Things To Do In Franklinton, NC 

Are you moving to Franklinton, NC, or plan to visit sometime in the future? Please stick with us while we look into some of the best things to do in Franklinton! 

Franklinton is a town in Franklin County, North Carolina. It is located within the research triangle region of North Carolina, home to the world-renowned research triangle park. Residents of Franklinton enjoy a relaxing, calming, affordable community with easy access to bigger cities such as Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The town of Franklinton is filled with an abundance of history and things to do. The city is small and still evolving, so people will often travel to the surrounding town to search for fun things to do. Franklinton and the surrounding areas have various activities, including museums, entertainment, recreation, dining options, shopping, and more! 

History 

Franklinton, NC, was first established as Franklin Depot in 1839 on land owned by Shemuel Kearney, the son of Crawford Kearney and Nancy White. Originally located south of town was a home that was constructed by grandfather Shemuel Kearney in 1759 and is currently the second oldest residence in Franklin County. In 2009, the building was purchased and moved to Louisburg for restoration. From then, Franklin Depot changed its name to Franklinton in 1842, when the town was officially incorporated. The town of Franklinton was named after Benjamin Franklin.

Like many other towns, Franklinton owes its existence primarily to the railroad. The 10 acres of land owned by Shemuel Kearney was deeded in the 1830s to establish the onsite depot. When the railroad was under construction, Thomas Howerton, Thomas Crocker, and William R. Hargrove realized the potential for a town around the depot. 

The depot was located near the new railroad crossing and Hillsborough rd., which ran between the county seat towns of Louisburg and Hillsborough. The three men then purchased seventy acres surrounding the depot in 1839. The tract was then divided into three lots, one purchased by Benjamin Jones, which later became the location of the Franklinton Hotel. As previously said, it was in 1842 when the NC General Assembly came together to incorporate the town, and Franklin Depot officially became the town of Franklinton. 

Franklin County is located in the Northeast Piedmont Region of North Carolina. The county was formed during the American Revolutionary War, abolished Bute County, and was established in 1779. Tuscarora Indians were the earliest inhabitants, followed by English, Irish, and German settlers. Franklin has always been a rural county with an economy based on agriculture, lumber, and textiles. It has recently begun to grow in population due to the proximity of research triangle park but with a small-town feel and affordable housing. 

Vino and Vine 

Vino and Vine is a boutique retail wine and gift shop in Franklinton, NC. You can visit Vino and Vine for daily tastings utilizing self-serving technology to sample and sip their featured wines. The shop provides free and nominally priced tastings that allow you to taste a wide variety of wines to explore and expand your pallet. They have a vast selection of well-known wines and wines you may need to become more familiar with. Vino and Vine are committed to providing you with excellent service and a selection of quality wines from the best in the world, offering those wines at fair prices, and always keeping in mind your palate and preferences. They offer daily wine tastings, complimentary wine tastings, and private wine tastings. 

Tar River Life 

At Tar River Life in Bunn, you can experience the outdoors, whether it's for a day of fun or a vacation. The camping sites at Tar River allow visitors to experience the serene outdoors while listening to the slow-running sound of the Tar River. You can drive to all available campsites, and each one includes a fire pit and wood. Excursions at Tar River Life include tubing, kayaking, and standup paddle boarding. The tubing at Tar River Life is about 1.5 miles and last for three hours. You can choose between a river tube with a high back for $21 or a small one with a high back for $21. Kayaking is roughly 3.4 miles and last for three hours. A single kayak is $37, and a tandem kayak is $52. Standup paddle boards fit two people for $52 and are 3.4 miles, which last roughly three hours. Extras you can pay for include a small cooler with ice, a more fantastic tube, a dry bag, or a waterproof phone pouch. 

Hill Ridge Farms 

Hill Ridge Farms is the best destination for old-fashioned family fun, group and family outings, picnics, school field trips, birthday parties, and more! It is located in Youngsville and offers many attractions that anyone can enjoy! One attraction is the Farm Animal Corral, where children and adults can safely view and feed live farm animals. Animals include goats, sheep, chickens, and turkeys. Other things to do on the farm include Gemstone panning, train rides, hay rides, a giant slide, a playland, and more. 

Clina Polloni Art 

Clina Polloni is a contemporary artist that lives in Franklinton, NC. She expresses herself in color paintings such as landscapes, seascapes, flowers, and still life oil paintings and teaches classes in her beautiful art studio! You can visit Clina Polloni Art for a private or group painting class for beginners or professionals. 

Owls Roost Brewery

Owls Roost Brewery is a famous restaurant/brewery located on Main St. They are committed to serving the community by providing excellent craft beer and pizza. Customers loved visiting Owls Roost Brewery for the live music, delicious food, outdoor seating, select beers, and more! They have a wide variety of pizzas, beer, cheese, wings, etc., and multiple beers on tap, spirits, and wine. This is a great place to visit after shopping on Main St, on date night, on Girls' night, or enjoy some live music! 

