ROPER — One of Washington County’s most unique destinations is preparing to welcome visitors from across the region after earning national recognition as one of the country’s favorite camping destinations.
The Spruill Conservation Farm will host its Fourth Annual Fig Festival on Saturday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug. 2, offering two days of activities celebrating the farm’s unique fig orchard, local history and natural beauty along the Albemarle Sound.
The festival comes just weeks after Hipcamp, an online camping platform, named Spruill Conservation Farm one of its “50 Favorite Places to Camp in America Right Now.” The list highlights standout camping destinations across the country based on guest experiences, hospitality and unique outdoor settings.
“The Spruill Conservation Farm is thrilled to be featured as one of Hipcamp’s 50 Favorite Places,” said Julia Townsend, owner of Spruill Conservation Farm. “Since the farm came under the management of The Peanut Factory as a conservation easement in 2023, the ongoing mission has been to provide research, education and access, alongside sustainable agriculture.”
Townsend said Hipcamp gives campers year-round access to the shoreline of the Albemarle Sound, while the annual Fig Festival showcases one of the farm’s signature attractions — an orchard of more than 50 fig trees representing more than 20 varieties, including the original Spruill Family Heritage fig and many varieties planted by the late Jack Spruill, whose donation helped preserve the property.
The festival begins Saturday with a morning focused on wellness and outdoor recreation. Activities include dawn yoga, Tai Chi, a grounding workshop, a waterfront fig pancake breakfast, swimming, paddling and the Fig Quest, a scavenger-style adventure through the orchard and surrounding woods.
Sunday’s celebration shifts to food, music and family activities with fresh fig tastings, a fig bake-off and cook-off, live music by Crab Pot Creek, cooking demonstrations by award-winning chef Cheryl Orr, children’s activities, guided walks, local history presentations and vendors featuring fig-inspired products.
The farm’s wooded trails are named in honor of African Americans who lived and worked on the property over the years, reflecting the site’s agricultural and cultural history.
Admission is free both days, although advance registration and a participation fee are required for some Saturday activities. Organizers also welcome volunteers, who may camp on the property free of charge from July 31 through Aug. 2 while assisting with the festival.
The Spruill Conservation Farm is at 767 Spruill Loop Road in Roper. Organizers note that the road is unpaved and recommend searching “Spruill Conservation Farm” in GPS applications for easier navigation.
More information, event registration and dinner reservations are available at thepeanutfactory.org.
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