Quiet, rural setting near all the action of North Wilkesboro
Cricket is a rural-residential community bordering the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. It’s a peaceful, quiet setting primarily made up of single-family homes and spacious, grassy lots. “I find it to be a beautiful area,” says Michelle Hammond, the owner of Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, who has worked in Cricket. While the community contains no restaurants, schools or parks and has limited retail, errands are a short drive away. “It’s so close to town, but still has more of a country feel. When you get into Wilkesboro, you have all the restaurants and shopping; you have a larger mall than even Blowing Rock or Boone has. There’s an Aldi and an Olive Garden, and the raceway,” Hammond says.
The raceway is called the North Wilkesboro Speedway, and it has a unique history. In the mid-20th century, moonshine production – an illegal yet economically significant trade – thrived in Wilkes County. The most successful moonshine runners had to skillfully maneuver cars to evade capture. They needed to practice driving, and sometimes, they even raced for fun. An official racetrack was built in 1946, and soon, car racing replaced the moonshine industry as a major economic driver in the region. Today, the North Wilkesboro Speedway is an event venue seating about 25,000 with surrounding campgrounds that accommodate thousands more. A short drive from Cricket, the speedway primarily hosts NASCAR races.
The rural residences of Cricket
Cricket’s preponderance of trees and open fields creates a lush, green setting, especially in the summer. Some lots span over 20 acres, while others are smaller, fenced-in yards. Most of the community’s bungalows and ranch-style homes were built between the 1930s and 1970s. Prices typically range from about $100,000 to $430,000.
Students are zoned for Wilkes County Schools
Wilkes County Schools, rated A-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students living in the western part of Cricket may attend schools in the district based in Millers Creek. Millers Creek Elementary and West Wilkes Middle are both rated A-minus, while West Wilkes High is rated B-plus. In 2025, the high school brought home state championships for girls’ softball and men’s golf. Wilkes County Schools in Wilkesboro serve the eastern part of Cricket.
Shopping and dining in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro
David’s Market carries a limited selection of groceries in Cricket. Otherwise, retailers, restaurants, car dealerships and medical offices are a short drive away in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. Pa Paw’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant is a popular, laid-back spot serving potato salad, burgers and, of course, barbecue. U.S. Route 421 is a commercial corridor lined with chain restaurants and retailers like Olive Garden, Walmart Supercenter and Kohl’s. Every October, over 100,000 people flock to downtown North Wilkesboro for apple cider, apple pie, live music and dancing at the free Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. Centered around the regional apple harvest, the one-day festival brings together foodies and art lovers alike for one of the biggest fundraisers in the county.
Outdoor recreation in Wilkesboro
For outdoor fun, residents can head to Cub Creek Park in Wilkesboro. Spanning over 200 acres, Cub Creek Park includes courts for basketball, tennis and pickleball in addition to a playground, dog park and six baseball fields. The Cub Creek Stream flows throughout the park, which has been restored to support a thriving trout population. Walking trails extend from the park and will eventually connect to the Yadkin River Greenway. Currently, the greenway totals about 8 miles throughout Wilkesboro. The paths are mostly paved, and occasionally parallel the Yadkin River, where hikers may spot wildlife like turtles and birds.
Driving through Wilkes County
Boone Trail runs through Cricket, connecting it to Millers Creek and to the nearest hospital, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – Wilkes Medical Center in Wilkesboro. U.S. Route 421 stretches west toward the North Carolina-Tennessee border and east toward Winston-Salem. “421 is right there, which takes you straight up to the High Country,” Hammond says. Cricket is about 90 miles north of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
