Dunn

Meadow is a rural township situated between Johnston County and Harnett County. “It’s a quiet country neighborhood,” says Faith Byrd, a long-time resident who works for the Dunn Area Tourism Authority. “There are plenty of opportunities for hunting, fishing and spending time outside, and numerous towns are nearby. Depending on their location in the neighborhood, people will go to Dunn and Newton Grove for activities and restaurants or up to Benson and Four Oaks for shopping and events,” Byrd says. Encompassing 45 square miles of North Carolina countryside, the area offers views of forests, small ponds and neat rows of vegetable crops at every turn. In Meadow, homebuyers can find new homes on large lots for lower prices compared to neighborhoods around cities like Raleigh or Fayetteville. There are no sidewalks, but houses tend to sit on large grass lots separated by oak and pines trees, offering personal outdoor space. “Many people move here from Raleigh to live a slower life and buy a house with a yard to start putting down roots. Developers are coming in to meet the demand for new houses,” Byrd says. These new builds are predominantly ranch-style homes featuring modern finishings and open floorplans, but ranches built in the mid-20th century are also available. Home prices depend on modern finishings and lot size, ranging between $235,000 and $470,000. However, in Meadow, open lots for those hoping to build their own home are more commonly on the market. The Johnston County Public School District serves the neighborhood. Students in grades prekindergarten through eighth grade may attend Meadow School, which earns a B rating from Niche. Afterward, students can attend C-plus-rated South Johnston High. The high school has a career center that helps students enroll in technical education classes and find internship and scholarship opportunities. Those wanting to explore trails that offer views of diverse habitats, including hardwood forests and ponds, can drive to Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Four Oaks, located 6 miles from the northern part of the neighborhood. Combining nature and education, the park offers maps of birding trails and informational nature walks. Campsites, fishing spots and horseback riding trails offer residents quality time outdoors. In Dunn, located 8 miles from the western edge of Meadow, Clarence Lee Tart Memorial Park features baseball diamonds and soccer fields for youth sports, and a children’s playground. Every May, Tucker Lake in Benson becomes a hot spot to cool off. In Dunn, residents can stop by a shopping center with a Food Lion and a Family Dollar for groceries and essentials. Fresh produce and locally made products are available every Saturday from May to November at the Dunn Farmers Market. Vintage stores and other local retailers are in historic Downtown Benson, while Four Oaks has businesses like Stanfield’s General Store. Newton Grove restaurants offer closer dining options for those living in the southern part of Meadow. Casual eateries like the family-owned and operated Old Store Café serve large southern breakfasts with country-style ham and farm-fresh eggs. And Taqueria Mexicana Angel serves authentic tacos on homemade tortillas. In the northern part of the neighborhood, residents can opt for Meadow Village Restaurant, a southern-style buffet serving unlimited seafood. During the summer, fans can watch auto racing around the track at GALOT Motorsports Park, located a mile from the neighborhood's western edge. Meadow Lights, a 30-acre display of holiday lights featuring train rides through lighting displays and an Old Country store selling candy, is open seasonally. Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center hosts educational programs and festivals. The area is very car-dependent, and locals drive to access amenities and facilities. Interstate 40 travels through the neighborhood and connects to Interstate 95. Heading north for 40 miles on I-40 takes residents to Raleigh and traveling 30 miles south on I-95 leads to Fayetteville. Depending on location in the neighborhood, residents could travel 10 miles to Betsy Johnson Hospital, 14 miles to South Johnston High School and 17 miles to the nearest Walmart, which is in Erwin. There are many houses of worship in the neighborhood including Holly Grove Church and Hickory Grover Church on the western side. On the other side is New Zealand PFWB Church, Long Branch Disciples of Christ Church and Hood’s Grove Baptist Church.