: At-large 910-486-5292 gregwestboe@gmail.com
Donna Vann Vice Chairwoman, B.O.E. District 4 910-978-9058 donnavannboe@gmail.com
Judy Musgrave District: At-large 910-822-3966 judymusgraveccs@gmail.com
Rudy Tatum District: At-large 910-988-6545 rudytatumboe@gmail.com
Alicia Chisolm District 1 910-488-7820 achisolm2441@nc.rr.com
Porcha McMillan District 2 910-486-4624 pmcmillanboe@gmail.com
Carrie Sutton District 3 910-864-5567 carriesuttonboe@gmail.com
Susan Williams District 5 910-485-6305 susanwlms@gmail.com
Peggy Hall District 6 910-424-4375 peggyhallboe@gmail.com
Tim Kinlaw Interim Superintendent 910-678-2300 Web: ccs.k12.nc.us
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Education
Cumberland County’s high schools Cape Fear 4762 Clinton Road Year founded: 1969 Principal: V. Lee Spruill III Mascot: Colt Colors: Blue and gold Fact: The Colts’ football team played in the state 4-A football championship in December 2016, after posting a 15-0 regular season record.
Cumberland International Early College High School’s graduation ceremony in spring 2017. [Staff file photo]
Cross Creek Early College
1200 Murchison Road Year founded: 1977 Principal: Patsy Patrick Mascot: Cavaliers Colors: Navy blue and light blue Fact: The school earned the state’s highest grade for student performance for the 2015-2016 year, A+NG.
Cumberland International Early College
1800 Seabrook Road Year founded: 2011 Principal: Maria Pierce Ford Mascot: Ambassador Colors: Red, silver and black Fact: Students take college-level courses on the campus of Fayetteville State University and the curriculum has a global focus.
Cumberland Polytechnic
2201 Hull Road Year founded: 2016 Principal: Daniel Krumanocker Mascot: Hawk Fact: The school partners with and is located at Fayetteville Technical Community College, and focuses on vocational-tech courses.
Douglas Byrd
1624 Ireland Drive Year founded: 1972 Principal: Zoletta Taylor Mascot: Eagle Colors: Cardinal red and gold 76 2017/2018 // Discover Fayetteville
E.E. Smith High School [Michelle Bir/The Fayetteville Observer]
Fact: The school is named for F.D. Byrd, who served as superintendent of county schools from 1946 to 1972.
E.E. Smith
1800 Seabrook Road Year founded: 1927 Principal: Melody Chalmers
See HIGH SCHOOLS, PAGE 78
Westover High School graduation in spring 2017 [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
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Education
HIGH SCHOOLS
grades moved to South View in 1972. The new Gray’s Creek High opened in 2003, spurred by growth in southern Cumberland County.
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Jack Britt
Mascot: Bull Colors: Blue and gold Fact: Smith is one of only five historically black high schools in North Carolina that predate desegregation and still operate as high schools.
7403 Rockfish Road Year founded: 2000 Principal: Scott Pope Mascot: Buccaneer Colors: Purple and gold Fact: Readers of The Fayetteville Observer chose Jack Britt as the best high school in 2016.
Alger B. Wilkins
1429 Skibo Road Year founded: 2007 Principal: Valerie Johnson-Martin Mascot: Warriors Colors: Blue, black and gray Fact: The school is organized around a Performance Learning Center that enhances classroom instruction with online and individualized instruction.
Gray’s Creek
5301 Celebration Drive, Hope Mills
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Massey Hill Classical
Pine Forest High School student Kendall Garraway puts water into a bottle rocket before launching it at the annual Science Olympiad in February 2017. [Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer]
Year founded: 1922 Principal: Lisa G. Stewart Mascot: Bear
Colors: Black and gold Fact: Gray’s Creek School was the community focal point until high school
1062 Southern Ave. Year founded: 1998 Principal: Pamela Adams-Watkins Mascot: Pirate Colors: Green and white Fact: The school originally opened in 1925, and graduated generations from a mill community. It has an active alumni association.
Education
Pine Forest 525 Andrews Road Year founded: 1955 Principal: David Culbreth Mascot: Trojan Colors: Green and gold Fact: Patricia Timmons-Goodson, a 1972 graduate of Pine Forest, served as an associate justice on the N.C. Supreme Court.
