Raven Rock State Park occupies a fall-line landscape along the Cape Fear River near Lillington, where ancient stone formed more than 400 million years ago was exposed by erosion into the towering Raven Rock outcrop. Long used by Siouan and Tuscarora peoples and later by settlers, the area became important for river travel and crossings in the 19th century, with the Northington Ferry and nearby locks and dams serving regional movement until a hurricane destroyed them in 1859. Preservation efforts led to the park’s establishment in 1969, and it has since expanded into a major recreation area while retaining historic remains and prominent river views.