FSP is managing a grant from the Overhills Foundation through a connection with The Nature Conservancy for Interpretation and Education at Long Valley Farm at Carvers Creek State Park. With this grant the park staff plans to restore the grounds with a 1940's theme when Long Valley Farm was visited by presidents and famous generals as they plotted war strategy and reviewed the troops readiness at nearby Fort Bragg. They were hosted by James Stillman Rockefeller, already a gold metal Olympic champion and a member of the Airborne Command and later to be a world class businessman heading the bank that would become Citibank. The forties theme will be the starting point to portray the historical, social, and natural resources of this special sandhills park. The park is still under development but plans to open the first view of Long Valley Farm to the public at the end of the year.

The Nature Conservancy acquired Long Valley Farm when James Stillman Rockefeller, a New York City banker, died at age 102 in August 2004. In his will, Mr. Rockefeller left the estate to the conservancy. TNC performed several projects to restore the land including allowing the river to revert to its natural flow and planting many acres with longleaf pines. In 2010 the land was transferred to the state park system to manage and to promote the historical, cultural, and social aspects of the park as well as preserving the natural resources. The park staff has already done some clean up work with more volunteer work days scheduled

The grant is to help gather and present information of Long Valley Farm's rich history from its connection with Scientific Farmer Robert Wall Christian, Percy Rockefeller, and finally James Stillman Rockefeller as well as its connection to Fort Bragg and the Fayetteville and Spring Lake communities.

Designs for restoration the Spring House are being submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office while other exhibits are being designed. A call has been put out to collect copies of people personal photos of the park and recently a video camera was purchased to enable the staff to capture the memories of the Long Valley Farm by the staff and local residents.

Check back here each quarter to see the progress of the project and check the parks web site for volunteer opportunities where you can help work on this project at the Carvers Creek.