Explore a forest to find the world’s oldest longleaf pine

Venture into wildlife when you take a walk through Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. The longleaf pine forest in Southern Pines is 900 acres and provides a window into the forests that used to cover millions of acres. The oldest longleaf pine tree here was documented in 2007 to be the oldest in the world – 100 years older than the previously known oldest longleaf pine. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Carolina Tree Ring Science Laboratory confirmed it to be nearly 470 years old. The discovery of the tree will help scientists learn more about climate change and drought cycles, and the forest continues to serve as a hotspot for birding and viewing wildlife. Walk the short trails to explore the ecology of the area or spend some time in quiet reflection. Then check out the exhibits at the visitor’s center for more on the unique history of North Carolina’s State Tree.