Historic Oak View County Park currently is on 27 acres. The pecan grove is 11 acres of that. When Oak View was a working cotton farm it was over 900 acres. I took a guided tour of Historic Oak View County Park and learned some of its history. Wake County purchased the land for an office park before learning on the land's history. The property was saved from demolition and has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. They are still learning more about it from research. Fourteen slaves were owned on the farm before the Civil War. Afterwards, some purchased land on Oak View and became sharecroppers or tenant farmers. The Farm Center History Center is where you can get information before you start exploring the park and it is a small museum. The goats are either found in the livestock barn or at the goat pen near the Tenant House. A cotton gin house can be toured and you can read about the cotton process. A cotton field is outside the building. They also have bee hives to pollinate the plants. A Plank Kitchen built in 1825 is the oldest building remaining on the property. It has a garden near it. The Main Farm House is open to tour, both the original house and the additions. Then there is the Tenant House replica that was brought to the park from Wendell as it had the same features of the buildings that had been torn down. I like that the park had walkways and ramps. The pecan grove is huge and each November the public can take some pecans home. While I was there, some people were fishing and others were having picnics. The goats can be fed carrots and apple slices. read more

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This is a great park to explore with a little one. The space is huge and it's pretty easy to stay socially distant. They recently did a story book walk through the parks department that was neat. If you get lucky you may catch the goats out, but we haven't been so lucky yet. I've ready that you are allowed to feed them some carrots if the employees okay it. They do have a chicken coop as well which my son loved. He spent quite a bit of time just staring at the chicken walking around. If you follow the path to the left of the entrance it heads to a pond and if you follow it to the right there is a small cotton field and an old cotton wagon in the back of the old gin silo. It's a great spot for family photos, every time we have been we have seen people walking around with their photographer. The pecan trees and historic houses make for great photos. Right now due to COVID the bathrooms are closed. There is plenty of parking here. I know they offer so much more than what is currently available during COVID. Definitely a park to keep on the radar! read more

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I got an opportunity to attend a short guided tour led by Abbey at Oak View. Abby was a great tour guide! She was very knowledgeable & presented information about subjects such as slavery, Juneteenth celebrations, the emancipation proclamation, and the history of the park. The tour included pictures and viewing a tenant house, main farm house, and a plank kitchen that we got to walk inside of. It was a lot cooler inside of these. The tour was midday so it was hot but there are some shaded areas in the park. Abby made sure to stop in the shaded areas underneath the trees. Unfortunately the bugs were really bad in these areas as well. So make sure that you wear bug spray and dress accordingly if you do the tour in the summer. There is also the opportunity to see animals onsite such as goats. read more

We came to the park for their Christmas tour. The staff was absolutely wonderful. We were able to explore the park and farm before the tour started. The goats and the chickens were out. So cute! There are pecan trees, a gazebo, plenty of parking, a trail around the park, historic houses and displays. The Christmas tour was very informative and the tour guide got us all involved (if we wanted to participate). It was great. We went through the main house and saw how Christmas displays were during different time periods - like the Civil War Era, Victorian Era, and the Great Depression. The welcome building has historic displays, restrooms, water fountains, etc. Everything is well maintained. This is a wonderful part of the Wake County Parks. read more

What a cool little park! I used to work a few blocks down the road and never knew this place existed. Unfortunately the buildings were closed during COVID-19 so I'm unable to give it higher than a 4 star review but this would be a great place to go hang out otherwise! The best park though are the goats who hang out until 4:30 when the keeper matches them back to their barn. They just hang out and graze and even jump up to eat off the trees! There are some walking trails and tables/benches to eat at. Overall a very nice park! read more

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We came here for the first time this past weekend to pick pecans. After November 1, you can pick for free. I had no idea this little gem was so close! I'm a sucker for history and old houses/buildings. I loved that you could walk through everything and read about all the history, for FREE. This will be a good place to bring some other out of town history geeks. We had a lot of fun picking pecans, but needed to do more research on picking pecans online before coming again. Out of the bag we picked only about 5 were good lol. Whoops! read more

Historic Oak View County Park - Pecans - Parks Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

