Ranlo offers a peaceful alternative west of downtown Charlotte
Spanning just over 2 square miles and with a population approaching 5,000, Ranlo is a bedroom community about 20 miles west of downtown Charlotte. It’s the kind of place where the community gathers at seasonal events, like the town-wide Easter egg hunt, fall festival and Christmas parade. However, this Gaston County town’s major draws are its proximity to shopping and to Charlotte. “This area has some nice restaurants, lots of shopping strips and car places,” says Lucinda Shepard, a Realtor at Yancey Realty who sells in Gaston County. “Other than that, there’s more entertainment in downtown Charlotte, but it gets busy and congested there. People are moving out of Charlotte; they want to get away from rentals. People want stability. They want the peace and the serenity of the home and home life.”
A mix of old and new in Ranlo
Sidewalks line most residential streets in Ranlo. In the gridded center of town, bungalows sit side-by-side on compact lots. There are also a variety of ranch-style homes here, some of which do not have garages. Further out, cul-de-sacs typically have 21st-century builds on uniform lots with attached garages; these are primarily New Traditional and modern transitional homes. Prices range from about $110,000 to $430,000, depending on age and size. Fixer-uppers start at about $70,000.
The public school pipeline in Ranlo
Gaston County Schools, rated B-plus on Niche, serves the area. Students may attend Brookside Elementary, Holbrook Middle and North Gaston High. All are rated B-minus. High schoolers enrolled in North Gaston’s Leadership Academy can get hands-on experience in career fields like business, healthcare and childhood education and earn industry-recognized certifications.
Ranlo’s convenient shopping and dining scene
Shoppers have a wide variety of big-box retailers to choose from between U.S. Route 74 and Interstate 85. Within this commercial corridor, shopping destinations include Aldi, Target and The Home Depot, in addition to clothing stores and a movie theater. Most nearby restaurants are nationally known restaurant chains. But for some comfort food like baked chicken, cornbread, sweet potato pie and Chicago-style wings, locals can head to Ruby’s Soulfood & BBQ.
Fun at Ranlo Park and George Poston Park
In the center of town, Ranlo Park has a playground, a skate park and an area for grilling and picnicking. The park also has a splash pad that’s open seasonally, bringing relief on hot summer days. George Poston Park borders the eastern edge of Ranlo. Spanning almost 350 acres, this recreational area supports a host of outdoor activities. On a typical Saturday, park-goers may see anglers fishing in the lake, dogs playing at the dog park and BMX bikers practicing on the pump track. Soccer and softball teams can play at night on the lighted fields. George Poston Park also has a trail for hiking and mountain biking.
Direct routes to the hospital, airport and downtown Charlotte
Ranlo is a car-dependent area, and drivers have quick access to three major highways leading to regional destinations. State Route 7 goes through town, stretching about 4 miles west to Gastonia. CaroMont Regional Medical Center sits directly on the other side of State Route 7 alongside other medical offices. Access to U.S. Route 74 and Interstate 85 lies directly south of Ranlo; commuters can take both thoroughfares west to Gastonia and east to Charlotte. Interstate 85 takes drivers to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, about 12 miles away.
