Good morning. The red antique tractor sitting proudly at Sweet Valley Ranch, a 300-plus-acre farm in Fayetteville, tells a story that stretches back generations.
It belonged to the ranch owner’s grandfather, a sharecropper who worked his own land out of necessity, loaning that same tractor to neighbors when times got tough.
Today, that tractor stands as a monument to how far love can carry a family and how the value of community spans generations.
And the love at the heart of Sweet Valley Ranch starts between Fred and Anita Surgeon, the owners of the ranch, and their acres of Cumberland County countryside. What began as a USDA-licensed meat processing farm has evolved into a ranch where 350-plus animals thrive alongside thousands of visitors who discover its magic each year.
Sweet Valley Ranch offers everything from ATV adventures to haunted attractions and luxury cabin retreats, the ranch’s newest offering. More in today’s lead story from our September “Fall in Fayetteville” magazine.
Welcome to CityView Today. In today’s newsletter, find our list of town halls with municipal election candidates, two of which are happening today for District 1 and District 8. And Senior Columnist Bill Kirby Jr. says farewell to actor Randy Boone. The Fayetteville native, who portrayed a ranch hand for three seasons on The Virginian series, passed away at 83 on Aug. 28. Plus, in my monthly column, I introduce you to everything in our September magazine.
Thanks for reading,
Valeria Cloës
Magazine Editor & Lead Copy Editor
Sweet Valley Ranch opens its doors to overnight guests
From its popular Dinosaur World attraction to its Backwoods Terror Ranch, the co-owners, Fred and Anita Surgeon, now offer cozy cabins to enjoy the approaching fall weather
More from CityView
A list of town halls with municipal election candidates
CityView compiled a list of upcoming town halls and candidate forums leading up to Cumberland County’s municipal elections on Nov. 4.
THE KIRBY FILE: For the ‘last singing cowboy’ with the shy and boyish grin, Fayetteville forever was home
Clyde Randy Boone, an inductee to the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame, portrayed a ranch hand for three seasons on ‘The Virginian’ Western series. Boone, 83, died Aug. 28.
CityView’s September “Fall in Fayetteville” magazine bids farewell to summer and welcomes fall
The magazine will be available on newsstands across Cumberland County this month.
Events
PEAR-FECT SUNDAY AT JAMES CREEK CIDER HOUSE
- Where: James Creek Cider House, 172 U.S. 1, Cameron
- When: 1-5 p.m. today
- What: Come shop local vendors and artisans, enjoy live music and local food trucks and sip award-winning cider while you shop!
METROPOLIS SCREENING WITH LIVE METAL SCORE BY THE SILENT NIGHT
- Where: Cameo Art House Theatre, 225 Hay St., Fayetteville
- When: 8-10 p.m. today
- What: Experience Fritz Lang’s 1927 science fiction masterpiece “Metropolis” like never before, reimagined with a blistering live metal score by The Silent Light.
TAI CHI IN THE GARDEN
- Where: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
- When: 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9
- What: A Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics with very slow controlled movements taught by Rich Martin.
Obituaries
Jean Jacmel Cyril
Jean Jacmel Cyril, 66, of Lumberton, passed away on Monday, Sept. 1.
Kathy Elaine Floyd
Kathy Elaine Floyd, 57, of Lumberton, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Carolyn Elveter Epps
Carolyn Elveter Epps, 83, of Fayetteville, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Until tomorrow!
🚧 From tomorrow until Friday, a section of Ray Avenue between Hay Street and Maiden Lane will be temporarily closed for sidewalk repairs. “During this period, Ray Avenue will be completely inaccessible to vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the specified intersections,” according to a city press release. “Detour signs will be installed to accommodate traffic flow.” For more information, click here.
~ Valeria
