Welcome to Fort Liberty. If you and your family recently arrived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, you’ve probably heard quite a bit about the place. Thousands of soldiers and numerous units have called this base their home away from home over the years, including the 82nd, 101st, 13th and several other airborne divisions.
You may also know that it’s quite large. Indeed, in terms of population, you won’t find an installation that’s much bigger, with 57,000 military personnel, 23,000 military family members and 11,000 civilian employees. Spread out over more than 140,600 acres — which translates to around 219 square miles — Fort Liberty is capable of hosting hundreds of thousands more. In fact, at a shade under 200,800, based on the most recent Census data available, the entire population of Fayetteville could live at Fort Liberty if they really wanted to — and fairly comfortably, for that matter. After all, New York City is approximately 302 square miles and over 8.3 million people live there.
What you may not know about are the fun things to do in Fort Liberty. From sites linked with Cape Fear to beautiful Contentment Farm to a plethora of museum options, you won’t run out of things to do in Fort Liberty and the surrounding area any time soon.
Here, we’ll offer a sneak peek into what you can expect should you decide to visit these parts of Fayetteville, NC.
- Patriots Past & Present Trail
Spread out over 90 miles, the Patriots Past & Present Trail is a great way to learn about Fayetteville history in one fell swoop. You’ll discover just how inextricable the U.S military is to Fayetteville’s founding, as well as the greater Cumberland County, with a history tracing all the way back to the American Revolution. Indeed, Fayetteville was named for General Marquis de Lafayette, a uniquely important figure in the country’s founding and who led troops into numerous battles.
Patriots Past & Present Trail encompasses many different fascinating landmarks and sites, including North Carolina Veterans Memorial Park and the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum.
Bottom line: If you, your spouse, son or daughter love military history, Patriots Past & Present Trail is not to be missed.
Check out the Fayetteville area website for more details on what you’ll find along this sprawling trail.Much like Fort Liberty is uniquely North Carolina, the same can be said for Cape Fear; you’ll see allusions to it throughout the state, not just in the region itself.Click To Tweet
- Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Named for the headland that juts into the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Fear is one of the more popular tourist areas in the country and certainly North Carolina in particular. It’s quite the hike from base (121 miles to be exact), so if Cape Fear is on your bucket list you’ll definitely want to make a day or weekend of it. From the Wilmington Riverwalk to Carolina Beach State Park, the only thing to fear about Cape Fear is not being able to see it all.
What’s much closer to Fort Liberty is Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Ensconced between Cape Fear River and Cross Creek, Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a green thumb’s paradise, spread out over 80 acres of wall-to-wall nature. The panoramic views of Cape Fear Botanical Garden are truly breathtaking, which may explain why so many weddings and other outdoor events take place in this neck of the woods.
Here’s the website for more information so you can better plan your visit. Guided tours are available so you can see all that Cape Fear Botanical Garden has to offer. As an added bonus, as a military member, you may be eligible for a discount. Be sure to inquire.
- Segra Stadium
Home to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers — the Low-A minor league team for the Houston Astros — Segra Stadium is a great place to attend if you have any aspiring big leaguers in your military family. With the home opener scheduled for May 11, the starting nine for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are raring to go after a pandemic shortened season in 2020. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are due to play the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Low-A affiliate. Here’s the website for ticketing information. You may also want to page through the Fayetteville Woodpeckers’ COVID-19 readiness plan so you can watch the game safely and socially distanced.
But taking in a ball game isn’t all there is to do at Segra Stadium. Occasionally, it hosts movie nights, including all-time classics like “Field of Dreams.” They also do birthday parties for kids and other private events when the Woodpeckers have off-days or are playing at an opposing team’s field.
- Fascinate-U’s Children’s Museum
If you have young children who can’t keep their hands off of anything, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum is the perfect place to let them explore and get their energy out. Designed to resemble a city, the museum features a variety of interactive exhibits that are meant to entertain and educate. From the post office exhibit to the Army fort to the farm, they’re all meant to improve and inspire curious young minds.
Check the website for more information on and tickets. General admission is $3 for children and $4 for adults. Here as well, you may want to see if military family discounts are available.
- Mountasia Fantasy Golf & Games
While there are no shortage of ways to putter around Fayetteville — and North Carolina as a whole — no place is better than Mountasia Fantasy Golf & Games. Located at 3729 Sycamore Dairy Road in Fayetteville, NC, Mountasia Fantasy Golf & Games has 36 holes overall and is filled with various landmarks and obstacles to make each hole challenging and fun. You can play all three dozen holes for the price of an 18-hole admission with the Omni Plaza Golf Special. It’s just $7 for adults and $6 for kids 12 years of age and younger.
The golf course is open only on weekends throughout most of the year, but it’s open seven days a week until 9 p.m. when Cumberland County schools are out of session over the summer.
Swing on by or visit the website for more information.
- Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex
Much like Fort Liberty is uniquely North Carolina, the same can be said for Cape Fear; you’ll see allusions to it throughout the state, not just in the region itself. You can get a better sense of North Carolina’s history at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. Maintained by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the museum is perhaps best known for the 1897 Poe House. Originally constructed in 1897, the Poe House was home to the family of E.A. Poe (not to be confused with Edgar Allan Poe), a local businessman and magnate of the state who owned the Poe Brick Company. Here, you’ll learn about the significance of the Poe family to the Greater Fayetteville Area and what everyday life was like for people in the early 19th century. It will prove to be a real eye-opening experience for your tech gadget-minded teens.
Other attractions at the museum include Arsenal Park as well as the museum gift shop.
Check the website for more information, including tours of the Poe House. While admission is free, guided tours are on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to 10 people. This is something to be mindful of so plan accordingly.
- Contentment Farm
Last but not least, there’s Contentment Farm. Located at Gillis Hill Road in Fayetteville, Contentment Farm is appropriately described; all you have to do is look around and happiness abounds. The serenity and aesthetic beauty of the area is a true sight to behold. But don’t let the nice view fool you entirely. Contentment is a working farm and the Gillis family get their hands dirty tending to the fields, animals and crops regularly. They’ve been doing it successfully for eight generations.
Tours are available at Contentment Farm but they’re all self-guided. Ticket prices are $3 per person. For more information, email Contentmentfarm2761@gmail.com.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in and around Fort Liberty. The places mentioned here barely scratch the surface. In your journeying, consider coming by Omni Financial. Located approximately a mile from the Yadkin Gate, we’re right around the corner from Fort Liberty and specialize in military loans in the event you need spending money to enjoy your time with the family or if you need it for more serious purposes. Regardless of your military background or what you need the money for, Omni Financial specializes in convenience and fast approval.
Contact us today to learn more by paying us a visit in person or apply online.
Omni Financial does not endorse, recommend or imply affiliation with the listed companies, organizations or events.