Reid Ross Classical
3200 Ramsey St. Year founded: 1999 Principal: John E. McMillan Mascot: Cougar Colors: Blue and orange Fact: The school became a middle school in 1985, before awarding high school diplomas again in 1999. It now includes grades 6-12.
Seventy-First
6764 Raeford Road Year founded: 1924 Principal: Myron Williams Mascot: Falcon Colors: Red and white Fact: The school is named for the old Seventy-First township, which itself was named for the 71st Regiment, Highland Scots who did battle with the British in the 1700s. Scots founded the township.
South View
4184 Elk Road, Hope Mills Year founded: 1972 Principal: Tonjai E. Robertson Mascot: Tiger
Colors: Orange, white and black Fact: Jeff Capel, the top assistant coach for Duke basketball and a former standout player, was a star for South View’s team, too.
Terry Sanford
2301 Fort Bragg Road Year founded: 1913 Principal: Thomas Hatch Mascot: Bulldog Colors: Blue, white and scarlet Fact: Formerly Fayetteville High, and later named for the state’s famous former governor and U.S. senator, it is the city’s oldest high school.
Ramsey Street High School [Google Maps]
Ramsey Street
117 Quincy St. Year founded: 1977 Principal: Reggie Pinkney Fact: The alternative school serves students who were not successful in their home schools. “Our mission is to provide all students an opportunity to succeed in character development and academics while becoming more responsible and productive citizens,″ the principal says on the school’s website.
Westover
277 Bonanza Drive Year founded: 1977 Principal: Vernon Lowery Mascot: Wolverine Colors: Blue and gray Fact: Vernon Lowery was chosen county schools 2017 Principal of the Year.
Massey Hill Classical’s high school commencement in 2017. [Melissa Sue Gerrits/ The Fayetteville Observer]
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Schools of Choice: Specialized programs
Education
Cumberland County/Fort Bragg school calendars Cumberland County’s traditional schedule Aug. 28: First day for students Sep. 27: Student early release Oct. 27: End of first grading period Oct. 30: Student holiday/teacher workday Nov. 9: Student early release Nov. 10: Student/teacher holiday Nov. 22: Student holiday/teacher workday Nov. 23-24: Student/teacher holiday Dec. 19: Student early release Dec. 20-Jan. 1: Winter break for teachers and students Jan. 15: Student/teacher holiday Jan. 19: End of second grading period Jan. 22: Student holiday/teacher workday Feb. 19: Student holiday/teacher workday March 29: End of third grading period March 30: Student/teacher holiday April 2-6: Spring break May 28: Student/teacher holiday June 8: Last day for students/early release/end of fourth grading period
Cumberland County’s yearround schedule July 12: First day for students Sep. 13: End of first grading period Sep. 14-15: Student holiday/teacher workday Sep. 18-Oct. 2: Intersession Nov. 7: Student holiday/teacher workday Nov. 10: Student/teacher holiday Nov. 22-24: Student/teacher holiday Dec. 15: Student early release/end of second reporting period/semester Dec. 18: Student holiday/teacher workday Dec. 25-Jan. 3: Winter break Dec. 19-Jan. 4: Intersession Jan. 5: Student holiday/teacher workday Jan. 15: Student/teacher holiday Jan. 16: Student holiday/teacher workday Feb. 19: Student holiday/teacher workday March 15: End of third grading period March 16: Student holiday/teacher workday March 19-29: Intersession March 30: Student/teacher holiday April 2-6: Student/teacher holiday May 28: Student/teacher holiday June 8: Last day for students/early release/end of fourth grading period/ semester June 11-12: Teacher workday
Fort Bragg schools Aug. 28: First day for grades 1-8 Aug. 29: First day for kindergarten Sep. 12: First day for prekindergarten Oct. 6: Student holiday/teacher workday Oct. 9: Student/teacher holiday Oct. 20: Student holiday/teacher workday Nov. 2: End of first grading period Nov. 3: Student holiday/teacher workday Nov. 8: Prekindergarten parent/teacher conferences Nov. 9: Parent/teacher conferences for grades K-8 Nov. 10: Student/teacher holiday Nov. 13: "Soldiers in Our School" opportunity Nov. 22-24: Thanksgiving break Dec. 7: End of pre-K trimester 1 Dec. 8: Student holiday for pre-K only/ teacher workday Dec. 11: Student holiday/teacher workday Dec. 18- Jan. 1: Winter break Jan. 12: "Soldiers in Our Schools" opportunity Jan. 15: Student/teacher holiday Jan. 25: End of second grading period Jan. 26: Student holiday/teacher workday Feb. 16: Student holiday/teacher workday Feb. 19: Student/teacher holiday March 15: End of pre-K trimester 2 March 16: Student holiday for pre-K/ teacher workday April 2-6: Spring break April 10: End of third grading period April 13: Student holiday/teacher workday April 26: Pre-K parent/teacher holiday April 27: K-8 parent/teacher holiday May 3-4: Pre-K/kindergarten registration for 2018-19 May 14: Student holiday/teacher workday May 15: Accelerated withdrawal begins May 25: Student holiday/teacher workday May 28: Student/teacher holiday June 13: Last day for pre-K June 14: Last day for grades K-8 June 15: Student holiday/teacher workday
