The Historic Adams Farm: 200 Years of Agriculture & Ancestry in Holly Springs

Contributed by Michael Villafana, Holly Springs Salamanders General Manager

The story of the Holly Springs Salamanders is closely tied to the remarkable growth and evolution of Holly Springs itself. Since their inaugural season in 2015, the Salamanders have become a centerpiece of summer entertainment and community pride for residents throughout the area.

When it was announced that Holly Springs would receive a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, the Town's population had just surpassed 30,000 residents. Today, Holly Springs is home to nearly 51,000 people — an increase of almost 60% during the decade the Salamanders have called the community home. The team's first General Manager, Tommy Atkinson, believed the Salamanders could become more than just a baseball team. He envisioned a place where parents could bring their children for an affordable night out and where young fans could build connections and find role models among the players on the field.

For more than ten years, the Salamanders have created lifelong memories for children, families, friends, and local businesses alike. Promotional theme nights such as Princess & Pirates Night, Margaritaville Night, Star Wars Night, and Bark in the Park have provided entertainment for fans of all ages. North Main Athletic Complex, formerly known as Ting Stadium, has become a gathering place where Holly Springs residents can enjoy a baseball game, a hot dog, and a cold drink for a fraction of the cost of attending a minor league or Major League Baseball game.

Building the roster has also been a thoughtful process year after year. Salamanders fans have come to expect local representation, with many players having grown up in the Triangle region and several hailing directly from Holly Springs and surrounding communities. The first Salamander ever selected in the Major League Baseball Draft was Andrew Wantz, a graduate of Holly Springs High School. Wantz was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Angels and has since appeared in more than 90 Major League games, providing local fans with a hometown success story to follow.

Prior to the 2018 season, the Salamanders were purchased by Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC), the owners of the Durham Bulls and WRAL. In 2022, CBC acquired the Coastal Plain League itself, reaffirming its commitment to growing the Salamanders and strengthening collegiate summer baseball throughout communities stretching from Virginia to Georgia.

In 2025, the Salamanders celebrated ten years of collegiate summer baseball in Holly Springs. Ahead of the anniversary season, the Town of Holly Springs and the Salamanders announced a ten-year lease extension that will keep the team in Holly Springs through at least the 2035 season.

The Salamanders have become a true staple of the Holly Springs community and are poised to remain one for many years to come. Few towns can offer their residents the opportunity to watch the future stars of Major League Baseball compete in their own backyard, but Holly Springs proudly can.