Awesome park! Visited this past weekend with the main attraction being the sunflowers ! I haven't seen a field of sunflowers this big since living in South Dakota. Some were dead, but many were still living. Although there was significant rain this week, many parts of the fields were sandy and dry, there is a ramp like at the beach for wheelchairs and strollers. Also saw one of the hammock areas, a dog park and a troll ! I was seriously impressed at the size and scale of this park, and could easily spend an entire day exploring and enjoying, or bringing a lunch spread. Would definitely like to find and see the other trolls (heard there are 5 in total), spend some more time relaxing in hammock alley! Hope to return in the future! read more

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Other than the renovation of certain park areas, this place was great. We did so much walking, especially when you walked to 4 of the 5 trolls residing within the park fences (we saw one at the start of the loop in our car). We enjoyed the hammocks set between two trees - and there were many of them. The trolls were fun. They each had names, and a QR code to read their stories. Other visitors offered pieces to the puzzle. One even visited Charlotte, NC, where I believed she talked about the grandmother, but it's a tree instead of a troll. Anyway, good strolls, lots of sun, and it was fun watching the dogs at the dog park. Plan on a couple of ours in search for the trolls. Or, do that, and picnic under the trees or pavilions. There are shuttles so you can park in one area, and then visit another. read more

A huge park. I went there with a friend and we were able to find one troll. I would say its a bit hard to navigate through the park. Maybe next time it would be better. The new Gipson Plaza playround and sitting area for cookouts is a great place to bring family and friends. Theres also a cafe that sells snacks in a walkable distance from the playground. There is still alot of construction around the park to be completed. read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Beautiful, spacious park with plenty of room to spread out, play outdoor games, or simply relax and enjoy nature. The perfect picnic spot and a great place to spend time outdoors with family! read more

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Evolving park. What looks like it was once the campus for a mental institution, there is now a fantastic kids playground with water features and picnic table area, and really spacious family restrooms. The grounds have a few sculptures, and I hope they add more! Thomas Dambo has five trolls installed so come add these to your troll hunting list. There are also 2 hammock villages for resting, a sunflower field, and swings/benches for sitting outdoors. read more

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Road tripping through the East Coast, our first stop was Dorothea Dix Park and it was such a fun way to kick everything off! Our main goal was to find the five trolls, and I loved how it felt like a little scavenger hunt throughout the park. It was a bit tricky finding them at first, but that actually made it more fun. Thankfully, each troll had nearby parking, which made hopping around way easier. The park itself is super open, green, and peaceful, with plenty of space to explore in between stops. Overall, such a cool first stop on our road trip. Relaxed vibes, interactive experience, and a memorable way to start the journey! read more

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Wow - the playground here is just amazing! So many features and spots to check out. Parking was also very easy the day we visited. It was a slightly chilly day, but definitely come prepared to use the water area in hot weather! read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

very accessible. Clean. innovative. clean modern bathrooms with changing areas. places for kids of all ages to play and cool off. I wish there were more shade spots but they definitely made an effort with umbrellas read more

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Made a trip out to Raleigh to hunt for trolls at Dorothea Dix Park recently. I had no idea a park this big existed in Raleigh, but we had fun exploring, as we found the 5 trolls hidden through out, along with other cool art installations and a cemetery and hammock park. The park is massive, with lots of fields for activities and sports. There are also dog parks, playgrounds, and art installations throughout this 300 acre park right by downtown Raleigh. I'd never seen a hammock park before, and it took me a minute to realize what it was. Just need to bring your own hammock, and enjoy a nicely shaded, wooded area. There are a lot of old buildings in the park, part of the old mental hospital and other facilities, that have long since been boarded up. It's a shame to see so many buildings sitting vacant when they could be utilized for many other things, hopefully they can get them back into use one day. I'd recommend a day trip out to enjoy the parks and the 5 amazing Dambo trolls, hidden throughout! read more

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My friends and I visited Dix Park. We went to visit two of the Trolls installation by Thoma Dambo. During our time, it was very busy. Some people formed a line to take photos of the trolls which was well organized, nevertheless. People were patient and respectful, which is nice to see. The park itself is beautiful. It is a great place to visit and spend time with family and friends. There is a new children's playground inside the park where children can play, and a location for children to ride bicycles and scooters too. read more

