If you are ever in Wilson, North Carolina, you’re bound to catch sight of the Whirligig Park—an entire landscape full of color and clatter, where the air’s alive with the hum of folk art in motion.
Vollis Simpson’s Bicycle Whirligig
A whirligig is a charming contraption frequently used as a decorative garden ornament. It spins when the wind blows, with parts that whiz around, creating a delightful visual and often audible spectacle. Whirligigs are a popular folk art created from rustic hand-carved wood to brightly painted metal designs.
Vollis Simpson’s Whirligigs Always Amuse
The town of Wilson, NC, has created a Whirligig Park to honor these whimsical creations of Vollis Simpson. This place is the heart and soul of Simpson’s legacy, a local legend & folk artist who turned scrap metal and worn-out machinery into works of art – his whirligigs. The New York Times referred to Vollis Simpson as “The Junkyard Poet of whirligigs and windmills.”
My dad told me that at one time Wilson was the largest tobacco market in the world. Even little Williamston had six warehouses. When the tobacco market declined, Wilson embraced a new idea – a park honoring a local man. The Whirligig Park was born.
As you walk in, you’ll see them – a mighty, colorful forest of metal spinners dancing in the breeze, each one rigged up high to catch the light and the wind. Simpson built these pieces from old machine parts, broken fans, old toasters, and whatever scraps he could get his hands on, piecing them together with an eye for imagination and a whole lot of heart.
He originally had these whirligigs on his farm in Lucama, but as the years went by, he was no longer able to look after them. One day I was peeping in the chain link fence that he had around his shop, thinking he couldn’t see me – well, he did see me, and he invited me to come in. ‘so glad I did.
Whirligigs in Vollis Simpson’s Field in Lucama, NC
He asked me if I had heard the urban legend about why he did this art? Legend was that he built it in honor of his daughter who died. Well, he told me, it just wasn’t true.
When you see the whirligigs, you will see the way they shine with reflective tape when the sun hits or how they glow a little magically under the moon. And let me tell you, in the evening light, this place becomes a sight that sticks with you.
Whirligig Repair in Warehouse
You’ll hear the sounds too—a creak here, a whir there—the hum of these giants as they dance with the breeze. Each whirligig has its own tune, like a metal symphony carried on the Carolina wind. It’s more than just folk art; it’s a whole experience that brings folks together. And if you close your eyes, it’s almost like you can feel Simpson’s spirit in the air – a craftsman who didn’t follow the rule book, but poured himself into each piece.
Restoration of the Whirligigs
So, don’t wait until you happen to be in Wilson – just go to this whirling patch of wonder and color. Snap a few photos, breathe in that Carolina air, and let the whirligigs work their charm. And don’t forget to visit the Whirligig Station, a converted tobacco warehouse that now serves as a visitor center and event space. And sometimes they are repainting and repairing the whirligigs, so you get to see them close-up.
Vollis Simpson, The Junkyard Poet, in his Shop
BTW – I bought a whirligig that I couldn’t really afford, but I am so glad I did. I bought the helicopter that Vollis Simpson is signing.
You’re not just seeing some sculptures; you’re stepping into the story of a man who saw the beauty in the worn-out and the cast-off. Whirligig Park is a reminder that sometimes the most dazzling things come from the humblest beginnings.
Located at 301 Goldsboro Street South, Wilson, NC, the park is open daily and free to the public.
Distances from:
Big Mill B&B Extended Stay in Williamston, NC 55 miles
Raleigh, NC – 49 miles
Greenville, NC – 36 miles
Outer Banks – 172 miles
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