Let’s go Hunting in Log Pond … Um, I Mean Apex.

Did you know Apex, the growing town southwest of Raleigh, used to be called “Log Pond?”

That’s according to local history buff Bob Crowley, who I had the pleasure of dining with this afternoon.

You see, in the mid-1800s, Apex was nothing more than piney woods with a mucky pond (the fire station in downtown Apex sits on the site of the former pond), Crowley explained. Residents from nearby towns used to go to the log pond to hunt, so Apex became known as “Log Pond” as in: “Hey, I’m going to Log Pond to go huntin’.”

The town earned the name Apex shortly after planning began for the Chatham Railroad, during the late 1850s, early 1860s. The guy designing the route noted that Log Pond was located at the top of an appx. 15-mile incline, so it would be necessary to have the train stop there so it could take a break after the upward trek. So the guy circled the area known to locals as Log Pond and wrote “Apex” on the map.

There’s a lot more to it than that, and Crowley knows all about it. He’s helping with the creation of the town’s new cultural center, which is set to open Jan. 11, so he’s been researching the town’s history. He also volunteers for the New Hope Valley Railway, which offers scenic train rides for $9. I learned a lot about Apex today. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s worth checking out.