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From left to right - Tim Staiger (gift shop volunteer), Becky McRoy (membership chairman) and Al Weller (volunteer coordinator) are members of Friends of Goose Creek - a fundraising arm of the State Park that is led by volunteers. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Park Superintendent, Matt Windsor, shares with guests about the history of Goose Creek and all it offers before they started a one mile hike through the park for First Day Hike. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Plenty of guests of all ages were ready to hike on New Year’s Day. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Park Rangers gave demonstrations on how historic tar kilns would have been used more than a century ago. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Part of Goose Creek’s celebration included demonstrations by historic interpreters from Historic Bath State Historic Site. They fired a replica historic rifle, and cooked a traditional New Year’s meal of ham, collards and black-eyed peas in a cast iron pot. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Part of Goose Creek’s celebration included demonstrations by historic interpreters from Historic Bath State Historic Site. They fired a replica historic rifle, and cooked a traditional New Year’s meal of ham, collards and black-eyed peas in a cast iron pot. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Part of Goose Creek’s celebration included demonstrations by historic interpreters from Historic Bath State Historic Site. They fired a replica historic rifle, and cooked a traditional New Year’s meal of ham, collards and black-eyed peas in a cast iron pot. (Holly Jackson/WDN)

Goose Creek State Park spent Monday celebrating a new year and its upcoming 50th anniversary. 

Park Superintendent, Matt Windsor, greeted guests who were eager to commemorate the anniversary and new year with a hike. Each year, state parks invite citizens to take a First Day hike. These hikes get people outside, get some exercise and connect with nature. 

Though the park’s actual anniversary isn’t until September, park rangers combined First Day Hike and the anniversary to get people outside and enjoy what Goose Creek offers. 

Started in September of 1974, Goose Creek spans 1,672 acres and is a sanctuary for local flora and fauna. Land that now belongs to the park was previously owned by a warehouser, Windsor shared. The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation wanted a park in this portion of Eastern North Carolina. Local officials and citizens encouraged the department to consider the warehouser site and other sites in the area. With a few acquisitions, the department established Goose Creek State Park. The park is roughly the same size as it was in 1974. 

Built in the early 2000’s, the visitor’s center educates guests about the many types of native grasses, trees, birds, reptiles, small and large animals that exist within the park’s boundaries. 

Goose Creek offers nine miles of hiking trails, a swim beach and a boat ramp as well as camping and RV sites in addition to fairly new camper cabins with a shower house. Inside the visitor’s center, guests will find the Discovery Room where they can learn about wildlife and history at the park. 

The Secotan and Pamlico Indians were members of the Tuscarora tribe and once occupied land that included Goose Creek State Park. Later, European settlers engaged in farming, commercial fishing and production of lumber and naval stores, according to Friends of Goose Creek – a funding arm of the state park. While exploring the park, guests may find remnants of tar kilns and a trackless railroad bed. 

Part of Goose Creek’s celebration included demonstrations by historic interpreters from Historic Bath State Historic Site. They fired a replica historic rifle, and cooked a traditional New Year’s meal of ham, collards and black-eyed peas in a cast iron pot. Park Rangers also gave demonstrations on how historic tar kilns would have been used more than a century ago. Beaufort County Traditional Music Association performed at the visitor’s center  and Sound Rivers led an afternoon hike down Live Oak trail at the swim beach. 

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