Granite Quarry offers small-town feel with city access in Rowan County
Granite Quarry is a small town with a population of roughly 3,000 positioned between three of North Carolina’s biggest cities. It sits about 50 miles southeast of Greensboro, 40 miles south of Winston-Salem and 40 miles northeast of Charlotte. “It’s a small town with a really private feel and city amenities,” says Connie Arstark, the President of Arstark & Company, Inc. who sells homes in Granite Quarry. “Locals like the downtown area, the parks and recreation and the small-town community environment,” Arstark says.
A variety of home styles available at a wide range of price points
Granite Quarry has a mix of 20th-century and 21st-century homes available at a range of price points. “The resale market is getting very competitive with new construction,” Arstark says. “A new home has all the bells and whistles, and the new construction market is better because of the direct competition.” Branching out from Main Street and Salisbury Avenue, tree-lined cul-de-sacs are flanked by ranch-style, New Traditional and modern transitional homes. Prices range from about $130,000 to $430,000, depending on size and age, with some outliers on both ends of the price range.
The public school pipeline in Granite Quarry
Rowan-Salisbury Schools, rated B-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students may attend Granite Quarry Elementary and Erwin Middle School, both rated C, before advancing to East Rowan High School, rated C-plus. The high school has just over 1,000 students, and 20% of them participate in Advanced Placement courses. High schoolers interested in career fields like teaching, counseling and hospitality may take classes through the school’s Human Services Academy.
Exercise and family fun at Granite Quarry’s parks
Granite Quarry offers residents a few spots for outdoor recreation. Granite Civic Park has tennis courts, a baseball field and a covered picnic area. Granite Lake Park surrounds a small lake, where kids may spot geese, goldfish and turtles on their way to the playground. The Centennial Nature Trail connects to Granite Lake Park, totaling less than a mile as it winds through the woods. Joggers and dog walkers can take this flat, shaded loop. For outdoor recreation on the weekends, the wider region offers more places to explore. “People go to High Rock Lake, not downtown Charlotte,” Arstark says. “Lake Tillery and Badin Lake are a hop, skip and a jump away, but High Rock Lake is closest.” Popular activities on the lakes include boating, tubing and fishing.
Old Stone House hosts events and honors local history
The town’s name reflects its economic history of granite quarrying; while it’s no longer a major source of employment, local granite is on display at Old Stone House. Michael Braun, a German immigrant and early resident of the town, built the home using local granite in 1766. The house remains the oldest building in the county and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It hosts community events throughout the year, like Germanfest, which celebrates German culture and heritage every September.
Shopping and dining along U.S. Route 52
Some businesses line U.S. Route 52, like a barber shop, a nail salon and The Hotdog Shelf, a roadside pitstop serving burgers and fries in addition to their signature hot dogs. Cagney’s Kitchen is a regional chain serving comfort food like chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, and all-day breakfast. Shoppers can pick up fresh produce at Elium Farm Market, while Aldi in Salisbury offers a wider grocery selection. Chain stores like Walmart Supercenter, Walgreens and Lowe’s Home Improvement are in Salisbury.
Interstate 85 connects Granite Quarry to the wider region
Due to a lack of public transportation in the area, Granit Quarry is heavily car dependent. U.S. Route 52 runs through the center of town, connecting drivers to Interstate 85. Via I-85, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, the nearest hospital, is about 5 miles away and Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 45 miles southwest. The interstate also extends southwest to Charlotte, about 45 miles away, and northeast to Greensboro, about 50 miles away.
