Hollins, Virginia, is an unincorporated Roanoke County community of about 16,000 residents. Just north of the city of Roanoke and perched in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, it's home to Hollins University, a historic women’s college known for its strong liberal arts programs. A mostly suburban area, Hollins is undergoing revitalization through the Hollins Center Plan, which focuses on economic development, transportation improvements and community enhancements. With projects like expanding the Wells Fargo customer support center, Hollins is evolving into a more vibrant and accessible part of the Roanoke Valley. “You don’t need to have acres and acres of land to enjoy the area,” says Realtor Jessica Rossello with Divine Fog Realty, who lives in the Roanoke Valley. “It’s people who want to go outside and have that lifestyle.”
Situated near multiple natural locations, Hollins is the perfect place to live if you're a nature lover.
Hollins's downtown is mostly commercial and lacks the charm of many small Virginian cities, but proximity to Roanoke makes Hollins a desirable community.
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Blue Ridge outdoor experiences
Hollins experiences warm summers, winter snowfall and temperate weather during the other seasons. With a location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's surrounded by hiking, camping and fishing areas. “The Roanoke Valley has been named one of the best places to raise an outdoor family or to hike,” Rossello says. Within Hollins, Walrond Park spans about 50 acres and has a spring-fed pond and scenic mountain views. Songbirds and waterfowl flock to the water while kids run around the playground or sports fields. The Star City Soap Box Derby is also held at Walrond Park, home to the state's only dedicated soapbox tracks. In the fall, children race down a hill in brightly colored handmade cars powered only by gravity. Nearby Hollins Park and Brookside Park are smaller, with playgrounds, sports fields and walking trails. A section of the Tinker Creek Greenway runs through Hollins, connecting Hollins University to Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, a nearly 13,000-acre conservation area just north. The nation’s second-largest municipal park, Carvins Cove has a 630-acre freshwater reservoir stocked with largemouth bass and sunfish. Visitors can wander miles of trails through hardwood and mixed pine forests.
Brookside Park has soccer fields and a playground, making it popular with local kids.
Walrond Park has pickleball courts, walking trails and baseball fields.
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Hollins Center Plan brings economic development
A few shops and restaurants are scattered throughout Hollins, but most residents travel to nearby Roanoke for weekend dinners or shopping trips. The indoor Valley View Mall, just south of Hollins, features a variety of retailers and is surrounded by commercial amenities.
The Hollins Center Plan, however, hopes to bring economic development to Hollins itself, improve infrastructure and create a more walkable and bikeable environment. Construction continues on new businesses, and transportation improvements can be found around Williamson Road and Plantation Road, where a 10-foot paved pedestrian path now connects to Walrond Park. Looking ahead, the plan includes the development of the Roanoke County Career and Technology Center, slated to open in the fall of 2026; a remodeling of the Hollins Library; and continued updates to transportation infrastructure. Wells Fargo is also investing significantly in the Hollins area, allocating nearly $90 million to modernize and expand its customer support center on Plantation Road. The expansion is expected to create approximately 1,100 new jobs and enhance the work environment for over 1,650 employees. “As a whole, there is a lot of economic development in and around the Roanoke Valley,” Rossello says.
Hollins has a small public library, one of the few city amenities that can be found on Route 11.
A walking path runs along Plantation Rd which connects Hollins residents without cars to downtown businesses.
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Highly rated Roanoke County Public Schools and Hollins University
Hollins is zoned for Roanoke County Public Schools, a district that receives an A from Niche and has 17 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools and a specialty center. Hollins University, one of the oldest women’s colleges in the country, is also in the area. The private liberal arts school has about 700 undergraduate women and 110 coed graduate students.
Preston Park Elementary School is one of the Roanoke public schools that serves Hollins
Hollins University has about 700 undergraduate women and 110 coed graduate students.
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Quiet suburban roads
Hollins has a suburban feel, with ranch-style, Cape Cod, Colonial Revival and split-level homes lining hilly roads. The median home price in Hollins is about $303,000, which is lower than the national average. In addition to a mix of new construction and older properties built mainly from 1950 to 1980, townhouses are also available. There aren’t any sidewalks here, but suburban roads are separated from main thoroughfares, ensuring that residents can easily walk dogs or go on family bike rides. Mature pine, maple and oak trees dot front lawns, and the mountains can be seen in the distance.
Cape Cods are a common sight in Hollins, often with spacious yards.
Small ranch homes line many a Hollins street.
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Easy access to Interstate 81
“A lot of people like this area for its accessibility,” Rossello says. Interstate 81 borders Hollins to the north, leading southwest toward Christiansburg and Blacksburg and northeast toward Natural Bridge. It connects to Interstate 581, which can lead locals about 6 miles south to downtown Roanoke. Route 11 cuts roughly through the center of the area and is also used to travel to Roanoke. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is just outside of Hollins, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail are about a 20-minute drive away.
Crime
Crime statistics for Hollins are not readily available.
Dawn is a professional Realtor who loves Lake Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She loves to give back to the community and spotlight local small businesses, tourism and showcase beautiful homes. She specializes in being the Northern Virginia Connection to Smith Mountain Lake. Find your place at the lake to vacation in, live in, or invest in. She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist covering Northern Virginia and Smith Mountain lake. Top 1% producer, Team Builder!
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