| If the weather is nice and you want to spend some time outdoors, then San-Lee park is a great place to go. San-Lee park was originally the municipal reservoir for Sanford. When the city of Sanford built a new water plant, the land was turned over to Lee County to be used as a park.The park was developed and opened in the late 1970s. The old pumping house has become a museum and park headquarters. The two lakes that once provided water to Sanford now provide a sanctuary for wildlife. The lakes are also used for canoing and fishing. |
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After entering the park, this sign helps to direct visitors to the location for various activities. As you can see, there are an almost overwhelming number of things to do here!You can go picnicking, hiking, fishing, rv camping, mountain biking, canoing, tent camping, or play on the playground. That is just a short list as there are many other things to do here. |
| The building that was previously a pumping house is now used as the park’s headquarters. This building houses a small display of local animals. This is a good place to visit to learn more about the animals around the local area. There are frogs, squirrels, turtles, and even SNAKES on display. The snakes in the picture on the right are the most dangerous local snakes - Copperheads. |
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Around the sides and back of the headquarters building are cages with various birds in them. The park rehabilitates injured birds. For birds too injured to return to the wild, the park becomes a new home. Many birds, however, are rehabilitated and released back into the wild.The park gives lectures from time to time on owls and other local birds of prey. |
| Just behind the headquarters building is the earthen dam for the lower lake. At the top of the dam is a boat rental area. During the warmer months, you can rent paddle boats or canoes to use out on the lake. |
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You can find the tent camping area by crossing a stream and climbing the hill to the right of the headquarters building. The tent camping area is wooded and provides tables and grills. There is also a bath house available.This is a nice spot to camp as a quick weekend outing that is still close to home. |
| If you follow the hiking trail around the right side of the lower lake, you will come to this amphitheater. This is often used by groups camping in the tent camping area. It is also used by groups during summer day camps sponsored at the park. |
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Hiking around the trail that follows along the lake shore of either lake will bring you into contact with lots of local wildlife. The duck at left was one of several swimming along the shoreline. |
| As we walked along the trail, we noticed this gander strutting his stuff for the geese around him. My kids got a chuckle out of watching this guy walking with his chest puffed out while craning his neck around to look at the geese. You can almost see a bit of humanity in animals sometimes! |
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We took this photo of the lower lake after rounding a curve in the trail. You can see the dam for the upper lake and a fishing pier in the background of this picture. The park has a pair of 10 acre lakes that are popular with local fishers. The park even has a tackle loan program for those without fishing gear. |
| As you walk around the lakes, you cross several small streams that feed the lakes. We caught a crayfish when we lifted a rock in this stream. My kids really love playing in streams looking for little critters. We saw a couple of frogs and crayfish on this early spring trip. |
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This is a picture of the upper lake at San-lee park in Sanford, NC. This picture was taken from the bridge over the dam to this lake. The upper lake is usually kept below full pond to allow it to absorb extra water during periods of heavy rain. The upper lake is home to a couple of beaver families and evidence of their work can be seen all along this lake. |
| The pile of mud and sticks by the shore line is home to a beaver family. You can see trees with chew mark on the all along the upper lake. If you look closely you can see the shadows cast by my husband and daughter. |
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This is the sigh at the trail head for the mountain bike trail in San-lee park. The trail is rated as moderate to difficult. This is surprising given that Sanford is in the sandhills and not the mountains, but some of the hills in the park are steep and this trail makes the most of them. |
| This is a picture of the peaceful lakeside chapel at San-lee park in Sanford, NC. The chapel is a nice place to sit and contemplate nature on a quiet afternoon. |
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For large groups, this shelter can be rented out for an afternoon gathering. Smaller groups can use one of the many picnic tables found throughout the park. |
| This is a picture from a bridge overlooking the stream below the lower lake. The field in the right background is a great place to toss a baseball, football, or Frisbee on a warm Carolina afternoon. The main parking lot is in the left background of this picture. |
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The photo at left is a close-up of a Star Magnolia (Magnolia Stellata) bloom on an early spring day at San-Lee park in Sanford, NC. These trees are behind the entrance sign to the park. Star Magnolia trees bloom in the late winter and are sometimes caught by a late frost. The warm weather this year really brought out the beauty of these trees.This is just a small summary of what can be found at San-Lee park in Sanford, NC. Park hours vary by season. You can find out more at the San-Lee park webpage. |
To find out more about homes in Sanford, NC, visit the Sanford NC Neighborhoods page on my website. Whether you are buying a home in Sanford or selling a home in Sanford, contact me to help you!
You can also visit my Sanford NC Homes website for more information about homes in Sanford, Lee County, or Harnett County in North Carolina.
Rita Taylor
ERA Strother Real Estate
Sanford NC Real Estate
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