Smithfield Diversions

Living in your Smithfield townhome in beautiful Lake Park Villas offers you convenient access to all the great things to do here in the Johnston County area. From “down home” entertainment delivered with “Southern-fried Hospitality” at the American Music Jubilee, convenient recreational opportunities literally at your Smithfield townhome doorstep, to a stroll down Hollywood’s memory lane at the Ava Gardner Museum, Smithfield and the greater Johnston County area has so much to offer.

Shop till You Drop in Smithfield

Throw in great shopping at the boutiques and specialty shops in downtown Smithfield, antiquing in Selma or hitting the local Outlets, your choices for things to do here in greater Smithfield are almost over whelming. And here is the bonus – they are all minutes from your doorstep at Smithfield’s premier townhome community of Lake Park Villas! Come find out what has been called Smithfield’s best kept secret for effortless Smithfield townhome living – at Lake Park Villas.

Ava Gardner Museum
325 E. Market Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: 919-934-5830
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday, 9-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm

The Ava Gardner Museum offers incredible glimpse into the life of this Hollywood superstar. Visitors to the museum can view a collection of Ms Gardner’s many scripts, photos, costumes, and personal belongings of this legendary actress. Starring in more than 59 motion pictures, Ava Gardner was born on Christmas Eve, 1922, seven miles east of Smithfield, NC.

American Music Jubilee
300 N. Raiford Street
P.O. Box 429
Selma, NC 27576
Phone: 919-202-9927
Hours of Operation: Please call for hours of operation

Located just north of Smithfield in the town of Selma is the American Music Jubilee. This family-friendly musical show offers side-splitting comedy, gospel, and contemporary country all performed in the Southern charm as only it can be performed. This Branson-style entertainment venue delights audiences every weekend minutes from your home in Lake Park Villas. Offering its unique brand of Southern Hospitality, you will enjoy musical tunes from 50s rock ‘n’ roll to classic Southern Gospel and contemporary country and ending with a stirring patriotic tribute. The not-to-be missed show of the year is the Southern Christmas Show which starts in early November and runs through the week of Christmas.

Tobacco Farm Life Museum
709 Church Street
US Hwy 301 North
Kenly, NC
Phone: (919) 284-3431
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday, 9:30am-5pm and Sunday 2pm until 5pm.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the first two weeks of January.
Website: www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org

Take a step back in time by visiting the Tobacco Farm Life Museum. In this 6,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall, you can stroll through displays and see artifacts from all aspects of life on a typical Smithfield tobacco farm. Here you can develop a deeper understanding of farm life, providing a hands-on children’s exhibit, household goods, musical instruments, clothing and agricultural tools. A restored farmstead with main house, detached kitchen, tobacco barn, smoke house and reproduction pack house allows visitors to capture the essence of the rural life as it was during the Great Depression era. If you are curious about this industry that has all but disappeared from the rural landscape of North Carolina, it is highly recommended you take the short drive from your Lake Park Villas townhome north up US 301 or Interstate 95 to the small town of Kenly to the Tobacco Farm Life Museum.

Howell Woods
6601 Devil’s Racetrack Road
Four Oaks, NC
Phone: (919) 938-0115
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Website: www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/

Howell Woods consisting of over 2,800 acres containing 9 natural communities and diverse flora and fauna, Howell Woods is nature-lovers dreams come true. Offering facilities for a classroom for 36-50 people, exhibit hall, amphitheater and natural resources library available for use by the public, Howell Woods is a natural secret hide-away. Here at Howell Woods there are over 30 miles of unpaved roads and trails for small group horseback riding, bird watching, and mountain biking and long-distance hiking. You can even fish and cabins are available for rent. One of the not to be missed attractions at Howell Woods is the recovery facility for wounded birds of prey.

Clemmons State Educational Forest
2411 Old US 70 West
Clayton, NC
Phone: (919) 553-5651
Hours of operation: Open mid-March through late November. Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9am-5pm. Saturday and Sunday, 11am-8pm (DST), 5pm (EST). Clemmons is closed on Mondays.
Website: www.ncesf.org/CESF/home.htm

In nearby Clayton is the Clemmons State Educational Forest that designates the transition zone between the Piedmont region of North Carolina and the NC Coastal Plain. Clemmons State Forest offers a rare mix of pine tress and hardwood vegetation all set in a pleasant rolling terrain highlighted by streams and rock outcroppings. Accessible by a series of well marked trails, you’ll find exhibits and displays about the ecology of a managed forest. Geared to be family-friendly, you’ll want to bring your grandchildren to the section geared for the little ones with talking trees and rocks

Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
5466 Harper House Road
Four Oaks, NC 27524
Phone: 910-594-0789
Website: www.nchistoricsites.org/bentonvi/

Turn right out the Lake Park Villas and head south on Brightleaf Boulevard (Hwy #301 south) and you will soon see signs directing you to the site of The Battle of Bentonville. This Civil War battlefield was the scene of a major battle held on March 19-21, 1865. The particular event was the largest Civil War land battle to take place on North Carolina soil. Here you actually walk in the footsteps of those who fought in these same fields on which 80,000 Union and Confederate solders fought. Don’t forget to tour the nearby Harper House, museum and cemetery as well.

Near-by Johnston County Golf Courses

The Country Club of Johnston County
694 Country Club Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 934-4544
Private Course
A short walk from the door of your Lake Park Villas Townhome to this magnificent Ellis Maples designed tract.

Reedy Creek Golf Course
585 Reedy Creek Road
Four Oaks, NC 27524
Phone: 919-934-7502
Public Course

Cardinal Country Club
363 Parrish Memorial Road
Selma, NC 27576
Phone: 919-284-3647
Public Course

Request your Lake Park Villas Relocation Package today!