Rose Dairy Farm Land Transfer Marks Conservation Milestone For Johnston County

FOUR OAKS, N.C. — More than 300 acres of farmland, wetlands and forest in Johnston County will soon become the county’s first publicly owned nature preserve under a partnership announced this week between Johnston County and Triangle Land Conservancy.

The 308-acre Rose Dairy Farm property, located in the Neuse River Lowgrounds near Four Oaks, is expected to open to the public later this year and will include future walking trails, fishing access and paddle access to Black Creek and the Neuse River.

The land had faced increasing development pressure because of its location near Smithfield and Interstate 95 before Triangle Land Conservancy purchased the property in 2024 with plans to eventually transfer it to Johnston County.

County officials said the preserve represents a major investment in outdoor recreation and conservation as Johnston County continues to grow rapidly.

Johnston County Commission Chairman Patrick Harris said the project helps preserve the county’s rural character while also expanding recreational opportunities.

The property includes a large section of the Neuse River floodplain and surrounding wetlands, areas conservation officials say play an important role in filtering pollutants and improving downstream water quality.

More than 50 acres of the property will remain in agricultural use through Garrett Wildflower Seed Farm, where fields of sunflowers, poppies and native grasses are expected to remain part of the landscape.

Leigh Ann Hammerbacher, director of conservation east for Triangle Land Conservancy, said the tract combines both environmental and agricultural significance.

The property also is expected to become part of the future route for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, North Carolina’s statewide trail system stretching from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Current plans call for eventually creating an off-road trail route through the area.

According to the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, the site contains some of Johnston County’s most environmentally significant habitats and includes rare plant and animal communities.

The property also contains a historic cemetery and is believed to have been along the route traveled by Gen. William T. Sherman’s troops during the Civil War.

Funding for the acquisition came from multiple sources, including the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, Complete the Trail Program, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Johnston County and private donors.

Johnston County Parks and Open Space Director Adrian O’Neal said preparations are already underway to make the property accessible to the public.