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We took a detour to see the trolls in the park on our way back to Virginia from South Carolina! Such a gorgeous park...they also have other art installations as well as hammocks in the shade throughout the park. Wish we had more time we could have spent here...we will definitely return! read more

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We visited Dix Park to see the new Thomas Dambo installation but luckily for us the park was so much more than that. If you have not seen the trolls, I highly recommend that you do. I love the idea of this family and finding them here and there throughout the park. My favorite is of course the little baby that leads you to her sleeping mama because she is peeking out of the trees so innocently. There were many, many, many people here to see the installation, so it was incredibly crowded, but I imagine this park is typically busy as there are lots of other art installations here and things to do. There were many people walking their dogs and families enjoying the green space. The dog park was our favorite second only to the trolls. There is plenty of parking and a lovely view of the city city skyline. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. read more

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I'm jealous I don't have a park like this where I live. We were visiting friends from the area and they recommended this place for our kids (age range 8-12) to play. The playground is huge. We didn't stay more than a few hours, but I think given the right weather, the kids could have spent all day. In addition to that, they have really neat sculptures throughout the area. Parking is abundant, but you might have to drive around for a bit or walk. There's a definite vibe by the buildings surrounding the park as well. read more

I visited Dix Park to see the Thomas Dambo trolls. They were fairly spaced out but I found a map online, figured out where to park, then followed all the people. I was able to see them all in less than an hour. I went on a Wednesday and it wasn't very crowded and parking was easy to find. I think the weekends are very busy. I don't think they are wheelchair accessible--they are in fields with uneven terrain or down little wooded paths. (Re: Accessibility - The troll in High Point is probably wheelchair accessible because it's on a flat and short pathway. The one in Charlotte is up a small hill and did not seem wheelchair accessible.) read more

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We had so much fun hunting for trolls and checking out all the new additions and changes to Dorthea Dix! read more

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Looking for an hour or a day of fun? Grab the kids and sunscreen and a lot of water and head to Raleigh for a walk through the beauty Raleigh has to offer including an amazing children's park, sunflowers, a dog park and troll hunt. Visited on a beautiful spring day. Free parking paired with family and optional refreshments, you can have fun if you are 8 months, 8 years or 80 years old. read more

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Beautiful, spacious park in downtown Raleigh. I first visited on a hot summer day. We enjoyed a short walk on a partially shaded trail before recovering in the A/C. Check out the online map in advance to view the layout and plan accordingly. In addition to the online map, there are posted maps and signs throughout the park. I did get turned around several times as I realized the park is located around various state buildings and that parking would be limited on weekdays. We didn't end up making it to the dog park, but I plan on checking it out next time. Dorothea Dix Park hosts various events including a stunning sunflower field, markets, movies, and much more. Several outdoor areas and the chapel are available to rent. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and look forward to returning on a cool day to explore more! read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We drove 2 1/2 hours to see the Dambo Trolls at Dix Park. We had never been to this park before and it was BEAUTIFUL!! It had a lot to offer young and old alike!! Easy walking areas. Plenty of parking. Unique things to explore. Playgrounds. Dog Park. You name it, they've got it. Very enjoyable day!! read more

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Such a great place! We went specifically to bag 5 Thomas Dambo Trolls on our list. The park has an incredible interactive kids park (it's free). We walked through it also and experienced some of the interactive music making things and the mirrors. The slides were like nothing I've ever seen at a park and the had an incredible rubber interactive climbing wall for kids. We LOVED the house of many porches as they had a fun coffee shop and a beer tap room with some fine local drafts!! Great IPA!! Stop if you are there! We also had their dog park on our list as we were traveling with our dog and it is very nice. It was a little wet because it rained earlier in the day. read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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What a nice park! Plenty to do and see! I came to see the Sun flowers and got to see so much more! The wild flowers were beautiful. I checked out the play areas - there were climbing things, water play, cooking out, picking, food and food trucks. Plenty of free parking. read more

