Red Oak offers kid-friendly activities and country properties
From sports at W.B. Ennis Memorial Park to ice cream at Faulkner’s Store, Red Oak is a rural North Carolina community with no shortage of things to do. Cotton and corn fields define the landscape, and though most homes here are in small subdivisions, they have large yards and a country feel. Realtor Takyla Hill, the owner of Key Realty Solutions, is preparing to build her own home in Red Oak. “We wanted more space outside, so we bought 14 acres to build on,” she says. “This little area is more rural than Nashville, so you tend to have more yard space, but it’s still a nice community.” Nashville and Rocky Mount are both within a 20-minute drive, and Interstate 95 and U.S Highway 64 are both nearby, connecting residents to the rest of the region.
Spacious properties in subdivisions and on farms
Red Oak’s farmland is mixed with suburban-style subdivisions, where Cape Cods, New Traditional homes and modern farmhouses sit on spacious lots along cul-de-sacs. These properties are at least half an acre and allow space for expansive lawns with backyard pools and playsets. While most of the housing here was built since 1990 and has a suburban character, multi-acre farms, with homes dating to the 1950s, are still available. Prices typically range from $320,000 to $780,000, though homes under 2,000 square feet can range from $210,000 to $350,000. Some communities have monthly homeowners association fees between $10 and $40. Unlike the nearby communities of Nashville and Rocky Mount, Red Oak does not have a property tax.
Sports teams at Northern Nash High
Kids can start school at Red Oak Elementary, which earns a B-plus from Niche, and then go to the C-plus-rated Red Oak Middle. At the B-minus-rated Northern Nash High, students can play over a dozen sports, including football, tennis and golf. The school recently built a new field house with training areas and large locker rooms to support its outdoor sports teams.
Youth sports and events at Ennis Park bring the community together
W.B. Ennis Memorial Park is Red Oak’s central gathering space. “It’s my daughter’s favorite park,” Hill says. “It’s got a combination of different things kids can climb on — it's not just swings.” The park hosts Red Oak’s community events, like the annual Christmas Festival, which features a parade, a carnival and a tree lighting. Throughout the year, athletes take advantage of the soccer fields, baseball fields and tennis courts here, but it’s basketball that holds a special place in the community. The Red Oak Basketball League has coached elementary and middle school players since the 1980s. The season begins with a draft night where the teams are selected, and they play at the school gyms every Saturday from December to March. “What sets their program apart is that kids from all over the area come,” Hill says. “Whether they’re starters or second string, every kid gets an opportunity to play at least six minutes.” In the fall, Fisher Pumpkin Farm opens, allowing families to pick out farm-grown pumpkins and interact with farm animals.
Two long-standing convenience stores are popular eateries
Red Oak crossroads — where Red Oak Road and Red Oak Boulevard intersect — is at the community’s center. The crossroads is anchored by Griffin’s Food Store, a family-owned gas station, market and restaurant that’s operated here since 1990. The other corners of the crossroads have a bank, an auto repair shop and a hair salon. Just down the road, Faulkner’s Store, which is also family-owned, gives Griffin’s its only competition. “My favorite is Faulkner’s,” Hill says. “It has the best hand-dipped ice cream and the best club sandwich. They have about four tables inside, but they just expanded and have a covered shelter with ceiling fans.” Dollar General provides a quick stop for essentials near the crossroads. The locally owned Smith’s Red & White is the closest grocery store. It’s operated in the area since 1954 and is known for its house-made sausage and big selection of old-fashioned candies.
A car-dependent community near Nashville and Rocky Mount
The two-lane Red Oak Boulevard leads about 3 miles to Interstate 95 and 11 miles to Rocky Mount, spanning past farms and subdivision entrances. Red Oak Road also has a country feel and leads around 6 miles to Nashville and U.S. Highway 64, which drivers can take to Raleigh, roughly 52 miles away. Houses of worship here include Red Oak Baptist, St. John Missionary Baptist Church and Red Oak United Methodist Church. Nash General Hospital is 8 miles away, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a 65-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
