Dorothea Dix Campus

I love taking my dogs to Dorothea Dix to play fetch and walk around. Lots of wide open fields that you won’t find any where else in Raleigh.
Interesting history throughout the whole campus with cool old buildings to look at.
One of the best places to watch fireworks on the 4^th of July!

Like Ron, I can’t believe I’m letting people in on the best little secret in Raleigh, but I figure if we’re going to keep this place green space, the more who know, the better!
As a Raleigh native (we exist!) I’ve been to «Dix Hill» many times (haha, not like that)…we used to drive out there as kids to scare each other at night, and I will admit it’s one of only 3 places ever that I’ve gotten the spiritual spooks (one of the others was Alcatraz, if that says anything). We also used to drive out there at night to park and… view the Raleigh skyline. ;)
But lately, I’ve been hitting the HUGE green space between the main campus and the Farmer’s Market, easily accessed from Centennial Parkway. We were introduced by friends who fly RC Planes, and it’s a big gathering place for hobbyists. If you have a young child, there’s nothing better than packing a picnic and parking in the shade with some lawn chairs to watch the RC planes. Plenty of space for dogs to run, roll down some grassy knolls, or just picnic in the sun or shade.
This is true, downhome Southern good fun, on the free and easy. If you want to see the planes, the less windy, the more planes will be out there.

Ahh, Dorothea Dix! You know why I like this place? Because most people don’t know about it. So why the hell am I writing a Unilocal review about it then?!
Call me stupid but the handful of times I’ve been out there, there’s been a lot of green open space, privacy and more. Not much in the way of amenities, obscured view of Raleigh due to all the trees but it’s a peaceful spot to hang out in, maybe picnic and run your dogs. While there’s not a lot going on here, being relatively undiscovered is its best feature.
Although I admit, the empty administrative and hospital buildings can be a bit creepy. If I ever see a guy in a hockey mask appear from behind a building, Iamagonnarun…

Being from Raleigh, I know the history of Dorothea Dix. My great-​grandmother used to work in the laundry facility of the hospital years and years ago. I worked in mental health for a while and had many experiences in dealing with the hospital I was one of those people who did not want to see it closed, as there would be many patients without services, however, it seemed to have been handled well and patients were dispersed to other hospitals and all worked out fine as far as I I know.
Since it was a former mental hospital, it can be a unique, somewhat creepy, yet beautiful place to visit now. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous with lots and lots of walkways and grassy areas for picnics or strolling with the pups. This past weekend, it was the venue for the 2014 Aidswalk 5K. The empty building is still there, but there are some that are still being used for come offices for NC Human Services, Vocational Rehab, etc. I’m not sure what the pending date is to make this an official park, but even if they did nothing, it is still a really nice place to venture to on a great day. I love that it sits in the middle of downtown Raleigh, and in many areas permits spectacular skyline views of our fair city!