Campbell University & Buies Creek

Heading north on Hwy 421 from Dunn and I-95, it's easy to think that you're heading into the middle of nowhere. In fact, the further you drive the more you realize that fact as you see more and more tobacco fields, recreational air fields, and large expanses of sky. But about 10 miles past Dunn, you see it. What you see is Buies Creek, and within it's roads and creek streams is Campbell University.

The centerpiece of Campbell's campus, the D.Rich Building & Turner Auditorium

Founded in 1887 by a Baptist minister, Campbell started as an academy, then a junior college, full college, and eventually into a full-fledged University in 1976. I've been a student at Campbell since 2005 (05-09 as an undergrad and 09-present as a Divinity student) and during that time I've seen the sleepy community of Buies Creek grow each year. But let's be honest about a few things up front: Campbell is Buies Creek and Buies Creek is Campbell. Apart from 2 churches, 2 gas stations, and a handful of restaurants - there is nothing in Buies Creek that is not a part of the University.

For non-students, there may not seem to be a lot happening in Buies Creek but you have to look past the student experience to find out what appeals to the typical person passing through the area. First is athletics. In 2008, Campbell opened both a Football Stadium and a gigantic Convocation Center (the largest building project in Harnett County history to date) to house their football and basketball programs. This coming fall, Campbell will host it's first ever night football games under the lights of Barker-Lane Stadium.

Gameday action at Barker-Lane Stadium

Hungry in Buies Creek? Looking to avoid eating on campus (please, don't pay $8.50 for mongolian beef and rice like I did years ago...)? In the past 2 years, Buies Creek has seen a (modest) explosion of sorts in available eats within walking distance from campus. Stopping off at the short stop gas station across the street from the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center, you might think you're in for a lunch of microwaveable burritos and a bag of chips...but you'd be wrong. Step around the side of the short-stop and you'll encounter one of the best local grills in Harnett County - The Campus Grill. Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Marsha and Johnny Sheakley, you can expect homemade specials each day along with grill favorites like their chicken salad or Jakked Up burger (a burger smothered in carmelized onions, cheddar cheese, homemade bbq sauce, mustard, and of course bacon).

The Campus Grill

Not hungry for the grill? Try out the new Subway opening up a few feet down or take a few steps further to the new Creek Coffee House where you can get an awesome Iced Hot Chocolate (breakfast milkshake!) for $4.50.

Even if you're just passing through, pull off at Britt Hall, park your car, and take a stroll around the beautiful grounds and buildings that comprise Campbell University. And be sure that before you leave, you take a special trip out to the front of the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center to take (or climb) a picture with the largest bronzed camel on the east coast, Gaylord...our fightin' camel.

Getting Here

I've never much thought about how I got here. So many people use the metaphor of a "journey" to describe the process by which they took to get to this moment in time right here, right now. Luckily for me, my journey has always kept me in the state known for Tar Heels, Blue Devils, the long leaf pine and an infinite number of other descriptors. In short, my journey has always kept me here, at home.

Of course, I use the term home here generously because I am no longer a full-time resident of my hometown, St. Pauls. In fact, I am 50 minutes north in Harnett County on the outskirts of Buies Creek as I sit here typing this. However, the initials between my street address and zip code still read NC and as long as those two letters remain the same, I'm always home.

Since I am at home here in my state, I thought it would be useful to begin documenting where I've been  and where I'm going in my travels across the Old North State. In planning some future excursions around the state in the next few weeks, I realized how many places I had already been as well as how many places I would still like to visit.

From time to time, I will post on my adventures across this fair state and will offer suggestions on what to visit, where to stay, and what you must eat while there. Other times, I will post interesting facts that might pique my interest (and I hope yours too!) to finally get out and check out that place in NC that I've been saying I'll visit but never get around too.

Whether you're a lifelong North Carolinian like I am, or a transplant, or even just an interested outsider - I hope you will see just how vast, diverse, and beautiful this state is. There's a big backyard to this home of mine and I hope you'll join me as I explore it step by step.