Sylvan Heights Bird Park - NCTIA Visitor Attraction of the Year

On December 5, 2024, the North Carolina Travel Industry Association Industry awarded its highest honor to Sylvan Bird Park at their meeting in Durham, NC.  The North Carolina Visitor Attraction of the Year is awarded for outstanding contribution to the development of tourism in North Carolina.  "We could not be more proud of our partner Sylvan Heights Bird Park for achieving the honor,” said Lori Medlin, President of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau—the Bureau nominated Sylvan Heights Bird Park for the honor.

The following is an expert from the nomination:

Founded in 1989 by internationally renowned aviculturists Mike and Ali Lubbock, Sylvan Heights began as a breeding center.  The couple started their work in North America, caring for more than 2,500 individual birds, including over 1,000 hatchlings reared each year.  The Lubbocks were drawn to North Carolina for its mild climate and location on the east coast.  Many people stopped by to see what was happening at the breeding center.  Groups requested tours.  Finally, the Lubbocks decided they must find a way to share these birds with the public.  Sylvan Heights Bird Park was born.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park houses the world's most extensive waterfowl collection and the second-largest bird collection in the United States. The center is also the avicultural training site for conservation-oriented avian biologists. Every year, wildlife professionals from the nation's zoos and nature centers come to learn advanced techniques through the Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry Program.

Today, Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck is on everyone's North Carolina Bucket List.  You will discover the world's most extensive collection of rare and endangered waterfowl there.  Sylvan Heights allows visitors to see over 2,500 birds from around the globe, from ducks, geese, and swans to parrots, pheasants, cranes, owls, toucans, flamingos, and much more.  Visitors of all ages and interests can walk through continentally-themed aviaries, experiencing these creatures' diverse beauty, color, and sound.  For an even more interactive experience, guests can feed parakeets and flamingos in the Landing Zone exhibit.  An amazing handicapped-accessible treehouse overlooks the natural wetlands, and the Beaver Pond Blind allows visitors to get closer to North Carolina's native wildlife.  They offer regularly scheduled educational programming and special events.  Tours are self-guided, but guided tours are also available by appointment.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park has continued to grow, with visitation numbers reaching over 62,000 in FY2023-2024.  Even during the pandemic, they leveraged their outdoor experience as a safe place to visit to keep visitors coming to the park.  After all, everything is for the birds.  Sylvan Heights Bird Park's focus is on education and conservation programs.  They accomplish this through park admission & membership, fundraising events, and seeking sponsorships.

The park anchors the town of Scotland Neck, attracting travelers from around the globe to visit this small town.  The Halifax County CVB Partnered with the Town of Scotland Neck to embrace the park by adding flags with photos of birds from the conservation, leading visitors down Main Street towards the Bird Park.  At the Town Commons mid-way through town, where many events are held, a large mural painted by Napolean Hill shows birds and landscapes from Sylvan Heights.

The Lubbocks did not stop there!  Their son Brent Lubbock grew up at the park and today serves as the Director of Operations.  He reaches out on a regional and state level to partner to promote the park and STEM Studies across North Carolina.  Brent sits on the boards of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Scotland Neck Business Association and is the Chair of Roanoke River Partners.  Brent is the Chair of the Board and president of the North Carolina Science Network, providing expertise in conservation, marketing, and tourism to the surrounding area.

Open to the public since October 2006, the 18-acre facility features spacious walk-through aviaries displaying birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The aviaries are surrounded by tranquil gardens and lush natural areas, which enhance the beauty of the birds on exhibit and immerse visitors in native North Carolina wildlife habitat.

In October 2023, Sylvan Heights Bird Park founders Mike Lubbock and Ali Lubbock were each inducted into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.  The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest civilian honor given in North Carolina.  The Governor awards it to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the state and its citizens.

In April 2024, Mike Lubbock was awarded the prestigious honor of an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III to acknowledge his outstanding services for the Global Wildlife Conservation of Water Birds. In September 2024, Mike Lubbock passed away. The overwhelming international response to his passing has led to the first annual World Waterfowl Day being planned for Mike’s birthday, January 17, 2025. 

Sylvan Heights Bird Park will stop at nothing to provide for their noble cause and grow visitation to this underserved part of North Carolina.  From creating a large event pavilion to furnishing a live peacock for NBC's transition on our regional TV stations to maintaining an interactive experience like The Landing Zone that spoils us compared to similar experiences elsewhere, from beak to tail, Sylvan Heights Bird Park is our nomination for attraction of the year!