On one of the first nice Spring days, I took my elderly Mom here to see the sights and get some walking exercise in for her. The layout of the property is excellent for such a purpose. The main walkway that circles the house and surrounding buildings has many benches along the way - perfect for those needing to relax in the middle of their walks. This is not the park for the family looking for sports activities or kid's play areas - they have none. It is a great family destination as many of the displays are kid friendly and allows them to learn of farm history. There is also an amphitheater and two trails (.4 & .7 mile lengths) available. As mentioned in many reviews, this is a destination for school groups on weekday mornings. However mid to late afternoon the park is usually quiet and peaceful and a better time to enjoy a pleasant walk around the park. As of 2015 there is a new park policy for photographers, who must sign in and agree to park policies before doing a photo session. I always enjoy a trip here. read more

It would be a guess, but I presume this might be a field-trip stop for schoolkids in Raleigh. If it was fun as a child, it would be eyeopening as an adult. It was for me. I visited pretty late in the day so I did not have to navigate around families or schoolkids. In retrospect, seeing the house, farm, and kitchen through their eyes might have added something to the experience. In any case, the self-guided walking tour gave me the opportunity to learn a bit about NC history and how cotton is harvested. This is the first time I was able to see a cotton plant and a pecan tree up close. The cotton plant was a surprise. The cotton looked like the cotton balls you buy at the drug store, but was a bit softer and not so tightly woven. And the chance to see pictures and read the stories of those who picked the cotton was a nice bonus. Unfortunately, the main house was closed for repairs. The walking tour signs are large, easy to read, and have pictures to guide you along. One nice thing about Oakview, because they are set up for families and kids, there are a lot of interactive activities. There's even a small corral for goats, and signs warning you to keep your fingers out, but on the day I was there, the goats were nowhere to be seen. At various times of the year, visitors are given the opportunity to harvest the cotton from the small garden and also to pick fresh pecans from the pecan orchard. The one moment of revelation for me was the kitchen. Having read about southern homes where the kitchen was in a separate building, it was interesting to see. The kitchen here had display cases of the cooking utensils and it isn't too hard to imagine working around a hot fire in the middle of a hot southern summer. All I can say: when I came home, I thanked my air conditioner, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, espresso machine, and Thomas Edison. read more

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Lovely park, I visit this park at least once a week. They have several events throughout the year Specially Me and my kids enjoy story telling on September , games, free books and so many activities for kids read more

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We had a great day at this park! We came a little before 1pm on a Sunday. The weather was perfect, so lots of families were out walking. There is plenty of parking with several little lots along the drive in. We noticed some office buildings on the property. The information station inside the welcome area was closed due to covid, but they had pamphlets outside and hand sanitizer on a table. A little after 1 pm, they brought the goats out to the fenced in yard, they also had the chickens out too, which the kids seemed to enjoy. We read the kids story on the seasonal "story walk" that the library set up. It was super cute! I like all the historic buildings and the mounted informative plaques nearby to explain the history. Also, they have several picnic areas along the brick trail and a pond where we observed a family fishing. This place is really refreshing, although you can hear road noise in parts of the park. Take a day trip here if you want some fresh air or to get a little exercise... read more

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This is one of my favorite parks. I wish they had more events during the year. I am actually surprised I have never reviewed it before, but I say this a lot. Okay let's start with my favorite part, pecan trees and picking. I can see why southerners love these trees. They are beautiful and massive. We have lunch here at least once a year and love to sit under them as they give great shade. They have several events during the year and my favorite is the Storytelling Festival. They also have an old fashioned day with old cars. The first time my son rode a horse was at this park and it was love at first ride. They have a demonstration garden on site as well as demonstrations bee hives. This last visit my son and his best friend had a scavenger hunt for old grave stones. They also have a quilt auction once a year, I think at the Christmas event. Really a lovely place to visit. read more

