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If you travel across the entire country to the land of movie stars and Rodeo Drive, you will learn from the locals around Hollywood, California that they rarely venture to areas like Hollywood Boulevard or other local attractions. They just seem to take those parts of the area for granted.
The same thing happens in local areas all over the country, including Duplin County. People know there are local attractions, but they often choose to go someplace else to sightsee or take in some recreation. In this new monthly series, “Duplin Destinations,” we hope to introduce, or reintroduce, readers to many local gems that are worth the short trip to visit, see and enjoy.
In the northern part of Duplin County, in the town of Faison, one such gem is the community park located in the heart of town. Visiting the park is like a trip back to a simpler time, when most events centered around a community gathering place. That still exists in Faison.
Not only does the park feature what you would expect in a town park, a playground and ballfields, it also is home to a quaint library that has the appearance of a small-town train depot. It’s named the Emily Hill Library and is no doubt a must-see for book lovers.
Also on site is a large indoor recreational facility known as the Anne Stroud Taylor Recreation and Wellness Center that is home to a basketball court and rooms for classes through the town’s rec department.
A great sense of pride in Faison comes from it being the home of William Thorton, M.D., a graduate of Faison High School who entered the Air Force before eventually serving as a NASA astronaut. During his career, Thorton logged 313 hours in space serving on Space Shuttle missions STS-8 and STS-51-B. The Faison Park is now home to a large stone memorial that pays tribute to this native son. It is definitely an attraction for history and space lovers visiting the park.
As the nation approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, Faison will also be celebrating the town’s 250th anniversary. That should make for another good reason to visit the neat town park in the center of Faison.
