Blue Ridge feels remote, surrounded by farmland and mountains
Blue Ridge is a small town in Virginia that shares a name with one of the state’s most famous geographic features. “People often confuse the Blue Ridge Mountain region with the town of Blue Ridge,” says Realtor Rose Dudley of Lichtenstein Rowan Realtors, who has 25 years of experience in the area. “The town is this tiny area between Roanoke and Bedford, and it’s split between two counties. There are many large tracts of land that have been in local families for years. Several farms close by have only just started selling. When you’re there, it’s like you’re swallowed up by mountains. You feel like you’re very rural, but you can be right in the heart of the city within 20 minutes.”
Homes in Blue Ridge often sit on large lots
Homes in Blue Ridge vary widely. Ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals, midcentury modern cabins and Modern Traditional builds all populate the wooded hills around the main drag, sitting on lots that can range in size from a half-acre to almost three. “A lot of it is larger, wooded lots,” Dudley says. “There’s starting to be some new development. It used to be absolutely nothing, but within the last 5 years, some homes in newer subdivisions have started selling.” Homes can cost around $200,000 to $800,000, depending on build year, lot size and number of bedrooms. Some larger homes on multi-acre lots can fetch prices over $1 million.
Blue Ridge schools rate well across grade levels
Children in Blue Ridge are zoned to attend Botetourt County Public Schools, which earn an overall A-minus from Niche. Colonial Elementary is the closest primary school, receiving an A-minus. Read Mountain Middle, located in Cloverdale, also scores an A-minus. Lord Boutetourt High School, home of the Cavaliers, scores a B-plus.
Creeks, mountain trails and sports fields in and around Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Park offers basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a multipurpose athletic field and a small playground for locals to enjoy time outdoors. There are also baseball diamonds at Boxley Fields. Trout and bass fishing in nearby ponds and creeks is a popular pastime, as is hiking in the mountains. The area’s longstanding farmland provides recreation opportunities. “Jeter Farm, off of Highway 460, has been around forever,” Dudley says. “It’s been in the same family since 1853, and every autumn they have a Fall Festival that draws tons of people to the area.” The festival includes a pumpkin patch, a country store and tractor rides through the fields.
U.S. 460 and Interstate 81 ensure access to Roanoke and other cities
U.S. Route 460 is Blue Ridge's main thoroughfare, connecting the area to major cities like Roanoke and, eastward, Petersburg and Richmond. “You’re also about 15 minutes from Interstate 81, which will take you to Tennessee and West Virginia,” Dudley says. “Following U.S. Highway 220 will get you to North and South Carolina, and Alternate 220 goes right to Daleville. So even though it feels very remote while you’re there, you can get pretty much anywhere without trouble.”
Villa Pizzeria is a locally beloved takeout option
The closest supermarket to Blue Ridge is the Food Lion along Blue Ridge Boulevard. The shopping center a few miles further is home to a Lowe’s Home Improvement and a Walmart Supercenter for weekend projects and household necessities. There are also casual eateries, such as Applebee’s. Closer to home is Villa Pizzeria, a locally owned community staple for takeout. “Villa Pizzeria is great. It’s very popular among locals,” Dudley says. “For other restaurants, people will either go down to Roanoke or over to Daleville. There are lots of great, underrated restaurants there.”