Discovered Historic Oak View Park after another Yelper mentioned it in a review. While I'm disappointed that in the two years I've lived in Raleigh I had no idea it was there, I'm happy to have discovered it. We went to pick pecans (a free November event) and ended up hanging out. This is the sort of spot that I would have brought my kids to all the time when they were younger; there are gorgeous, rolling lawns and a covered gazebo with picnic tables and lots of pecans. We went on a Sunday afternoon and left with a brown lunch bag full. I imagine going at off peak times- during the week or first thing in the morning- would yield more. One tip, the park can be hard to find. It is located in the Wake County municipal campus and not really visible from Carya Drive. My GPS sent me to Poole Road, which is the street front but there's no entrance. So, when on Carya Drive, at the loop, look for a small, nondescript sign that reads "Historic Site" next to a driveway. As you enter, the pecan grove is on your left. Park on the right, or continue and park near the barn. read more

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What a well preserved piece of History. The visit would have been much nicer but renovations were being carried out while we touring. We had a good time while touring the Family friendly facility. Kids will have a nice time with all of the activities they have just for them, whether it's in the Farm House or in the Barn. The exhibits are fact-filled enough for the Trivial Buff of Farming Cotton, if you're into this. Do you want to have an outdoor function or event? There are two outdoor covered venues to help your event be the talk of the town. Perhaps, you want to go fishing. There is a stocked fission pond, for your fishing enjoyment. There are walking trails and lots of open space to do your own thing. If you give the friendly staff advanced notice (they say about 10 minuets is good enough) you can request them to set up one of the two scavenger hunts they have for you to participate in (there's one you have to use a compass to find everything). I would have given a higher review if it were not for the renovations being carried out. But one can look at this a sign of good upkeep. read more

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OMG I absolutely LOVE this park. It's sad that I found it through Pokemon (guilty pleasure) ;) It has EVERYTHING! Trails in the woods (very Umstead-like), a gazebo, goats and chickens, old historical houses and barns, restrooms, beautiful maintained land. It's just wonderful. Thanks so much for keeping this park lovely! read more

Great place to take kids! There's a main house and an adjoining museum. The kids love learning about how life used to be, and of course feeding the goats. It's pretty small, but you can easily kill 2 or 3 hours. Well kept grounds and helpful staff make this a winner. Best of all, it's free! read more

This little park might be my favorite part of Raleigh. Tucked away near the beltway, this park is more of a history site than a county park (although there is a pond with ducks and fishing and some picnic shelters that I assume you can rent/reserve). The site is a historic cotton farm from the 1800s. Most of the buildings are really well preserved and the site comes complete with historic pictures and signage which is great for a self walking tour. There are 4-5 buildings that you can actually go in as well as some other structures marked (a small cemetery, the chestnut grove, a small cotton field, etc.). I was really surprised that between 3 and 5pm on a beautiful September Saturday, the historic site was more or less desserted so I had the whole place to myself. Definitely a must-visit site if you're interested in NC (or Southern) history. And the best part--it's free!!! read more

OV is a great little park to visit if you're looking for someplace quiet and relaxing. There's a large pecan grove, walking paths both on the property and adjacent to it through the office park, goats (check with the staff before feeding them anything), a few cats who've adopted the place, several historic buildings, and a visitor center. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. There are a couple of shelters you can rent for birthday parties, etc. to make sure you have a spot reserved (otherwise, it's first come, first served). They have several large public events each year that include music, animals, games, antique cars, quilt auctions, etc. My only advice would be to visit the park on the weekends or after 12:00 pm on weekdays because during the regular school year the staff gives school groups programs (they usually start at 10 am) and that can mean there are young kids everywhere! Oh - there's also a "farmer's corner" for little kids to play dress-up in, read books, etc. It's a great place for photographers as well! The herb garden is beautiful and the gazebo make for good backgrounds. read more

Really a lovely little park. The old Farm house along with barn and other buildings is a great representation of what life use to be like back before bitcoin. They have a few animals kept there still to help maintain the atmosphere and the grounds are extremely well kept. I'd recommend anyone who is looking for a spot to tour on free weekend day check this place out. A very neat experience! read more

Great park for Pokémon go, plenty of pokestops plus goats you can pet and lots of cool stuff to walk around and discover!

A very cool place to bust and just stroll around. The way it's set up they focus mostly on agricultural progression from the 19th century up to the 20th. It seems like it would be very entertaining for kids. Especially the goats and cotton field. read more

Beautiful park and cute goats to feed. One of the goats is a little aggressive. There are also some chickens, you can't feed them though.