Farrior Park offers history, hiking and family fun

WALLACE — As far as places to go and things to see in Duplin County, a stop at Farrior Park in Wallace is a must-visit on the list. It’s located just west of Tin City along N.C. Highway 41 in the heart of Wallace. You can see nature, fish, walk a trail, see history and the kids can take in a first-class playground.

The centerpiece of Farrior Park is the historic Boney Mill and Pond, believed to be one of the oldest structures in Duplin County, dating back to the late 1700s. It served as a sawmill and grist mill powered by water over a spillway from the pond.

It was the Boney family who first settled the area. The entrepreneur of the family was Gabriel Boney, who became involved in everything from a cotton gin to a turpentine distillery. In fact, the town that eventually grew around Boney Mill could have easily been named Boney. However, when the railroad became a prominent part of the area’s growth, the town was named Wallace in 1899 in honor of Stephen Wallace, the president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Recently, thanks to a grant of almost half a million dollars, restoration on the historic mill building and several upgrades have turned the grounds into a park the town can be proud of.

The park was named in honor of Charley Farrior, who spent years as the mayor of Wallace and was instrumental in helping the renovated park become a reality. The town purchased the property in 2014. During a ribbon cutting ceremony for the park in 2024, Farrior referred to it as “a diamond in Wallace’s crown.”

The rules of the park are posted on attractive signage near the main parking area, as well as the parking area for the children’s playground and picnic shelter, just a short walk away from the pond. While the park is free to visit, a fishing license is required if you want to drop a line in the pond and try your luck at snagging a freshwater fish. The picnic shelter is first-come, first-served, but reservations can be made through Wallace Town Hall if you would like to secure the shelter for a special event.