Deaths: Whirligig Artist-- Part 2; Whirligig Park in Wilson, N.C.

Vollis Simpson built the contraptions at his machine shop near Lucama (by Wilson, NC) and until last year, nearly 30 were on display at his property, when an effort to restore them started.

Put this on your Road Calendar of things to do, the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is scheduled to open in Wilson this November. I'll definitely check this out on one of my trips home.

He built his first whirligig while stationed overseas in World War II, but it was stolen. After a life of farming, he began building whirligigs in earnest in the 1980s. People, even from foreign countries, sought him out to talk about his creations.

For you Route 66 folk, one of his creations is at a shopping center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Four of them were on display at the 1996 Olympics.

Quite the Guy.  --Cooter