ROBESONIAN EDITORIAL
Friday was North Carolina Tourism Day, a day for the state and its individual communities to mark the significance of tourism.
Here in Robeson County, we don’t think of our county as a tourism destination, however, tourism provides almost 10% of all jobs in the county, more if you lump in jobs in retail sales.
Data collected by the Robesonian from the North Carolina Department of Commerce shows that an average of 3,502 people are employed in local restaurants and hotels.
Jobs in tourism consistently rank in the top five job sectors in Robeson County,k according to Commerce Department data.
A month or so ago you may have seen the headline that two more major hotel chains are planning to build in lots along the Interstate 95 corridor.
One, a Fairfield Inn, will go up behind the existing Holiday Inn Express on Wintergreen Drive and another, a LaQuinta Inn, at 4450 Kahn Dr.; that’s a piece of vacant land between the IHOP restaurant and the Social Security Building on the I-95 frontage road.
The new hotels are expected to employ several dozen workers between them.
Why such an interest in Lumberton? Location, location, location.
Tourism leaders have figured out that Robeson County is uniquely situated near some popular attractions.
Lumber River State Park
This linear state park begins at the Chalk Banks Access just north of Wagram in Scotland County and winds its way 32 miles to the Princess Anne Access south of Orrum. The Lumber River has federal designation as a National Wild and Scenic River, the only blackwater river in the state to have that honor.
Carolina Civic Center and Historic Theater
This wonderfully restored theater in downtown Lumberton regularly stages talented acts, both from local performers and well known performances from around the country.
Hotels and Restaurants
Lumberton has become the staging area for destinations north, south, east and west. With I-95 bisecting the county, drivers have a number of travel destinations to choose from, making Lumberton an ideal jumping off spot.
Pembroke, home to the UNCP campus and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, sees lots of visitors, especially when the tribe or university has special events.
Lumberton’s Southeastern Agricultural Center has a full calendar year round.
Bladen County, home to Lu Mil Vineyard, White Lake and a number of significant historical sites is a short drive for tourists passing through.
The collection of hotels that have sprung up at the I-95 Exit 22 interchange, are but a few of the hotels that dot the interstate corridor through Lumberton.
Restaurants also have seen changes. Perhaps one of the most popular fast food eateries is Chick fil-A, which opened a second location in Lumberton in September 2023.
Other locally owned restaurants, both fast-food and dine-in, have made Lumberton its home. In fact, if you’re looking for Mexican fare or a chicken dinner, Roberts Avenue in Lumberton has you covered.
If you have any doubt that Lumberton is a tourist destination, now’s a good time to watch spring turning to summer, or rather turn to summer vacation season. Counting out-of-town, even out-of-state license plates reveals just how significant tourism is to Robeson County.
