Whirligigs and BBQ in Wilson, NC
Pairing Art with Technology, World-Class BBQ, and the Work of NC's Official Folk Artist
By Fritts Causby | Originally published in Wrightsville Beach Magazine
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With a huge kinetic sculpture garden as an artistic centerpiece, a number of well-known, iconic restaurants, and many other things to see and do, Wilson is a fun, whimsical place to while away a few hours. What's beneath the surface? The vision for having an artistic installation as an economic driver has inspired cities across the nation to do the same, along with sparking an emphasis on technology and innovation as the heart of the city's future.
The Whirligigs of Vollis Simpson
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"Is this real life, or is this just fantasy?" The famous song lyrics from Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' might immediately come to mind when viewing the whimsical sculptures that dominate the downtown skyline in Wilson. After viewing the approximately 30 sculptures that are popularly called whirligigs, which make up the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson -- named the Second Best Sculpture Park in the US by USA Today in 2025 -- it definitely seems like a worthwhile question.
A more intriguing question might be centered on what inspired the artist, Vollis Simpson, for whom the park is named. Like many other notables in the art world, Simpson didn't receive notoriety or acclaim until after his death, in 2013. Before his retirement at the age of 65, he ran a business with a few of his friends repairing farm machinery. Simpson also had a side business moving houses, something he had learned from his father.
Moving houses without the aid of large industrial equipment required ingenuity, critical thinking, and a creative use of leverage, fulcrums, and rollers. Repairing farm equipment for many years led to the collection of a variety of industrial supplies -- eventually the perfect ingredients for an artistic recipe incorporating everything from HVAC fan blades, stovepipes, and I-beams, to bikes, mirrors, pipe, milkshake mixers, and aluminum.
The Man Behind the Art
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Understanding the life of an artist is a fun way to gain insight into their work. Apart from the visual aesthetics, the creative elements and themes at play in a work of art are almost always fascinating to learn about. With that in mind, it's worthwhile to point out that Simpson served his country in WWII. During a stint on the island of Saipan in the South Pacific, he worked on developing a rudimentary windmill using discarded parts from a B-29 bomber to power a washing machine, so he and his fellow troops could avoid washing their uniforms by hand.
Was this experience an inspiration? Probably, but one of the coolest aspects of Simpson's art may be that he used a large amount of old road signs to create them. This makes the sculptures highly reflective at night -- a perfect backdrop for some of the concerts the city hosts in the amphitheater inside the park. Taking advantage of the reflective nature of the whirligigs, the city hosted a holiday drive-in laser and music show, the Electric Light Fantasy.
It is easy to imagine that Simpson would approve of the integration of technology to showcase his work. The strength of this point is reinforced by the fact that his art wasn't on the radar for most people until the rise of the Internet, which eventually led to him earning praise from high-profile outlets such as the New York Times. Since the park's opening in 2017, it has generated more than $25 million in private and public investment within a two-block radius, including new breweries, restaurants, and residential development.
Technology, Broadband, and Wilson's Future
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The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park has been an inspiration for cities across the nation that are looking to create a new engine of cultural and economic progress. The idea that Simpson's art might have slipped into obscurity without assistance from the Internet has to at least be a partial explanation for why the city of Wilson is working to rebrand itself as a hub of technology, creativity, and innovation networking.
To support community inclusion efforts and remote learning, the community offers a free Wi-Fi network, Greenlight Community Broadband, which includes 30 public access points, along with a flexible cell phone plan with unlimited talk and text starting at $10/month. This is the backbone of the vision for the future Wilson has adopted, based on a free fiber optic network available to college campuses, businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs.
Wilson is also at a strategic position at the crux of I-95 and the new I-795 corridor, making it a convenient place to stop if traveling northward. From Wilmington it is a virtually stress- and traffic-free drive that only takes about 90 minutes. Wilson is also home to an Amtrak hub, which makes it possible to park there and travel to major cities such as Washington, D.C. for as little as $50 per person round-trip.
World-Class BBQ and Where to Eat
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There's a lot more to Wilson than whirligigs and trains. The city has always been known as a destination for BBQ enthusiasts, and spots like Parker's Barbecue are definitely worth the trip. Just be warned: they close at 6:30 pm. The food is delicious, but pulling into the parking lot at 6:35 can be a little disappointing. A visit to The Beefmastor Inn can also be a bit disappointing, only because it's a tiny place with only 10 tables. There are no reservations, so people tailgate in the parking lot to wait -- a scene that has taken on a life of its own. Pro tip: there is a Burger Boy nearby with inexpensive, quality food that is reminiscent of a 1950s-era diner experience. It is certainly a welcome sight to behold if the restaurants listed above are closed.
More to See and Do
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Wilson is also home to a botanical garden, a rose garden, the North Carolina Baseball Museum, Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House, and a lake with a two-mile walking trail. Several local breweries and restaurants have also cropped up around the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. The annual NC Whirligig Festival, typically held the first full weekend of November, draws more than 50,000 visitors and is free to attend. Whether stopping on the way north, staying overnight, or making the decision to sit a spell and stay a while, Wilson has a lot to offer.
Plan Your Visit
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The Whirligig Park is located at 301 S. Goldsboro Street, Wilson, NC 27893, in Historic Downtown Wilson. The Whirligig Park Museum and Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For overnight stays, Airbnb and Booking.com both list options in and around Wilson. The park itself is free and open year-round.
Keep Reading
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For more travel writing and feature stories, see the pieces on Brookgreen Gardens and Heartseed Gardens. For real estate and market commentary, visit The Pinnacle newsletter.