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These are the Schools of Choice for the 2017-18 academic year. Selection for the choice program is based on availability, space and special needs. The program allows parents a choice as to where their child may attend school within the system. These schools have developed a certain type of program to meet the needs of a diverse student population. All schools teach the new North Carolina curriculum, but the Choice Program may determine how the curriculum is taught. Go to choice.ccs.k12.nc.us for application deadlines for the 2018-19 school year and the annual fair when prospective students and parents can learn more about the program. An asterisk means the students wear uniforms.
Elementary Ashley (3-5): Communications with foreign language Cumberland Road (Pre-K-5): Montessori, Pre-K emphasized E.E. Miller (K-5): Year-round,
Spanish immersion Glendale Acres (K-2): Spanish language Mary McArthur (K-5): A+ Arts and Academics New Century International (K-5): Mandarin Chinese immersion William H. Owen* (K-5): Language immersion (Spanish)
Middle school Anne Chesnutt*: Year-round, world language and global communications, middle school immersion program Max Abbott: Global communications New Century International (6): Middle school immersion program Reid Ross* (6-12): Classical, year-round Seventy-First Classical*: Classical studies
High school Cross Creek Early College: On Fayetteville State University campus
Cumberland County Schools Fire Academy: Partnership of E.E. Smith and FSU Cumberland International Early College: On FSU campus Cumberland Polytechnic: On Fayetteville Technical Community College campus Douglas Byrd: Academy of Finance, Academy of Green Technology E.E. Smith: Academy of Math and Science Massey Hill Classical*: Classical studies Pine Forest: Academy of Information Technology Reid Ross* (6-12): Classical, year-round Seventy-First: School of the Arts South View: Academy of Public Safety and Security, International Baccalaureate Academy Terry Sanford: Academy of Global Studies Westover: Academy of Engineering Technologies; Academy of Health Sciences and Technology; Career Pathway-collision repair
Private schools in Cumberland County Bal-Perazim Christian Adademy: 487-4220, bpacademy. org Berean Baptist Academy: 868-2511, bbafnc.org Cape Fear Christian School: 587-1708 Cornerstone Christian Academy: 867-1166, ccafay.org Destiny Now Academy: 4857383, dnacademy.org Falcon Christian Academy: 980-1065 Fayetteville Academy: 8685131, fayettevilleacademy. com Fayetteville Christian School: 483-3905,
fayettevillechristian.com Flaming Sword Christian Academy: 764-3500, flamingswordcampus.org Freedom Christian Academy: 485-7777, fcapatriots.org Greater Fayetteville Adventist Academy: 484-6091, gfaanc. org Guy's Schools Inc.: 484-8308 Harvest Preparatory Academy: 483-6838, hpanc.org Liberty Christian Academy: 424-1205, lcknights.com New Life Christian Academy: 868-9640, newlifechristianacademync.org Northview Baptist Academy:
488-4748, northviewbaptistchurch.org Northwood Temple Academy: 822-7711, ntaeagles.org Renaissance Classical Christian Academy: 221-0400, rccaonline.com Riverside Christian Academy: 323-4026, rcanc.us St. Ann Catholic School: 4833902, stanncatholicschool.net St. Patrick Catholic School: 323-1865, stpatschool.org Trinity Christian School: 488-6779, trinitycommunityservices.org Village Christian Academy: 483-5500, vcanc.com
Cumberland County libraries The Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center has a diverse array of resources for the public, including more than 3 million items through a statewide partnership. Library cardholders have convenient access to e-books, audio books and magazines from anywhere. Other services include an online job center, learning resources, resume building, computer use, a writing lab and homework help. The Headquarters Library
in downtown has a Local and State History Room with tools for genealogy and researching local history. Since July 1, all eight branches have new hours. Check cumberland.lib.nc.us. Headquarters Library: 300 Maiden Lane, 910-483-7727 Cliffdale Regional Branch: 6882 Cliffdale Road, 910-864-3800 West Regional Branch Library: 7469 Century Circle, 910-487-0440 Bordeaux Public Library: 3711
