Medoc Mountain State Park Saturday celebrated the addition of four new cabins in the camping area with a ribbon-cutting and a tour.

“This is the first time in my eight months on the job that I’m actually camping in a campground,” said Pamela Cashwell, secretary of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “And staying in a cabin counts as camping.”

To guests at the event, Cashwell said, “For those of you who want to camp in the area, the cabins are really nice. Actually, the whole campground is super nice. The work that’s been done on this project is so well done and a great job on the design.”

She also praised the shelter and said “that’s going to be used so much in the community.”

As a Coharie and Lumbee, Cashwell said she has spent time with members of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe. “I know this area but I didn’t know the park. That’s the amazing thing about North Carolina. I’ve spent time in so many different state parks across the state, camped in so many state parks and still there’s always more to discover.”

Talking with her husband on the drive to Medoc Mountain, she said there are so many places in the state that people can explore. “Fifty-eight years of living here and I’ve discovered yet another place so Medoc Mountain State Park is one that I’ll be talking about for sure.”

Cashwell said the upgrades would not have been possible without $4.9 million in Connect NC Bonds that were approved by state lawmakers.

Tyler Richardson, a Haliwa-Sapon council member, said, “I’m honored to stand here at Medoc Mountain State Park, a place that holds deep meaning for me, my family, and the Haliwa-Saponi people.”

He shared a 1974 article from the Rocky Mount Telegram when Medoc Mountain was welcomed into the state park system. “That article captured a moment of unity where tribal leadership, state government, and local citizens came together to envision a future for this land.”

That future was the continuation of a much older story, he said. “The Richardson family has owned documented land in this area once known as the Meadows since the early 1700s. Long before that, long before the formation of America, our people walked these lands, hunted these woods, and fished these waters. This land has always been sacred — not just for its natural beauty but for its spirit. Today I want to recognize the staff and leadership for honoring that legacy. You preserved the natural identity of this land.”

The trails of Medoc Mountain still wind through the hardwood forest, Richardson said. “The creek still flows, the mountain still blooms, and the spirit of this place still speaks.”

He said, however, “I believe we can do more together. I want to encourage deeper collaboration between the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, Medoc Mountain State Park, and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. Let’s work together on programs, stewardship, and education that reflects the natural culture and the cultural heritage of this land.”

Brian Strong, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation, said while the NC Connect bonds were authorized by the general assembly they were voted on by the people. “That was great to see that $75 million for parks has done so many great things. I also want to thank the parks and recreation trust fund who approved over $1.3 million in additional funds for this project.”

Medoc, Strong said, is interesting because it’s at the end of the Coastal Plain and the beginning of the Piedmont. “You get this really cool area here which is really amazing. When you go down you see the sand but then you get some laurel.”

It’s an amazing place, he said. Little Fishing Creek is one of the cleanest waterways in the state. “The heritage areas, the natural resources that are here are amazing.”

Park Superintendent Allen Williford, who opened the program, said the park dates back to 1973 when 2,300 acres were bought. “Today we have acquired up to 4,000 acres. The campground went from 34 campsites with 12 of them being electric to now where we have 17 electric sites which offer sewer, electric, and water.”

And now, there are four cabins that were created to sleep six people with air conditioning and heat. “I think you’ll like it,” Williford said.

It was 25 years ago when the structure of the campground, the shelter and bathhouses were added in 1999, he said. “It was time for a facelift. It was time for an upgrade.”