Rural living outside of Mount Airy in Ararat
Ararat shares its name with the Biblical mountains where Noah’s Ark rested during a worldwide flood, a fitting name for this Virginia community of summits and ridges bordering the North Carolina state line. Residents live spaced out among the hilly terrain, but they stay connected through forums such as the community Facebook page. Locals advertise the farm-fresh eggs they’re selling, shout out upcoming events and warn about road conditions on mountain passes. Meanwhile, the closest signs of city life are about 5 miles south in Mount Airy.
Roomy properties in the Patrick County countryside
Houses are spread out across the community, usually built on lots of 1 to 5 acres. Ranch homes and Colonial Revivals sit on open yards along highways, from which long driveways peel off and lead to cabins and cottages on wooded properties. Prices typically vary from about $140,000 to $525,000, with houses on larger tracts of land commanding higher prices.
Ararat’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Outings to Dan River Park and weekend races at the BullRing
Dan River Park hosts youth baseball games and family-friendly movie screenings in the summer. A playground, tennis court and basketball court are clustered in the center of the park, with a soccer field on the south end. On the weekends, people can catch late model and modified stock cars race around the Ararat BullRing’s dirt track. Hiking in Ararat can be difficult due to a lack of marked trails. However, hikers and cyclists can find miles of trails in the nearby communities of Stuart and Meadows of Dan.
Located in the Patrick County Public Schools district
Children in kindergarten through seventh grade can attend Blue Ridge Elementary in the heart of Ararat; the school gets an A-minus grade from Niche. Students may take classes at B-rated Patrick County High School, about 15 miles east of Ararat, from eighth through 12th grade. The high school offers more than 20 sports, including a fishing team.
Jamming at Willis Gap Community Center
The Willis Gap Community Center opens its doors on Friday evenings, hosting open band jams. The nights start with soda and chili dogs, followed by singing and dancing along to bluegrass and oldies tunes.
Restaurants in Ararat but other businesses are farther away
Red Rooster Cafe turned Ararat’s original post office into a restaurant serving pizza, burgers and barbecue. The cafe operates a mini amusement park with spinning carnival rides and a merry-go-round. Across the street from Blue Ridge Elementary, Boyd’s Restaurant serves comfort food in a small brick diner. Locals can get their apples directly from area farms such as Flemings Orchard and Windy Hill Orchards. Meanwhile, Willis Gap General Store sells gas, seasonal produce, sweets and pantry items. For a wider grocery selection, shoppers head east to the Walmart in Stuart or south to the Food Lion in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The birthplace of actor Andy Griffith, Mount Airy is considered the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry, and it draws frequent visitors to the shops and eateries along Main Street.
Nearby highways lead throughout Virginia and to North Carolina
Virginia state Route 773 rambles through Ararat, eventually crossing into North Carolina and leading to Mount Airy. About 12 miles west of the community, drivers can access Interstate 77, which runs north to Interstate 81 and south to Charlotte.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
