Up & Coming Weekly

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2021 UCW 5 Best of Fayetteville Best Little Known Attraction Sweet Valley Ranch Dinosaur World 2021 2990 Sunnyside School Road, Fayetteville 844-622-3276 or www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com If you've ever ventured out to the ranch, it will probably be hard for you to understand how people can't know about it. But, since this win, it won't be unknown for long. Sweet Valley Ranch is a farm that anyone can enjoy. The sum- mer Dinosaur World experience is just one reason to visit the ranch. If you need more, you might want to checkout the upcoming Tiny's Corn Maze, Backwoods Terror Ranch and the Festival of Lights during Christmas holidays. The ranch has been described as a place where nature meets adventure. It is home to more than 350 animals, including llamas, goats, highland cattle, a camel, a zebra, sheep, swans, pea- cocks, ducks and cranes, Oh, My! And, of course, there is a reptile house. You can go on a tour and also have a chance to get up close and personal with the farm animals. If you want to relax, you can spend some time fishing in the stocked ponds, ride on a two-mile go-kart trail and grab a bite to eat and check out the gift shop! With all it offers, it won't be unknown for long! Coolest Venue Downtown Segra Stadium 460 Hay St. 910-339-1989 or www.milb.com/fayetteville This year's winner of the coolest venue got a reprieve from the last poll, which dubbed it the biggest waste of tax dollars. We, the city and the Astros are glad our citizens had a change of heart. Even before the first ball was thrown to open a game at Segra Stadium, its presence made a big impact on the community. It literally changed the face of downtown and also brought Minor League Baseball to town. Indeed, the Woodpeckers team has been warmly embraced. A home game is an exceptional experience for all ages. Families can enjoy catch-on-the-field and kids-run-the-bases before the 1st pitch on Sundays. Beverage discounts are offered on Thirsty Thursdays and dog lovers can bring their pups for Paws & Claws night. If that wasn't enough, Segra Stadium off-season offers a variety of multi-function spaces for private or public events. Examples: chamber of com- merce meetings, non-profit fundraisers, and most recently, military promotions. To date, most folks have probably only attended games at the stadium, but the word is out that it is more than a ball park, it's also a cool place for events. Check out a game, and see what kind of event you can plan at the stadium. Best Thing to Show Off to Visitors/Best Museum Airborne and Special Operations Museum 100 Bragg Blvd. 910-643-2778 or www.asomf.org The Airborne & Special Operations Museum is the only museum in the coun- try dedicated to all Army airborne and special operations units. Every year, it sees thousands of visitors: veterans who often share their stories with other visi- tors, Gold Star family members, students from local schools, those who want to understand more about our military, and people from all over the world. Nearby Fort Bragg houses the 82nd Airborne Division and Joint Special Operations Command, so downtown Fayetteville is the ideal place for this museum. No wonder ASOM is a repeat winner in both of these Best of Fayetteville categories. Established in 2000, ASOM tells the story of U.S. airborne and special opera- tions soldiers from 1940 to the present. Features include permanent and tem- porary exhibits, a parade field lined with monuments, a reflection garden, simulator experiences and more. Extra events include the annual Field of Honor, military-related movie showings and book signings, 5Ks, National Airborne Day celebrations, as well as ceremonies honoring different individuals and units. The U.S. Army owns and operates the Museum while the ASOM Foundation manages the museum store, motion simulator, as well as the memorial paver and monument program. Renee Lane is the director of the ASOMF. What Does Fayetteville Need Most? Attractions For Young People: Amusement/Water Park The drum beat for children and teen recreation venues downtown has been pretty steady over the past decade. The city made some efforts here with the skateboard park, that has proven to be popular with that group of kids. This year, citizens gave some direction for how to keep our children and youth engaged: an amusement park or water park. With that wording, we don't think they are talking about splash pad projects that the city and county have been creating throughout the county. Could Fayetteville be home to another Six Flags or Wet and Wild? Sure, it will just take some time and money.

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