A Short Tour
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Will Hooker
As you enter the Dix property from Bilyeu St. (opposite the Circle K across Ashe Ave. from Pullen Park), Bilyeu will turn into Barbour Dr. as it enters the hospital grounds to the left.
Traveling up the hill on your left is a wonderful oak forest in what used to be known as Kendall Circle. Just beyond this grove a bit, there’s a fairly big parking lot that is sunken below the level of the road on the left. Looking out over this parking lot is, many believe, the best view of the downtown Raleigh skyline in all of Raleigh. It is especially magical at sunset, with the light twinkling off the windows in the tall office buildings. There are many moods to seen from this vantage point.
Traveling along Barbour, there are large oaks on either side of the fairly narrow drive; this is called an “alee”.
Still on Barbour Dr., at the intersection of Blair (there is construction of the Food Shuttle’s transfer warehouse on the right), the big field kitty-corners to the left is almost unique in Raleigh. It is a unique big, fairly flat field, about 45 acres, broken only by one old tree in the middle. Here, people fly model airplanes, kites; throw Frisbees, play pick up field games and the K-9 corps trains their dogs.
Entering Dix from Western Blvd, on the drive just opposite Boylan Ave., leads to any number of buildings directly ahead. The intent now is to make one of the stone buildings, directly ahead and to the right, into a museum dedicated to Dorothea Dix and mental health.
Taking the very first left immediately after entering the property, will lead down into a parking lot, with the asphalt greenway path heading out to the east from there. A short distance down that path on the right is a multi-colored gazebo set on the western fringe of a large, flat plain of lawn. This is a favorite place for dog walkers, picnickers, etc.
The slopes above grassy plain are covered in large, stately oaks, a beautiful site in themselves; but the slopes also become the main sledding place for folks whenever there’s a good snowfall. This hillside is a treasured memory of anyone who grew up in Raleigh.
There are interesting tidbits of history throughout the grounds for instance the bridge over the creek just opposite Boylan Ave. was where the City of Raleigh surrendered to Sherman during the Civil War.
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