Village Drive, 910-424-4008 Cliffdale Library: 6882 Cliffdale Road, 910-864-3800 East Regional Branch: 4809 Clinton Road, 910-485-2955 Hope Mills Branch: 3411 Golfview Road, 910-425-8455 North Regional Branch: 855 McArthur Road, 910-822-1998 Spring Lake Branch: 101 Laketree Blvd., 910-497-3650 Court Library: 117 Dick St., Cumberland County Courthouse, Room 341: 910-321-6600
Higher learning The region's colleges and universities cater to students from throughout the state, and around the world. Two public universities, three private institutions and six community colleges — in addition to satellite campuses on Fort Bragg — offer an array of courses from vocational certificates to doctoral programs.
FSU’s 2017 spring graduation. [Melissa
Fayetteville State University
Sue Gerrits/The Fayetteville Observer]
Fayetteville State University — celebrating its 150th anniversary this school year — is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, the second oldest public institution of higher education in the state, and the only HBCU in Cumberland County. In 1867, seven visionary residents of Fayetteville paid $136 for two lots on Gillespie Street to form the Howard School for the education of black youth. FSU now serves a student population of more than 6,200 in 43 undergraduate and 32 masters programs, and one doctoral. Programs in business, fire
science, psychology, criminal justice, nursing and others have been cited as some of the best in the nation. Committed to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and service, the university extends its services and programs to the community, including the military, through partnerships with Fort Bragg and other educational institutions in North Carolina. FSU plans to celebrate its sesquicentennial all year long with the entire
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Education Fayetteville Technical Community College
Continued from page 83 community. At the fall convocation, actor and author Hill Harper was the guest speaker, the university dedicated a renovated front entrance and water feature. FSU also unveiled a commemorative sculpture highlighting its 150 years of dedicated leadership. A lecture series, exhibits and many more events are planned. Go online to 150. uncfsu.edu for a complete schedule. For more information: 910-672-1371 or uncfsu.edu
Methodist University In 1956, Methodist chartered as a senior, coeducational liberal arts program. Today, the private university boasts 2,400 students from 42 states and 55 countries across 80 undergraduate programs, five graduate programs, 20 varsity clubs and 100 plus clubs and organizations. The 617-acre campus in north
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LEFT TO RIGHT: FSU Bronco statue. [David Smith/The Fayetteville Observer] James Ammons rings the bell after the 54th annual spring commencement at Methodist University in 2017. [Raul F. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer] Fayetteville includes an 18-hole golf course, a football/track facility, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, outdoor volleyball and basketball courts and an amphitheater. Recently added majors, minors and concentrations include entrepreneurship, church leadership and radio communications. Methodist has four master's degree programs, including in physician assistant studies, education
and an MBA in organizational management and leadership or health care administration. In the fall of 2018, Methodist will be offering a doctorallevel Occupational Therapy program, the first of its kind in North Carolina. Methodist has a Fort Bragg campus to serve active-duty military students. Information: 910-630-7000 or methodist.edu
FTCC has 18,000 curriculum students and 24,000 continuing education students enrolled in more than 200 programs of study leading to a diploma, associate degree or certificate. Many of these programs are available 100 percent online to accommodate the schedules of nontraditional students. FTCC has satellite campuses in Spring Lake and on Fort Bragg. FTCC programs cater to military members and veterans. It offers associate degree programs that are directly related to Military Occupational Specialty areas. Service members can earn credit for military training, reducing the time it takes to earn associate degrees. Transition Tech, tuition-free for veterans, is a training program for transitioning service members that provides industryfocused certificates and credentials, among other services. The FTCC All American Veterans Center provides a location where veterans can gather, find
Education assistance and receive support. Information: 910-678-8473 or faytechcc.edu. Military students: 910-678-8578
