Fort Fisher improvements in the works

FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — Plans are underway for a new visitor center here at Fort Fisher State Historic Site. The new center would include more educational space and room for exhibits.

The Friends of Fort Fisher group commissioned a panel of experts to put together a Master Plan of improvements for the site.

“It encompasses many improvements that when completed will put Fort Fisher in the top tier of heritage tourism sites,” said executive director Paul Laird.

Phase one of that plan includes a new and improved visitor center, two to three times the size of the current one, with classrooms and exhibit space to display artifacts that currently have to sit in storage.

“We must do everything that we can to save what is left of our local history and our southern heritage,” said Rep. Ted Davis.

As soon as the capital projects department in Raleigh puts together a scope for the plans, they will look at proposals and select a team. The Friends are hoping to have a proposal selected in about a year.

A current rough estimate for the visitor center project is between $8-10 million.