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Beautiful park in Raleigh! We came to see the 5 Thomas Dambo trolls. They're 2 near the dog park, and 3 across the flower field area surrounded by trees. We loved the troll's whimsical look and the secret code to find the grandmother tree. Look at the symbols on their necklaces. We parked and walked to see the 3 in the pine loop. And then drove to see Daddy Bird eye, because our kid is young. read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Dambo Troll - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is a great park. It's huge and has. lots of areas to hike and also to sit and enjoy nature. I love the new addition of Gipson Park. It was fun for my nephew (16) and niece (10). There's something to do for all ages. We really enjoyed walking around trying to find all 5 trolls. We only got to see 2 since my brother was tired of walking lol. Next time I come bs k hopefully I can find the other 3 trolls. This park is very family friendly and dog friendly. It has plenty of parking and plenty of covered tables to eat at. read more

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This is a great park for the entire family. Overall it's a very very big park. There are many different areas in the park, for different purposes. A huge fun looking playground for kids. And other areas more suitable for adults to hang out. I was most impressed by the bathroom building near the playground. It's like a huge hobbit house with very modern, clean and spacious bathrooms. It's probably the best bathroom I have seen in a park in the U.S. The house with many porches is worth a special mention as well. It has souvenirs and coffee/drink/snack services. Very convenient for walkers to get some refreshments. read more

Spent a few hours on a crisp fall day exploring the new troll installations by famous Dutch artist Thomas Dambo. Raleigh is very lucky to have this number of his talented creations in our back yard. read more

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Came here for dreamville festival, and this park is massive. It reminds me of Central Park in NY. You can really get lost in here and/or see something new. It is a great place to be wanderlust. I can comment on the festival, and it was well ran with the help of the police and local authorities. Everyone was very friendly and helpful with getting around read more

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This massive park - over 300 acres - has lots of huge open spaces, historic buildings and loads of outdoor activities and sports. There are sports fields, a big dog park, lots of walking trails and spots to take in the Raleigh skyline. Dorothea Dix Park is named after Dorothea Lynde Dix, a 19th-century nurse and mental health advocate. She played a key role in advocating for the humane treatment of individuals with mental illnesses and was instrumental in the establishment of the original Dorothea Dix Hospital on the site. Plenty to do here, great spots for picnics and if you're feeling up to it, check out the onsite cemetery and memorial walk. Or try to find the hammock area. That's an unusual park feature for sure! [Review 2458 of 2024 - 3913 in North Carolina - 23470 overall] read more

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Construction everywhere here. Majority of the area is blocked off by the orange fencing. Can't even get into the dog park because it's blocked off. I opened the geocaching app and it showed 2 area where they have the statues around the loop, but no parking and other area the street is blocked by the orange fencing. They should do one area at a time so people can go see what there is without having to walk a few miles around the fencing. read more

The sunflower field, It was nice but unfortunately the flowers were dead when I went it was cool to see people's letters in the flowers though. They also have a dog park that's pretty big and friendly dogs ! They just recently renovated and I hear it's even better however I haven't been to see it yet read more

Although we live in North Carolina, and I had actually been near the park for business, we had never stopped in just as a leisurely visit. We came on a weekend to see the large wooden trolls that were recently installed. We enjoyed walking through various areas of the park, seeing the trolls, and seeing some repurposed old buildings. Very interested to see this park grown and improve with amenities in the coming year. read more

I love absolutely love Dix Park. We came on Saturday recently for the Falling for Local festival, but it really is the perfect place for a Saturday afternoon any time of year. There is a ton of greenspace to choose from, the sunflower fields, hammocks for a snooze, Gipson Play Area for the kids, and House of Many Porches for a drink. I think they also have a dog play area and spots you can rent for birthday parties/events. I am so thankful we have a space like this in Raleigh. read more

The park was very clean and well laid out with everything except the restrooms. I love the idea of the water stations because hydration was definitely needed! One side of the park was a little messier than the other in terms of trash, but I think the staff did a pretty good job keeping everything clean. I wish there were more shaded areas, but the second day was really cool in terms of a breeze. read more

