Beech Bluff County Park is a stunning 300-acre park that was farmed since the late 1700s and has now been transformed into a community space for everyone.
History of Beech Bluff County Park
Farmland to Park
Beech Bluff County Park was originally owned and operated by the Adams Family as agricultural farmland. Over the years, the family raised a variety of crops and livestock. Wake County began purchasing the land from various members of the Adams Family between 2004 and 2019. The combined parcels became known as Southeast County Park.
In August 2019, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the master plan for the property, at which point it was officially named "Beech Bluff County Park." In January 2023, construction began to turn the 300 acres of undeveloped forests, wetlands, stream channels, rock outcrops and open fields into a park. Beech Bluff County Park opened to the public in March 2025.
You can learn more about the park’s history by visiting our exhibit hall (coming soon) or attending one of our History Hikes.
Trash Talk
What is this Pile Doing Here?
Before the Industrial Revolution, most people did not think of “trash” the way we do today. Many items were reused, repurposed or traded: containers for food were returned to the manufacturer or reused at home, grain sacks were turned into clothing or curtains, and wooden packing crates were turned into furniture.
“Trash” quickly increased with the rise of consumerism in the mid-20th century. People were encouraged to ration, reuse and repair items during WWII; however, after the war was over, the 1950s ushered in a new era of throwaway culture, from the introduction of disposable paper products and plasticware to ever-changing styles in trendy appliances.
Trash collection services or nearby landfills were not always an option, particularly in rural areas. This often led to people disposing of trash on their own by piling or burying it on an unused part of their property as a dump site.
Before becoming Beech Bluff County Park, this property was used as farmland for hundreds of years. This dump site was created to dispose of old machinery, appliances and household waste.
Cleanup Efforts
Many sites have been cleared by Wake County staff and volunteers, and there are a few more to go.
Big Sweep is a citizen volunteer effort coordinated by Wake County’s Soil and Water Conservation District to clear litter from the environment, protect watersheds and keep our water safe to drink. In March 2024, Big Sweep removed 11,235 pounds of trash from the Creek Loop at Beech Bluff!
Big Sweep has tackled other dump sites on the property, including an area affectionately referred to as “Tire Mountain.” Volunteers from Murphy’s Naturals and Wake County staff carefully removed 208 tires from the area in 2022 and another 251 in 2025, plus an additional 225 pounds of litter.
To learn more about Wake County Big Sweep and find upcoming events, please visit their website. If you are interested in volunteering at Beech Bluff County Park, visit wake.gov/BeechBluff and select “Volunteer Opportunities” to learn more and register.
Wake County Convenience Centers
In the 1980s, Wake County built 11 convenience centers to prevent dumping on public and private property. They were strategically located so any county residence would be within 8 miles of a location. Today, the Solid Waste Management Division manages 17 disposal and recycling facilities and provides various waste services to municipalities and unincorporated areas of Wake County. Visit the facilities page for more information about accepted items and to find a drop-off location near you.
Natural Features
Beech Trees and the Bluff
Beech Bluff County Park gets its name from this unique feature. The park is home to numerous beech trees, which are easy to spot during the winter. Look for trees holding onto their golden-colored leaves, which will fall off in spring when their new leaves begin to grow in.
From the Bluff Overlook, you can look out into the forest and see multiple beech trees and look down onto Middle Creek, which winds its way through the park.
Longleaf Pine Savannah
Fire is a natural component of a healthy forest. Prescribed burns reduce the encroachment of competing shrubs and hardwoods in the forest understory and replenish nutrients in the soil. Due to the decline of a once vast acreage of Longleaf pines in North Carolina, the North Carolina Forest Service has made it a priority to aid in its restoration.
Beech Bluff reintroduced the Longleaf pine to the park in March 2024 through a planting with a group of volunteers from the Fuquay-Varina 4-H Spatial Science Club in partnership with Wake County Planning, Development and Inspection and Parks, Recreation and Open Space staff. Staff and volunteers planted 350 Longleaf seedlings, 150 Big Blue Stem, 100 Indian Grass and 50 Little Blue Stem. These grasses were historically found growing alongside Longleaf pines in piedmont pine savannahs.
A special THANK YOU goes out to the Wildlife Federation for donating the 300 native grasses to compliment and support our re-established longleaf area.
Staff plan to actively manage the site with prescribed burns and savannah mix plantings.
Grass Planting History:
- March 16, 2024: Planted 150 Big Blue Stem, 100 Indian Grass and 50 Little Blue Stem.
Native Prairies
“Savannahs” were reported by explorers as early as 1540 in the Carolina Piedmont. These “savannahs” (a.k.a. Prairies) were likely the result of both fires started by lightning and indigenous people clearing land for planting. Large grazing animals such as elk and bison may have also helped maintain these prairies. The many waterways throughout the Piedmont created natural fire breaks, which caused these prairies to be smaller than those seen in the Midwest.
As the area was increasingly settled by European settlers and fire was suppressed, prairies began to give way to forested areas. There are three prairies that are being restored at Beech Bluff County Park. By restoring native ecosystems, these prairies provide many benefits by offering wildlife habitat, increasing biodiversity and supporting local pollinators, as well as allowing areas for environmental education and public enjoyment year-round. The native prairies seen at Beech Bluff County Park are former grazing pastures and agricultural fields.
Rain Garden
As you enter the park center, you will see a lush garden on either side of the boardwalk in front of the building. This garden is designed to collect and absorb rainwater runoff from the surrounding area.
Rain gardens, in their design, are natural filtration systems that help manage rain/storm water with the use of vegetation and soil composition. When there is a rain event, this garden will temporarily flood and then slowly drain and filter the water over the course of 12+ hours. We think it is pretty cool that our rain garden filters out pollutants from runoff such as fertilizers, oil, bacteria, sediment and other chemicals before the water enters any storm drains and eventually nearby water bodies.
Our garden also showcases a variety of native plants that are not only beneficial for flood control use but support native pollinators. Learn more about our garden through our program offerings throughout the year.
Discover Nature at Wake County Parks and Preserves
Natural Resources Inventory Database (NRID)
Want to explore the wildlife and plants seen at our Wake County Parks and Preserves from home? Check out the Wake County Natural Resources Inventory Database (NRID)! Anyone can use it – whether you're a birdwatcher, teacher, student, citizen scientist or just curious about nature. Explore data and photos, print checklists, or discover fun nature facts here.
If you have photographed an animal or plant within the park, we would love to include your sighting in our database. Please email the picture and location it was taken to BeechBluff@wake.gov.