Pikeville is a growing area popular with military families
Near Pikeville, a rapidly growing community just north of Goldsboro and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, billboards proclaim “I love jet noise.” “We’re a military area, and Pikeville is where those in the military want to be,” says Maria Gambella, a broker with Re/Max Complete who’s sold homes in the area for 25 years. “You’re far enough from the base that you don’t hear the noise, but to be very fair, the pilots don’t care. They love jet noise, and so does everyone in Wayne County.” Many choose Pikeville for the area’s military-friendly schools, and the farmland that surrounds this small town is making way for new housing developments.
New subdivisions, farms and an established town center
Pikeville has a small town center with ranch-style and manufactured homes that sit close together along narrow streets, but most of the homes here are spread out among the fields and farmland in the surrounding area. Portions of the farms have recently been redeveloped into new home communities with a more suburban vibe. These feature Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes that sit on curving streets ending in cul-de-sacs. Most houses sit on at least a quarter-acre, and some can sit on up to 9 acres. Prices typically range from around $100,000 to $580,000. Some properties are in flood-prone areas; homeowners should check flood maps to assess their risk.
Military-friendly schools earn B ratings
Kids can attend Wayne County Public Schools, a district that earns a B-minus from Niche and is recognized as a Purple Star District for military-friendly programs like free tutoring and student mentoring. They can start at Northeast Elementary and then go to Norwayne Middle; both earn a B. At the B-minus-rated Charles B. Aycock High, students can choose an accelerated curriculum and graduate in three years. The A-plus-rated Wayne Country Day School is a nearby private option that teaches all grades.
A car-dependent community along major thoroughfares
Interstate 795 and U.S. Route 117 pass through the community, leading about 9 miles to Goldsboro and to UNC Health Wayne, the closest hospital. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is about 16 miles away. Houses of worship here include Gateway Community Church and Elm Grove Church of Christ. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a 66-mile trip.
Restaurants and grocery stores are on Route 117
Route 117 is home to Pikeville’s restaurants and stores. The Pikeville Dawg House serves hot dogs, burgers and ice cream for takeout or to eat at picnic tables outside. John’s Pizza makes its crust from scratch and offers indoor dining, takeout and delivery. The family-owned Country Fruit Stand #3 has sold local produce here since 1992. Food Lion and Dollar General provide groceries. Nearby, A Secret Garden Winery makes naturally fermented wines from muscadine grapes and has wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. More restaurants and retail options like the Berkeley Mall, an indoor shopping mall anchored by JCPenney and Belk, are in Goldsboro.
Outdoor recreation nearby and on base
Dees Memorial Park, which has a playground, baseball fields and open green space, hosts annual events like Fourth of July fireworks and a Memorial Day concert. Nearby, the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace and Museum has tours and demonstrations of late-1800s farm life. At the public Lane Tree Golf Club, pool and golf memberships are available, and there are also golf camps for kids. “The majority of people here work on base, and they can use the parks and amenities there,” Gambella says. The base has a movie theater, bowling alley and an adventure park with a splash pad and swimming pool.
A biannual air show is the area’s biggest event
Every other year, the Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is one of the area’s largest events, drawing almost 200,000 spectators over two days. At the show, the Air Force’s Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, performs precision maneuvers in F-16 jets, sometimes only flying inches from one another.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
