We can’t help but smile and be happy at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson.
The wow factor captures us at first glance. It’s a wonderland of giant spinning works of art that are on level with a Hollywood movie set. As we stroll the 2-acre park, we discover some 30 wind-powered and whimsical whirligigs incorporating scrap metal parts as diverse as pinwheels, planes, stars and a sweet character on a bicycle.
It’s free entertainment that’s open every day from predawn until midnight. That’s because the whirligigs are equally mesmerizing under sunny, Carolina blue skies or bright, star-filled nights. And, of course, blustery gusts only add to the special effects.
Credit the late Vollis Simpson, a world-renowned artist and engineer who grew up in the country not far from here. He was obsessed with building the most creative and eye-catching whirligig sculptures.
City and tourism leaders also had a vision when the park was constructed in their historic downtown a few years ago.
Recently, a museum was added, which gives visitors an inside look at the story behind the artist and his creations. The park also is home to concerts, a farmers and artisans market, and pop-up family-fun activities.
We staked claim to a picnic table and feasted on barbecue and all the fixin’s that we ordered in the drive-thru lane at Marty’s, a nearby landmark restaurant. Just make sure to arrive early. The line was already snaked around the building at 10:30 a.m.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum
Address: 301 Goldsboro St. S. in historic downtown Wilson. It’s about an hour’s drive north of Fayetteville, via Interstate 95.
Hours: The park is open from 5 a.m. to midnight daily.
Price: Free admission to the park and museum and nearby free parking. The annual Whirligig Festival is set for the first weekend in November.
Contact: 252-243-8440 or wilsonwhirligigpark.org
