Living right outside the largest army base in the world
Spring Lake is a Cumberland County city that directly neighbors Fort Bragg, the largest army base in the world. The town was incorporated in 1951 and grew alongside Fort Bragg. World War II led to a significant population increase for the base and Spring Lake, as soldiers were stationed at the base to train in parachuting and become paratroopers — some of whom were a part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division that still operates today.
Spring Lake may be small, but its convenience for military members is unmatched. “I think the accessibility to Fort Bragg is a big draw,” says Marva Lucas-Moore, the broker and owner of LucasMoore Realty. “It has a hometown feel with big-town access. I’m actually from Spring Lake, and my family still lives there. I loved it. It’s very family-oriented, and you really get to know people in the community.”
Fort Bragg is the world's largest Army base, it borders Spring Lake to the West.
Spring Lake proudly honors the men and women of the U.S. Special Operations Command based at Fort Bragg.
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Short commutes to base and downtown Fayetteville
Fort Bragg employs a large portion of residents in Spring Lake and Cumberland County as a whole. Health care is another leading industry, and Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation is roughly 13 miles south, about a 20-minute trip by car.
Residents rely on their cars to get around. Bragg Boulevard leads to base and military housing, while state Route 24 winds up to the civilian side of town. The Fayetteville Regional Airport is about 15 miles south and offers flights through Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Most places of worship in the city are churches, but Fort Bragg has chapels, synagogues and temples for almost every faith.
Living close to base is convenient, but it comes with hearing helicopters and explosions during field training. The distant explosions can also cause homes to shake. Fort Bragg announces these sound-inducing events through social media and local news outlets.
Lots of Spring Lake residents work for Cape Fear Valley Healthcare, the county's 2nd largest employer.
NC-24 & NC-87 help connect Spring Lake to Fort Bragg to Fayetteville and beyond.
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Renting on base or owning homes off base
Spring Lake’s city limits surround the area immediately outside Fort Bragg, but homes with Spring Lake addresses extend into Harnett County in the north. Corvias manages 10 on-base neighborhoods that are west of Route 24, each with community centers and maintenance teams. Anyone who wants to live off base can find apartment complexes and homes north of Fort Bragg. “If people know they’re not going to be here long, they prefer to rent,” Lucas-Moore says. “They buy if they’re going to be here for a little bit. I do see an influx of people buying in the near future if the interest rate drops.”
Craftsmans, bungalows and ranch-style homes are most popular. Properties that are closest to base were often built around the 1960s or 1980s, while homes in Harnett County are from the 1990s to early 2000s. The median price is around $289,000, much lower than the $406,100 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors.
Ranch homes are one of the popular home styles in Spring Lake.
There are many neighborhoods in Spring Lake with Neo-Colonial homes available.
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Learning in Cumberland County Schools
Spring Lake is in the Cumberland County Schools district, which earns a B from Niche. The city has two elementary schools and one middle school, not including the on-base school options under the Department of Defense Education Activity.
Pine Forest High School in Spring Lake offers a variety of courses to prepare students for graduation.
Spring Lake Middle School offers various sporting activities in Lake Pines.
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State Route 24 restaurants and Cross Creek Mall
Locally owned Thai restaurants, auto shops and chain restaurants line Route 24, and most businesses in town are army surplus stores. Anyone who wants to shop or dine out drives 15 miles south to Cross Creek Mall or 10 miles to downtown Fayetteville.
Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville is a 15 minute drive from Spring Lake.
There are a plenty of award winning Asian restaurants that call Spring Lake home.
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Community events to bring military and civilians together
First Friday on Main happens every October with live music, food trucks and vendors. It’s a time for the community to get together and meet new neighbors. The Fort Bragg Fairgrounds are dedicated to the two-week-long Fort Bragg Fair every May. Military members and Department of Defense contractors get discounted admission, and the event is open to the public. The price of admission covers access to carnival rides and live music shows.
Parks
There are on- and off-base recreation options. Fort Bragg has Wilson Park and Flightline Park, while Spring Lake has the Edward Mendoza Municipal Park and Carvers Creek State Park. “Carvers Creek State Park has walking trails, and people go there for kayaking. Spring Lake also has a gun range that people go to,” Lucas-Moore says. Carvers Creek State Park features trails for walking, biking and hiking, and Long Valley Farm’s lake is open for fishing.
Near Spring Lake you can go fishing in designated areas of the Smith Lake Recreation Area.
Carvers Creek State Park in Spring Lake has miles of hiking and biking trails.
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Crime
According to FBI data, the Spring Lake Police Department had a 12% increase in property crimes and an 8% decrease in violent crimes between 2022 and 2023.
Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Lawrence Hiatt
Video By
Mark Tilley
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
QUENTIN TOLLIVER,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Spring Lake, NC sell after 56 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Spring Lake, NC over the last 12 months is $305,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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