Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Hope Mills grew up where Little Rockfish Creek tumbles toward the Cape Fear River. As early as 1766 settlers used its water power and plentiful timber for a lumber camp, sawmill, gristmill and pottery, and the area was first known as Little Rockfish Village. In 1839 the first cotton mill powered by the Hope Mills dam was completed, and the mills that followed gave the town its name.
The Civil War brought hard times when General Sherman's troops burned the cotton mill and other buildings in 1865, but the mills were rebuilt and the village kept growing. Hope Mills was chartered as a town in 1891, and the Hope Mills Historic District still keeps the mill village houses, churches and streets of those years, along with the historic Big Rockfish Presbyterian Church.
Today Hope Mills is a friendly town of nearly 18,000 people just south of Fayetteville. Its centerpiece is Hope Mills Lake, formed by the dam in the middle of town and ringed by a park, beach and walking paths, and greenways and town parks give families room to play. The museums, gardens and history of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg are only minutes away.
The town's main park sits on the shore of Hope Mills Lake, restored after its dam was rebuilt, with a swimming area, fishing pier, kayak launch, picnic shelters and a walking path. It is the center of town life in summer; arrive early on hot weekends when parking fills up.
A paved greenway trail through wooded land and along the creek in Hope Mills, used for walking, jogging and easy bike rides. It is flat and shaded in places, with benches along the way. Bring water in summer and pair it with a visit to the lake park nearby.
The old mill village around the lake and dam preserves frame mill houses, churches and commercial buildings from the era when cotton mills powered the town. A short self-guided walk shows how Hope Mills grew around the mills; historic markers help explain the sites.
The site of the Rockfish Manufacturing Company, an early cotton mill on Little Rockfish Creek that was burned by Union troops in 1865 during Sherman's march through North Carolina. Little remains today, but markers recall the mill that gave Hope Mills its start.
One of the oldest congregations in the Cape Fear region, founded by Scottish Highland settlers in the colonial era. The church and its old cemetery with weathered headstones reflect the area's Scottish roots. It is an active church, so visit respectfully outside service times.
A large town recreation park with ball fields, a playground, picnic shelters, tennis courts and walking paths, busy with youth sports leagues on weekday evenings and weekends. It is a good stop for families with children who need space to run and play.
The blackwater creek that feeds and drains Hope Mills Lake winds through swampy woods typical of the Sandhills and Coastal Plain edge. Paddlers launch kayaks on the lake and explore the quiet coves. Watch for herons, turtles and fish, and bring insect repellent in summer.
Top-rated local businesses in Hope Mills, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Hope Mills? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Hope Mills? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
Photo: Dincher, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Dincher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Gerry Dincher from Hope Mills, NC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: KENPEI, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
