Only those fortunate to visit Wilmington, North Carolina, will see Greenfield Lake. This small artificial reservoir, created in 1730 by Dr. Sam Green to power a mill, is now one of the city’s most charming features. Covering about 100 acres, Greenfield Lake is located just a mile from the Cape Fear River and has a rich history as Wilmington grew around it.
The lake once hosted an amusement park, petting zoo, and bathing beach, attracting many visitors via a trolley line. The old attractions are gone today, but the lake offers plenty of recreational activities and a unique ecology. Boat rentals, including canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats, allow visitors to explore the narrow, shallow lake, home to diverse wildlife and draped with Spanish moss-covered cypress trees. Picnicking and strolling along the lakeshore are popular, with a 4.5-mile walking and biking path providing scenic views.
A public boat launch on the south shore accommodates small boats with a 2.5-horsepower limit and encourages the use of electric trolling motors. Fishing is rewarding, with species like pumpkinseed, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bullhead. Fishing piers offer shore fishing, which is especially popular with children.
Although swimming is no longer safe due to alligators, the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater hosts concerts, performances, and festivals. Greenfield Park, spanning 250 acres, features tennis courts, a skate park, picnic tables, grills, a fragrance garden, and hiking trails. The annual Azalea Festival started in the 1940s, drawing thousands of visitors yearly to the beautiful flowering shrubs.
Birdwatchers enjoy spotting various species, including warblers, herons, egrets, and wood ducks. Access to Greenfield Lake is free, though boat rentals and pavilion reservations require a fee. Cape Fear River Watch manages boat rentals and works to maintain water quality using environmentally safe herbicides and solar-powered aerators.
Wilmington, a popular vacation destination, boasts one of the country’s largest historic districts, the scenic Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River, and attractions like the WWII battleship U.S.S. North Carolina and the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. The city offers a range of lodgings, from hotels to bed & breakfasts, and holiday accommodations near the Atlantic Coast, including Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Kure Beach. Wilmington is perfect for deep-sea fishing, ecology hikes, kiteboarding, and more. Real estate is available in various price ranges for those interested in making Wilmington their home.