301 Goldsboro St S, Wilson, NC
On our way back from It’s a Zoo Life, we made a pit stop at the Whirligig Park in Wilson! I heard about this place a while ago and had been wanting to check it out, but I wasn’t sure if it was worth an hour drive special trip just to see it. I’d say I was right on a regular day, but it was a great spot to stop for a bit and stretch our legs! It appears they also have quite a few fun events scheduled throughout the year, so if you time your visit with one of those it would be a great little road trip!
The Whirligig Park reminds me a bit of Moore Square in Raleigh. It’s a city block in the downtown part of Wilson across from restaurants and shops. It contains an open green space and a stage, which makes it a perfect venue for summer concerts!
About the Art
The difference from Moore Square, and the feature that makes this park stand out, is the whirligig art throughout the park. Farm machinery repairman, Vollis Simpson, began making gigantic kinetic sculptures at his family farm in Wilson County in his retirement. The field of these “whirligigs” was 11 miles outside the City of Wilson. They started attracting the attention of local townspeople and eventually out of state visitors as well. After the rise of the Internet and without any advertising, Simpson’s farm became one of Wilson County’s top tourism destinations.
As Simpson’s health began to decline, he was unable to continue to maintain his whirligigs. Since they become so beloved and well-known throughout the nation, a plan was drafted in 2010 to move the existing whirligigs to where they reside today. With grants from ArtPlace America, the Kresge Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum was born. You can read more and get the whole story here.
The kids had fun running through the grass and seeing the whirligigs move in the wind. It would be a great place to pack a picnic lunch! You definitely want to go on a windy day to get the full experience. All of the installations move and spin in different ways.
If you want to find some of Vollis’ whirligig art here in Raleigh, there are smaller installations at the NC Museum of Art and Gregg Art Museum.