Dorothea Dix Park is the largest public park in Raleigh at 308 acres, and it’s seriously grown in the last few years. We’ve decided it’s time for Dix Park to get its own spotlight from us, from landmarks and history to what’s next for this local favorite.
Major park landmarks
There’s so much to do in Dix Park’s 300+ acres, so we wanted to break down the biggest landmarks + points of interest for your next visit — with the best point of entry, too. Psst... try the online map to get around, too.
Sunflowers Field | Enter from the northern Western Avenue entrance | Every summer, our Instagram feeds are filled with bright yellow blooms from Dix Park, and we’re not complaining. Built on top of a former landfill this beautification project attracts thousands to Dix Park.
Gipson Play Plaza | Enter from either Lake Wheeler Road entrance | Where do we even start? Gipson is the largest adventure playground in the Southeast with something for every kiddo, including a fountain to play in, a sensory maze, and a 91-foot-long mega swing.
Dog Park | Enter from the northern Western Avenue entrance | Have some off-the-leash fun with your pups at this grassy dog park with sections for both small and large dogs.
The Chapel | Enter from southern Western Avenue entrance | This all-faiths chapel isn’t typically used for religious practice; it’s a versatile events space with stunning stained-glass windows and original details from its 1955 construction.
Big Field | Enter from Blair Drive or southern Lake Wheeler Road entrance | This field certainly lives up to its name with 35 acres of wide open grass. In addition to hosting events like Dreamville Music Festival, locals use this field to play, have a picnic, or admire the Raleigh skyline.
Stone Houses | Enter from southern Western Avenue entrance | These recently renovated houses were once part of day-to-day operations for Dorothea Dix Hospital, but now, they act as offices for park staff, a welcome center, and guest restrooms.
Trolls | Not so fast. Artist Thomas Dambo says his one-of-a-kind wooden trolls are meant to be discovered organically. While the park has dropped some hints as to where these trolls might be, we’re not spoiling the surprise.
History
Raleigh newcomers might be surprised to learn that Dorothea Dix Park didn’t come to be a public park until 2015 — let’s dive into the history of this storied greenspace. Keep in mind: This is an abridged history, and there’s plenty more to learn about Dix Park through its online resources and Cultural Interpretation Plan.
For over 14,000 years, Native Americans used this land for hunting, gathering, and cultivating their crops. To this day, Raleigh celebrates its Indigenous communities at Dix Park’s Inter-tribal Pow Wow, coming up in May.
Starting in the 1500s, European colonizers pushed out the land’s Indigenous communities. Dix Park is on the land of the Coharie, Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi, Sappony, and Waccamaw Siouan American Indians. Today, NC is home to the largest tribal community east of the Mississippi.
In the 1760s, Colonel Theophilus Hunter Sr. established Spring Hill Plantation on the contemporary Dix Park land, and for 150 years, enslaved people tended the plantation. Today, the Hunter descendant project connects the descendants of those who were enslaved at Spring Hill Plantation.
In 1850, the Hunter family sold 53 acres of the plantation to North Carolina to establish NC’s first mental health facility, headed by mental health treatment advocate Dorothea Dix. In 2012, Dorothea Dix Hospital’s last patients were transferred to other mental health care facilities, and the hospital shut its doors.
In 2015, the City of Raleigh purchased the 308 acres from the State of North Carolina and established Dorothea Dix Park as we know it today. In the past 11 years, Raleigh has added playgrounds, established green spaces, and has plenty more in store for this storied land.