Ingleside Farm 

Ingleside Farm in Franklinton, NC, is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing horseback ride. At Ingleside Farm, they specialize in American Saddlebred horses and Hackney ponies. You can ride for fun, ride for training, or ride for competition. If you plan to ride for fun, they have riders for all ages, so anyone in the family is welcome! If you'd like to train at Ingleside, they have a personalized training program tailored to meet your specific needs and is designed to bolster your strength and improve your areas of weakness. Lastly, Ingleside hosts camps and shows and even occasionally has horses for sale. 

The Slammer 

The Slammer is the only exclusive speakeasy in Franklin County! The Slammer highlights the prohibition era style with a hidden entrance. The bar was converted from the old Franklinton Jail, so they also incorporated ancient remains from the jail. The custom bar is former inmate cells, and the private dining area is the old holding area. Entertainment at The Slammer includes live music, horseshoes in the yard, and hidden wines and spirits. For those that don't know, a speakeasy was a secret bar that operated in backrooms during the prohibition era when it was illegal to sell or consume alcohol. 

Turtle Mist Farm 

Turtle Mist Farms is the perfect place to stay if you visit Franklinton. Farmers Bob and Giner purchased over 60 acres of land in Franklinton, where they raised 17 species of animals and maintained a vegetable garden. On the property, they have a three-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse with an eat-in kitchen that you can rent to enjoy a pleasant and relaxing getaway in the country. Farmers Bob and Giner's goal for the property is to share their love of nature with others and to teach children where the food they eat comes from. Animals that they raise include hair sheep, pastured Gelbvieh beef cattle, bourbon red heritage turkeys, muscovy ducks, free-range laying hens, Toulouse geese, quail and Berkshire, ossabaw, Mangala, and meishan hogs. 

Johnny Bulls Steakhouse 

In the neighboring town of Louisburg, you have Johnny Bulls Steakhouse. Johnny Bulls was named one of the ten best steakhouses in North Carolina. The restaurant blends traditional steakhouse fare with home-cooked and country-style specials. Johnny Bulls has a cozy main dining room, two private dining rooms, the bullpen, the bull chute, a full-service bar, and catering equipment. The menus at Johnny Bulls include lunch, appetizers, favorites, seafood, and steaks. The bullpen and bull chute are open for reservations and private parties. You can pre-arrange a meal from their menu or custom-build a feast for your guests. 

E. Carroll Joyner Park 

Located 14 miles away from Franklinton, you will find E. Carroll Joyner Park. Joyner Park is 117 acres and is one of the town's newest and most prominent parks. Activities and features of the park include restored farm buildings, a pecan grove, a 1,000-lawn-seat amphitheater, a walker garden, a performance garden, 2,000 linear foot stone ribbon wall, three miles of paved walking trails, charcoal grills, and fishing. The park is open daily from dusk to dawn. Joyner Park's playground is a colorful take on the old saying, "the early bird gets the worm."

JB Flaherty Park 

Also located 14 miles from Franklinton, NC, you will find JB Flaherty Park. Initially, the 160-acre farm that now houses Flaherty Park was owned by the Flaherty family. In 1993, the Flaherty family gifted the town of Wake Forest two tracts of land to use for the park, and in 1999 a third tract was given. The 100-acre park includes a community center, a three-lighted baseball and softball field, a children's playground, a picnic shelter, two recreational ponds, four lighted pickleball courts, and a four-lighted tennis court.

Winterpast Farm 

Winterpast Farm is also located in Wake Forest, a short commute from Franklinton, NC. Winterpast Farm is 10 acres of outdoor fun with family and friends. When arriving at Winterpast, you will be welcomed by Farmer Mary, who will tell you everything you need to know and give you the food you need to feed the farm animals. Animals at Winterpast include llamas, emus, goats, sheep, a pony, pigs, and even guinea pigs! If you're not interested in feeding animals, you can find eggs, hike, spot nests, bird watch, enjoy a rock climbing wall, hold baby chicks, swing, and more! To entertain the kids, they can stomp in the mud, pile up rocks, roll down hills in tubes, etc. 

Things to do in Franklinton - Final Thoughts 

Franklinton, NC, is a small but growing town. The city becomes more prosperous daily, and people, restaurants, businesses, etc., plan to move to the area. Within Franklinton, you will find numerous places for recreational activities, delicious restaurants, shopping, entertainment, arts & culture, and more! Franklinton is also close to other towns/cities that offer activities and excursions. Raleigh is approximately 45 minutes away, Wake Forest is 18 minutes away, and Louisburg is 16 minutes away. The town is also an easy commute away from Youngsville, Creedmoor, Oxford, Bunn, and more! It's safe to say that whether you stay in the town of Franklinton or travel nearby, there is something fun for everyone to enjoy of all ages. 

Raleigh Realty is a local real estate company that specializes in helping those through the home buying and selling process. Here at Raleigh Realty, we mainly focus on all things real estate-related, but we also enjoy providing helpful guides to navigate your new area. On our website, you can find guides to various towns, real estate tips, and real estate tricks. 

If you're considering moving to Franklinton after reading our guide to fun things to do, feel free to reach out to us! You can visit our website or contact us to get in touch with an agent who can help you in your search. We take pride in our excellent customer service and would be happy to help you along your journey! 

Check out some of our other articles in or around Franklinton, NC.

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