Occoneechee State Park 2026
In the fall of 2026, the family rented a cabin in Occoneechee State Park.
The family rented a 3BR cabin which had a large front porch looking out on the lake.
It was really primitive, with a really small ice maker.
Andrew brought a large bag full of table games and jigsaw puzzles.
Here is the first one completed. All the puzzles were complex!
Andrew and Zoe at the Kerr Reservoir and a great fishing spot behind. (More on that later.) Also nearby were the Visitor Center and Occoneechee Museum.
The Occaneechi are an Indigenous Siouan-speaking people of the Northeastern Woodlands. Their historic homeland spans the Piedmont region of present-day North Carolina and southern Virginia. During the 17th century, they served as key trading middlemen along the Great Trading Path before facing severe losses from colonial militias during Bacon's Rebellion. (Wikipedia)
Andrew and Zoe went hiking every day. Sometimes the rest of use followed along. There was a lot of wildlife on the trails.
And some really WILD encounters! OK, it’s not real. The park puts this cutout randomly out in the park and the first one spotting it gets a genuine Occaneechi State Park key chain! Andrew did a superb shacky, grainy video of him discovering the beast.
Carol demonstrating her vine swing skills, honed from childhood.
Everyone took the Old Plantation Trail. Here the outline of the Occoneechee Plantation built in 1839 by William Townes. It burned to the ground on Christmas Day 1898 from a Christmas tree candle. Behind are the still beautiful garden terraces.
It rained every day. Fine with the family. But one critter hid on the porch from a heavy downpour.
Ron and Theresa did some fishing. (Kerr Reservoir is famous for its catfish.) Ron managed to catch a 19-inch ‘blue’ which Theresa made in to Tuesday’s supper.
A few times the family went out to eat. One lunch found them at the Bridgewater Grill. It wasn’t until we left that we notice the intense interest by local wildlife! We saw lots of American black vultures all around the lake. Fishing must have been good.