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From fields of flowers to rolling hills... to hidden trolls and whimsical play area full of energy and excitement what a well thought out are for dates.. family outting or to just go have fun read more

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We stopped by the sunflower field near the old NCU campus. I really like how they've turned the space into something more community-focused with events and outdoor activities. It's a unique blend of nature and nostalgia. We came around mid-August and unfortunately, the sunflowers had already tapped out for the season. They were either sleeping or completely dried up, so definitely plan to come earlier next year if you're trying to catch them in bloom. Still, the park is perfect for families, dogs, and laid-back vibes. There are lots of hammocks, a dog park across the street, and a big fake green couch that makes for a fun photo op. read more

Absolutely gorgeous park with tall mature oaks, lush grass, lots of wildlife, and stunning views of Downtown Raleigh. Loads to do too -- dog park, sunflower field, picnic benches, hammock grove, historical buildings, all free (with plenty of free parking too)... oh and world class music festivals!! First came here for Dreamville Fest back in 2018 and fell in love. It's walking distance from Downtown and definitely worth a day trip. UPDATE: Gipson Play Plaza just opened up on the south side off the park off Lake Wheeler. STUNNING!! Tons to do for kids... waterfall, splash pad, fun interactive games etc. and a little general store called the House of Many Porches that was selling latté's, beer and wine for the adults. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

Had a fabulous day with my cousins at a wine festival that was being hosted at this location. The park was very spacious and adequate for the event location. There was ample parking. I was very happy that the area was grassy. There wasn't much shade where the event was being held but that day had the perfect temperature and breeze. I look forward to visiting this park in the future. read more

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Dorothea Dix has a unique history and is currently transitioning to a redeveloped 308-acre property turned city park. Beginning as land used by Native Americans for hunting and gathering, the site was later settled by colonists in the late 1700s becoming a plantation for 150 years as part of the Spring Hill Plantation, worked by enslaved African Americans. Dix Park is also known as North Carolina's first state psychiatric hospital under the vision of mental health reformer Dorothea Lynde Dix. Dix is now home to the annual Dreamville music festival created by Fayetteville native and Hip Hop artist J. Cole. Many enjoy the 308 acres of real estate here for picnicking, community events, pop-up museums, sunflower field,views of the city skyline, bark parks, trails and food trucks. It's hard for me to mentally erase the history of this property amongst the dreary mental health offices. A psychiatric cemetery remains on the property as well. I hope the city can use our tax dollars to properly redevelop this now "city park" tourist attraction and properly pay homage to the souls that once inhabited all 308 acres. read more

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To kick off my list of Black History Month events, I visited my first one this month for the Celebratory opening of a curated black history month exhibition by the Raleigh Film and Art Festival presented by Dix Park Chapel - The Living In Color Event. I love Art Exhibits, and this event was the perfect space. I was impressed with this event. All of the Art was beautifully captivating and powerful. I took my time and just walked slowly through the exhibit, viewing each piece carefully and examining each piece. I also enjoyed the play scene and spoken word pieces presented on stage. All of the volunteer staff were helpful with seating. There were plenty of seats and standing places. The Chapel is very nice. During this event, they also served food. I had turkey barbecue, green beans, and mac and cheese, all very flavorful. Living In Color was one of the best community events I've attended in a very long time. I'm looking forward to coming back to the chapel. I had a great time. read more

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We loved visiting the Sunflower Field! So pretty! My boyfriend enjoyed hanging out in a nearby hammock while I took a couple of laps around the sunflowers. What a treat for both of us! read more

Dorothea Dix Park - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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So let me get this straight you build $100 million play Park and you don't provide any parking at all whatsoever during the week? OK got it and also going home. read more

Dorothea Dix Park's Chapel is the home to a Pop Up Museum at the moment. It ends February 27th so it is worth a visit if you can get there before it closes. The Pop Up Museum is two exhibits inside the Chapel. One of the exhibits deals with the history of the Dorothea Dix Park and the other showcases black architects and builders in North Carolina. I really enjoyed this exhibit as there was so much to read and learn. Face coverings are required inside the exhibits and there is plenty of parking outside. Admission was free too! read more

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