Vinton is a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains where residents stick around. Spanning about 3.2 square miles with a population of about 8,000, Vinton is often considered a bedroom community of Roanoke. However, ample outdoor recreation, community events, and access to the Blue Ridge Parkway give Vinton a sense of small-town identity. “Even though we aren’t a big city, there’s still a lot to do,” says Jessica Rossello, a Realtor with Divine Fog Realty, who lives in the Roanoke Valley.
Vinton is centered around a bustling downtown area at the intersection of W Lee Ave and S Pollard St, to the east of Roanoke.
Downtown Vinton is lined with businesses, and though small this community has regular events and plenty to do.
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Ample outdoor recreation in Blue Ridge Mountains
With a location in the Blue Ridge, Vinton and the surrounding areas are a hub for outdoor activity, and camping, hiking, fishing and hunting are popular with residents. The area experiences warm summers, pollen in the spring, vibrant fall foliage and winter snowfall. Vinyard Park is Vinton’s largest, spanning nearly 90 acres. Here, there are sports facilities for baseball, football and soccer, as well as picnic shelters and walking trails. Vinton’s Tinker Creek Canoe Launch connects to the Roanoke River Blueway, a 45-mile waterway from Roanoke to Smith Mountain Lake. Kayakers and paddleboarders cruise through the mountains, with dense oaks and pines surrounding them, and fishers cast their lines from small clearings along the way. The Wolf Creek Greenway also runs through the area. This over-2-mile cinder surface trail is popular with walkers and bikers, as it crosses through forests, fields and meadows with benches along the way. There are also many indoor recreation facilities for residents to enjoy, especially lining Vinyard Road. The Lancerlot Sports Complex is a recreation hub featuring an ice rink that hosts youth and adult teams, fitness facilities, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that hosts a summertime swim team. Next door, players bowl strikes at the Vinton Bowling Center and gamblers ante up at Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. The nearby Charles R. Hill Community Center has active senior adult programs, from card games to Tai Chi.
The Lancerlot Sports Complex is a recreation hub featuring an ice rink that hosts youth and adult teams.
The Wolf Creek Greenway features a 2-mile cinder surface trail that is popular with walkers and bikers.
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Homes near city and country
Vinton can be divided roughly into two sides: city side and country side. To the west, homes sit on small, square, urban lots near downtown Vinton and the city of Roanoke. The streets follow a grid, there are sidewalks, and many residents can walk to nearby restaurants and businesses. Along these cracked, bumpy roads sit Colonial Revivals, bungalows and American Foursquares. To the west, Vinton spreads out. There’s more of a rural feel, and homes sit on spacious, grassy lots. The roads are typically wider, too, making smooth suburban thoroughfares safe for dog walks or family bike rides. The Blue Ridge Mountains are visible in the distance, with green peaks in the spring and summer and a vibrant fall foliage display. There are also townhouses available throughout the city. The median home price in Vinton is around $295,000, which is lower than the national average.
Many small ranch homes can be found in Vinton.
Rows of bi-levels line many a street in Vinton.
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What's happening in downtown Vinton
The Vinton Historic District, encompassing downtown, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local shops, restaurants, and businesses are located within early- to mid-20th-century buildings. There are also churches and government buildings in this area, such as the Vinton Library. On Thursdays and Saturdays from May to early November, vendors selling local produce and artisan goods line the sidewalks during the Vinton Farmer’s Market. For over half a decade, the Vinton Dogwood Festival has been one of the area’s most popular events, closing downtown streets. It features live performances, an antique car show, vendors and the crowning of the Dogwood Queen and court. In October, locals crowd city streets for the Vinton Fall Festival, which features crafts, live entertainment and nearly 100 vendors selling local food and artisan goods. Around the holidays, the Vinton Christmas Parade starts with a tree lighting and ends as decorated floats travel down Washington Avenue. The Vinton War Memorial on Washington Avenue is one of the area’s most popular event venues. On about 12 acres, the venue hosts weddings, corporate receptions and more.
The Vinton Farmer's Market runs through the spring and summer and has its own permanent outdoor location right in downtown Vinton.
The Vinton Library is housed in a spacious new building and hosts many community events throughout the year.
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Roanoke County Public Schools
Vinton students attend Roanoke County Public Schools, a district that receives an A grade from Niche. The city has two public elementary schools, two public middle schools and one public high school – William Byrd High, which gets an A-minus score from Niche.
Herman L. Horn Elementary School is one of several Roanoke public schools that Vinton residents can attend.
William Byrd High gets an A-minus score from Niche.
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4 miles to Roanoke
Valley Metro buses run through Vinton and lead throughout the area via public transit. Downtown Roanoke is about a 4-mile drive west using Route 460, while Salem is about 14 miles west. Most residents commute to work in either area, with Carillion Hospital’s downtown Roanoke campus and several clinics and Roanoke College employing many Vinton residents. Roanoke is a stop on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional line, providing a direct route to cities like New York and Boston.
To the east, the Blue Ridge Parkway passes the community. “A lot of people take a drive in the fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the scenery,” Rossello says. “Along the way, there are scenic views where you can park and view the mountains.”
Crime
Crime statistics for Vinton are not readily available.
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