Just in time for our upcoming Fearrington Folk Art Show, one of my favorite pieces of Fearrington history is spinning back to life—literally. After many years, the whirligigs are returning to the Village Center, each in a new location where guests and neighbors can enjoy them more fully.
This past week, our Grounds Crew installed the first restored whirligig on the side lawn next to The Belted Goat, and I have to say—it looks spectacular. The colors are joyful and vibrant, and seeing it come back to life after so long is genuinely moving. The restoration work is extraordinary, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the result.
For those who may not know the story behind these remarkable creations, here’s a glimpse into the world of Vollis Simpson, the North Carolina artist whose work has inspired people across the country.
THE ARTIST BEHIND THE MAGIC Vollis Simpson never called himself an artist, but the New York Times certainly did. When he passed away in 2013, they described him as “a visionary artist of the junkyard… who made metal scraps into magnificent things that twirled and jangled and clattered.”
Born in 1919 to a large farming family, Simpson grew up moving houses with his father, learning early the mechanics of fulcrum, leverage, and problem-solving. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII on the island of Saipan, where he famously repurposed parts from a junked B-29 bomber to create a wind-powered washing machine for the troops—his first experiment in wind-driven engineering.
After the war, Simpson opened a machinery repair shop and continued house-moving work. Along the way, he collected “useful junk”—industrial salvage, machinery parts, road signs, pipes, fans, wheels, and more. When he retired at 65, he began tinkering with his collection and constructing enormous windmills in his yard. These creations—whirligigs—did not grind grain or pump water; instead, they told stories. They included farm animals, lumberjacks, guitar players modeled after his son, and even airplanes inspired by his wartime experience.
Word spread, and without any formal advertising, Simpson’s farm became one of Wilson County’s most popular attractions. In 2013, whirligigs were declared North Carolina’s official folk art
VOLLIS SIMPSON'S WHIRLIGIG PARK IN WILSON
Today, the largest collection of Simpson’s work lives at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Parkin Historic Downtown Wilson. Designed with extensive community input and restored through a workforce training program that created more than fifty jobs,
the two-acre park is home to thirty towering whirligigs—some of Simpson’s most monumental pieces. At night, thousands of carefully cut reflectors shimmer under the lights, recreating the magical effect that once greeted drivers rounding the curve near Simpson’s farm.
FEARRINGTON'S WHIRLIGIGS - A STORY OF THEIR OWNWhen we began the Fearrington Folk Art Show in the early 2000s, Vollis was one of our first artists and RB purchased several of Simpson’s whirligigs for the Village. One was made especially for us—a whimsical Beltie cow—and installed in the Village Center. The others greeted visitors at the entrance for many years.
After a traffic accident damaged one, we decided to remove all three and restore them so they could be enjoyed for decades to come. Finding someone who could restore them turned out to be a challenge—until last year, when our Grounds Manager Jorge Castro mentioned that his son could take on the project.
What an incredible job he has done. The craftsmanship, the color choices, the attention to detail—they’re all exceptional. The whirligig installed last week is already bringing joy to everyone who walks by.
We are currently evaluating new locations for the other two restored whirligigs, and later this spring, we’ll begin work on restoring the beloved Beltie Whirligig.
COME SEE THE FIRST ONE SPIN
I hope you’ll come by soon to enjoy the newly reinstalled whirligig next to The Belted Goat. It feels like a piece of Fearrington’s creative spirit has returned home—and just in time to celebrate the Folk Art Show and its roots. More whirligigs are on the way, and I can’t wait to share their progress with you.
If you want to learn more about the whirligigs, watch this PBS segment here.
