Southern Pines

In northwest Southern Pines, minutes from Pinehurst, Knollwood Village straddles the line between golf country and horse country in Moore County. “Golf and horses, that’s the draw, put simply,” says Compass Realtor Bridget Dineen-Carlson. Southern Pines is home to Carolina Horse Park, which hosts the annual Stonybrook Steeplechase, and Moore County Hounds, the oldest fox hunt in North Carolina. Pinehurst Resort’s famous No. 2 course, which will host the U.S. Open in 2029, is just a few miles west. “If you ask a golfer, they’ll know what Pinehurst is. It’s just as famous as Myrtle Beach or Pebble Beach, and it’s very close,” says Realtor Sven Schaefer of Greenhem. There are two 9-hole golf courses and a driving range right next door to the community, too. “Location-wise, Knollwood Village is in a great position between Pinehurst and Southern Pines. It’s really nice for retirees who are looking for an easy-going, serene golf course community, even people from out of state who want a residence close to everything Moore County has to offer.” “There are all kinds of housing options here, from condos to small homes, from 1,200 square feet to 1,500 square feet,” says Schaefer. “The houses are all single-level, neat little bungalows with one or two-car garages. And the houses tend to be younger, built between the ‘70s and ‘80s, while the condos were built in the mid-‘60s.” He adds that prices here are “relatively affordable.” Two-bedroom condo units can start at about $170,000 and two-bedroom standalone ranch-style homes can go for as much as $340,000. That’s well below the median for Southern Pines, which hovers near the $480,000 mark. Schaefer says that though Knollwood Village is advertised as a 55-plus community, younger residents are permitted to purchase and live in the neighborhood, too. “It’s not that strict, they have let younger people in, just not the young-young, 21-year-olds.” Kids between preschool and fifth grade go to Southern Pines Elementary, which earns a B-plus from Niche. Older students continue to Crains Creek Middle and Pinecrest High. Crains Creek earns a B and Pinecrest earns an A-minus. Pinecrest is also ranked No. 1 on Niche’s list of the best public high schools in the county. Realtor Bridget Dineen-Carlson, with Compass, a former resident of Pinehurst, says that Pinecrest’s varsity athletics are “very strong.” In 2024, their men’s golf team won their eighth North Carolina High School Athletic Association title. “It’s a good school system,” says Schaefer, whose two sons attended Moore County schools. He says Pinecrest High, in particular, is one of the most highly sought-after schools in the district. The O’Neal School, a non-parochial private college-prep school, is on the north side of town, less than 4 miles from Knollwood Village. Dineen-Carlson says it’s one of the most highly sought-after private schools in the county. The O’Neal School earns an A-plus from Niche. “A lot of families here decide to homeschool, either because of religious reasons or because they’re a military family or both,” says Schaefer. One of the largest homeschool curriculum/supplies companies in the country, Classical Conversations, is based out of Southern Pines. The organization provides Christian-based homeschool programs to more than 125,000 students between kindergarten and fourth grade across the US. Within 2 miles of home, there’s Knollwood Fairways & Driving Range and Midlands Country Club, both of which offer 9-hole golf courses. Club memberships are available, but it’s possible to reserve a tee time on either course without a membership. Fees associated with the club are not included in the Knollwood Village HOA fees. Beyond Knollwood Fairways and Midlands Country Club, there are more than 40 golf courses in Southern Pines, Pinehurst and the surrounding Moore County within a 30-mile radius of home. The famous No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2024 and will host the championship again in 2029, is only a little more than 4 miles west. But Dineen-Carlson says Southern Pines is also known for its equestrian offerings. “More than Pinehurst, which is very much old-money golf country, Southern Pines is very old-money horse country.” About 5 miles northeast of home, locals can lead horses along the sandy lanes and longleaf pine-shaded trails at the Walthour-Moss Foundation preserve. Birdwatchers also flock to the 4,000-acre natural area; the nearly extinct red-cockaded woodpecker is making a comeback in the safeguarded groves there. Southern Pines is home to the Moore County Hounds, the oldest fox hunt organization in the state, as well. Several nearby farms, including Refugio Farm Equestrian Center, Fox Lake Farm and Nine Oaks Farm, offer riding schools and stables to local equine enthusiasts. And for those who’d rather hoof it on their own two feet, there are more than 12 miles of greenways threaded through Southern Pines proper, meandering through longleaf pine forests, across grassy fields and around lakes. “Southern Pines is more of a shopping city,” says Schaefer, comparing the shopping scene here to the scenes in nearby Pinehurst and Aberdeen. “There are lots of little places to shop, and there are a whole bunch of really good restaurants. Amazing restaurants for a county that only has a hundred thousand people, really.” Most shopping and dining options in Southern Pines are clustered around Southwest and Southeast Broad Streets, which parallel each other at the heart of town about 2 miles away. Antiquely Chic South offers a curated selection of antique furniture and home décor off Southwest Broad. A couple doors down, The Little Toy Shop is popular with the town’s littlest shoppers and Cabin Branch Tack Shop has been a favorite of horses and their riders since 1954. Locals can enjoy char-grilled steaks and fresh seafood against a backdrop of floor-to-ceiling wine cases and upscale equestrian décor at Southern Prime Steakhouse, nearby. Betsy’s Crepes has been a popular spot for French-inspired brunches since 2011. Big box retailers aren’t far from home, either. Walmart Supercenter, Harris Teeter and Food Lion are all just about 4 miles south. Pinehurst is about 4 miles west of Knollwood Village; downtown Southern Pines is only about 2 miles southeast. Schaefer says the community’s location between the two villages is one of its major perks. “You’re only 5 or 8 minutes from each of those communities. Definitely less than 10 minutes,” he says. Midland Road, the main thoroughfare that runs past the neighborhood’s north side, connects west to US Route 501 and east to US Route 1. Both highways are less than 3 miles from most homes. Aberdeen is not far, either; it’s slightly less than 6 miles south. There’s an Amtrak train station on Northwest Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines that offers routes northeast to Raleigh, south to Savannah and beyond.