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The Dorton Arena, located on the NC State Fairgrounds, was built to serve agriculture, industry commerce and the general welfare of NC. Earning an international reputation since its construction in 1951, it has been acclaimed as the most significant buildings of late times. Its unique structure affords excellent visibility of the entire floor area from all seats. The innovative design was created by the late Matthew Nowicki while head of the Department of Architecture of NC State University. The building is 300 feet in diameter, elliptic in shape, with central concrete floor 224 feet long and 127 feet wide at the widest point of the ellipse. There are approximately 5,110 permanent seats in the building. The metal asbestos roof, suspended on a network of cables which extend crosswise from the 90 foot parabolic arches, is saddle shaped. The 14 foot wide arches reach a maximum of height of 90 feet. They cross each other at about 26 feet above the ground, then extend into a tunnel below the surface at the east and west ends. The weight of the roof is equalized by tension cables, with fourteen two inch strands connecting each end of the parabola through the stress tunnel. The roof, so suspended, eliminates any necessity for structural steel supports and presents no obstructions of view from any seat. The exterior walls are of gray smoked glass. Support services, such as staging, tables, electrical hookups, etc., are available. Renovated in 2002.

Attractions and Upcoming Events



City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department has 19 community centers, 8 swimming pools, 108 tennis courts (including 23 at Millbrook Exchange Park), 61 softball fields (including 9 at Walnut Creek Softball Complex), 4 lakes and approximately 40 miles of greenway trails. Call 890-3285

Raleigh, NC Businesses


Lake Wheeler Metropolitan Park

A highly popular metropolitan lake park (650-acre lake and 150 acres of park with land buffer)

Raleigh, NC Lakes

Things to do near Raleigh, NC

Travel Resorts of America's Sycamore Lodge

Located 70 miles south of Raleigh, NC and 90 miles east of Charlotte, the turn-of-the-century Sycamore Lodge and private camp...

Hardee's

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High Point Country Club -Willow Creek

Course Access: PrivateHoles: 18Reserve Advance Tee Times: 7 days...

Happy Traveler Inn

Located at I-85 exit 76A near several restaurants, the Happy Traveler Inn offers nice rooms at a good price. Convenient to: C...

Gillespie Golf Course

Carved out of 85 acres, Gillespie Golf Course provides a challenging 9-hole layout for golfers at all levels of skill. The cl...