Press Releases

Hikers soon will be able to enjoy a new stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Johnston County.Visitors are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10:30 a.m. Plan to arrive by 10:15 a.m., to give ample time to park a short distance away from the trailhead. Dress appropriately for the conditions: sturdy shoes and insect repellant are recommended. Light refreshments will be available before the ceremony.

A Town Hall meeting in Swansboro, originally set for Aug. 31 by the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA), has been rescheduled for Sept. 14. The meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 14, from 6-8 p.m. at the Swansboro Area Heritage Center, 502 W Church St, Swansboro, N.C.

There’s a Whole Lotta Otta at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) thanks to prolific parents Leia and Quincy, a pair of Asian small-clawed otters. They welcomed two litters of three pups in less than a year. The rambunctious romp of otters is complemented by Asta and Ray, the mother-son duo who live around the corner—all told 10 otters in the Otters on the Edge habitat.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation recently awarded $3,025,636 in grants for 13 land acquisition projects through the Complete the Trails Program Fund. These grants will leverage more than $13 million in matching funds to help local nonprofit partners acquire land for state trails projects in nine North Carolina counties.

A mineral found in North Carolina that is essential to making specialized glass will be the topic of a free program hosted by the Western Office of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.Mica, which has been mined in western North Carolina for centuries, was used to make windows for early coal- and wood-burning stoves, along with more modern uses including radio vacuum tubes.

A demolition project at the North Carolina Zoo will require the transfer of birds from a long-time favorite habitat to another zoo.The North Carolina Zoo will relocate its flock of 15 Chilean Flamingos to the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina in late September where they will join a flock of 19 flamingos.

This fall the North Carolina State Capitol is once again offering live interpreter-led virtual programs for students.These interactive programs are free, take place via a preferred video platform, and last 30-45 minutes. Educators or group leaders can choose from one of three themed programs or sign up for a guided virtual tour of the Capitol, all led by trained Capitol staff. All programs are offered weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sept. 5-Dec. 15.

The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA) soon will hold a town hall meeting in Columbia, N.C. to gather local information about the area’s historic sites, cemeteries, community ties and local history. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 6-8 p.m.

This event has been postponed due to the threat of severe weather 

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that Keith Nealson, who has been with state parks for 25 years, has been named a superintendent at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area. Nealson joins Bill Stanley, the lead superintendent, who moved into that role last year after longtime superintendent Bryce Fleming retired.