Campbell University
Students in FTCC’s collision repair and refinishing technology program have gotten job offers before they even graduate. [Johnny Horne/The Fayetteville Observer]
Campbell enrolls more North Carolinians than any other private school, and the 2016-17 class was the strongest in its history. Campbell was founded in 1887 and today offers more than 150 majors, tracks and concentrations in liberal arts, sciences and professions. It has more than 6,800 students on five campuses, including its main site in Buies Creek. Last year, Campbell University saw 150 members of its inaugural class of the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine become doctors. Campbell launched its Catherine M. Wood School of Nursing program and school of engineering program last year. Information: 800-334-4111 or campbell.edu
UNC Pembroke Founded in 1887 as a school to educate American Indian teachers, UNCP has grown to 40 undergraduate programs and 17 graduate programs in business and education. Part of the University of North Carolina system, UNCP has an enrollment of more than 6,200 students. It boasts a diverse campus, small class sizes and about 90 clubs and organizations. Minorities account for 60 percent of enrollment. UNCP offers classes and complete programs (undergraduate and graduate) online and at various sites across the region, including six community colleges and Fort Bragg. UNCP is planning a new state-of-the-art School of Business; the current school is internationally accredited by the AACSB, a distinction earned by only 5 percent of business schools worldwide. Information: 800-949-UNCP or uncp.edu
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Health
Health care in the Cape Fear region
C
umberland County is home to Cape Fear Valley Health, the eighth largest system in the state with facilities in several region counties. The primary campus is Cape Fear Valley Medical Center on Owen Drive in Fayetteville. Opened in 1956, the hospital today provides specialized care in cardiology, cancer treatment, neuroscience, rehabilitation and more. It features a Family Birth Center and neonatal ICU. The emergency department is one of the busiest in the nation with more than 100,000 visitors a year. The department has an area dedicated to children with doctors and nurses who specialize in pediatrics. The organization has 7,000 employees and 850 physicians. Its Health Pavilion North was built about a decade ago off Ramsey Street. In 2015, Hoke Hospital
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opened on a new 60-acre campus west of Fayetteville. The system also oversees Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Behavioral Health Care, Bladen County Hospital, Central Harnett Hospital and Betsy Johnson Hospital. Cape Fear Valley, which treats more than 1 million patients annually, is a private, not-for-profit organization governed by a board of trustees. FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a health care network based in Pinehurst, primarily serves five counties but also sees patients from 10 other counties. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, the system’s referral center and flagship, has 402 beds, a medical staff of 249 physicians and a professional staff of more than 2,700. FirstHealth also has
Hoke Hospital, operated by Cape Fear Valley Health System. [File photo/The Fayetteville Observer]
hospitals in Hoke, Richmond and Montgomery counties and convenient care facilities in Sanford, Whispering Pines and Hamlet. Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg has 138 beds and serves more than 160,000 medical beneficiaries in the region. More than 11,000 patients are admitted to Womack each year. The emergency room sees more than 66,000
visitors annually. Its doctors perform more than 2,750 inpatient surgeries and more than 7,400 outpatient surgeries a year. The emergency department was recently renovated, giving it 24 critical care beds and 14 minor care beds. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs opened a 260,000-squarefoot medical center on Raeford Road in November 2015. It provides primary care, mental health, outpatient specialty care and ambulatory surgical services for veterans in the region. The VA Medical Center on Ramsey Street continues to provide some inpatient services. Other hospitals in the region include Columbus Regional Healthcare System in Whiteville; Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford; Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton; Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton; and the Scotland Health Care System in Laurinburg.
