Friends of Raven Rock

By Heather Benjamin In some ways, summer is prime hiking season—full of sunshine, long days, and lush, green trees—but in North Carolina, it can also be hot and humid. Ranger rescues spike in the summertime, often for preventable oversights by visitors who overexert themselves or become dehydrated. Take care of yourself on your summer hikes, and help rangers stay available for rescues of the seriously injured. Here are some tips for making the most of your summertime outdoors: A little…

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by David Brown As one stands under the majestic metamorphic rock outcrop that is the focal point of today’s Raven Rock State Park, you may wonder how this landmark got its name. There are multiple stories associated with the rock, which was known by several names as early European settlers moved to the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Patterson’s Rock In the 1740s, Gilbert Patterson of Scotland settled in the area of Buies Creek. Legend says Patterson was…

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by Karen Kratz Yesterday marked an exciting moment for the park as we unveiled and installed The Raven, a breathtaking sculpture created by the talented local artist, Andy Cobb. This project has been in the works since last year, and thanks to the incredible efforts of our park’s hard working staff and Friends of Raven Rock, it has finally come to life. The installation process was a true team effort. The post for the sculpture was set in place near the…

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by Karen Kratz This morning, 32 adventurous hikers (plus a few furry friends) kicked off the New Year in style at our First Day Hike! The Friends of Raven Rock kept everyone energized with a buffet of fruits, granola bars, donuts, water, coffee, and hot cocoa. (A little something for every kind of hiker, right?) Our amazing park ranger, Lindsey Baker, came through with some cool park giveaways and then led the hike on the American Beech Trail. Along the way, she inspired us to…

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