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Health
Where to work out Here's a sampling of the many gyms and fitness centers around Fayetteville:
Gyms Gold’s Gym: 2485 Hope Mills Road, 910-424-0678; 3308 Bragg Boulevard, 910-764-4653 Cape Fear Valley Healthplex: 1930 Skibo Road, 910-615-7539 Fit4Life: 2803 Fort Bragg Road, 910-568-5962 Omni Health & Fitness: 1400 Walter Reed Road, 910-423-6664 YMCA of the Sandhills: 3725 Ramsey St., 910-223-9457; 2717 Fort Bragg Road, 910-426-9622 Iron Forged Athletics: 385 Winslow St., 910-483-3825 Spa Fitness and Wellness Center: 860 Elm St., 910-484-2111 All American City Gym: 304 Williams
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St., 910-973-9910 Elevo Dynamics: 110 Person St., 910-488-1021 World Gym: 504 N. McPherson Church Road, 910-867-9300 DSDQ Fitness: 604 Hobson Street, 910-797-8049
24-hour gyms Anytime Fitness: 4230 Legion Road, Hope Mills, 910-425-2590 Snap Fitness: 3350 Footbridge Lane, Fayetteville, 910-423-7627 Planet Fitness: 1916 Skibo Road, 910-867-6199 Fit4Life Sports Performance & Wellness Center: 2803 Fort Bragg Road, 910-568-5962
Women-only gyms For Women Only Gym of Fayet1teville:
Omni Health and Fitness Gym. [Raul R. Rubiera/The Fayetteville Observer] 255 Tallywood Shopping Center
CrossFit CrossFit Guild: 8018 Raeford Road, 910-867-9499 CrossFit Haymount: 3007 Fort Bragg Road, 910-492-9018
CrossFit Metanoia: 1033 Pamalee Drive, 910-491-3868 Crossfit 910: 415 E. Russell St., 910-491-4645 RedPoint Gym, Climbing & CrossFit: 5213 Raeford Road, 910-868-7625
Region
Moore County
Hoke County
Known as the “Home of American Golf,” Pinehurst has hosted several U.S. Open championships, most recently in 2014. More than 40 courses are in the region. But you don't have to play golf to love the quaint New England-style villages of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, which is also known for its horse farms. The area has wonderful restaurants, local shops and friendly people, many of them retired from all over the country. Military families also are attracted to the slower pace of life just beyond the western gates of Fort Bragg. Check out the Weymouth Woods nature preserve and its trails through the longleaf pines. The town of Cameron hosts popular antique street fairs each spring and fall, and vintage car lovers flock to Pinehurst for the Concours d’Elegance in May.
Just west of the Fayetteville city limits is Hoke County, which has seen tremendous growth in recent years as a bedroom community with two new hospitals and several retail centers. You'll find unique attractions including the N.C. Poultry Festival in Raeford, a week-long event with crafts, entertainment and a turkey cooking contest each September. Hoke Fest in Raeford each April features a carnival with food, Horses at White Winds Farm in Hoke County. [Stephanie Bruce/The rides and live music. Fayetteville Observer] Other places of interest include the the Raeford-Hoke Museum, the Carolina Horse Park, the Splash Pad Park at the 211 Sports Complex and Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving on U.S. 401. And for golfers, Bayonet at Puppy Creek, with its rolling hills, will test your game.
Visitors enjoy a drink outside of the Pine Crest Inn in the Village of Pinehurst. [Ashley Cross/ The Fayetteville Observer]
Harnett County
Robeson County
Thousands of families have settled into new neighborhoods just north of Cumberland County in recent years. Many are military families in the sprawling Linden Oaks community, which is part of post. Popular attractions in Harnett include Raven Rock State Park's trails along the Homes in Village of Lexington Cape Fear River and the Averasboro Civil War battlefield. A nod to the county's textile Plantation off N.C. 87 [Staff roots, Erwin has “Denim Days” each October photo by Stephanie Bruce] and Dunn has the N.C. Cotton Festival each November. Golfers can test their skills at Keith Hills Country Club or the Davis Lovedesigned Anderson Creek Club. For baseball fans, the Buies Creek Astros will be back in 2018 for another season at Campbell University before moving into a new downtown stadium in Fayetteville in 2019.
Robeson County has the second largest population in our region, but here you'll still find rural farmland, small communities and picturesque natural areas. Lumberton, right off Interstate 95, has 22 hotels and more than 80 restaurants. Pembroke is home to a UNC campus and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Linkon Woodell dances during the which holds events each year that draw Lumbee Homecoming and Powwow thousands. in 2017. [Melissa Sue Gerrits/The The Lumber River State Park is where Fayetteville Observer] you can camp, fish or kayak the serene blackwaters. Givens Performing Arts Center at UNCP hosts off-Broadway performances and other entertainment. And the Rumba on the Lumber spring festival in Lumberton includes music, runs and a quite competitive chili cook-off.
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