North Wilkesboro, NC Real Estate Market

Real Estate

Recognized as a Main Street Town, North Wilkesboro is a place “where ‘Mom & Pops’ still means something, and new ideas are [born every day]”. The town’s entrepreneurial spirit is visible at the legal distillery that celebrates local heritage and in their annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, which attracts over 160,000 visitors each year. The town’s two rivers are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. And the resulting quality of life and diversity of experience offers a laid-back rural lifestyle infused with creative energy and ingenuity. Homes in North Wilkesboro are available from affordable ($150,000s) to luxury ($1 million-plus) ranges.

Lifestyle and Attractions

After several years of closure, NASCAR fans have been thrilled to see the North Wilkesboro Speedway reopen for races in recent years. A unique short track with a backstretch that goes uphill, the speedway opened in 1946, two years before NASCAR’s first season and three years before the first Strictly Stock (now Cup Series) race. Its long history continues to attract fans. The 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race was held at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

North Wilkesboro is also committed to becoming an artistic hub. Local artists are inspired by the surrounding mountains, and there are growing opportunities for them to showcase their art. The Wilkes Art Gallery, founded in 1962, is now housed in a renovated 10,000-square-foot post office building. In addition to visual arts, town residents are entertained by the Wilkes Playmakers at historic Benton Hall and enjoy the sounds of local musicians performing on stage at the Market.

North Wilkesboro is hemmed on two sides by the Reddies and Yadkin Rivers, which connect at the Yadkin River Greenway. The town’s location in the Blue Ridge Foothills gives it proximity to many wilderness areas, including the nearby W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir. The reservoir offers visitors opportunities for boating, camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking, and swimming around its 55-mile shoreline. The town is a half hour away from the Blue Ridge Parkway, a sightseer’s and cyclist’s haven. Stone Mountain State Park is also nearby.

Nearby Schools and Higher Education

North Wilkesboro is served by the Wilkes County Schools system, which includes elementary, middle, and high schools. Several private schools also serve the town, mostly associated with the larger Protestant churches in the area. Wilkes Community College, located in the neighboring town of Wilkesboro, enrolls about 3,500 students. The college is best known as the site of the annual MerleFest music festival.

History

There’s good reason why North Wilkesboro is known as the Key City to Western North Carolina. The town was founded in 1891 when Norfolk Southern built its terminus railroad depot near the banks of the Yadkin River. That access spurred textile and furniture factories, which fueled the early growth of the town. Local bootlegging inspired recreation, setting the groundwork for stock-car racing and the first NASCAR track. And in 1921, the first Lowe’s Home Improvement store opened in North Wilkesboro. 

Together, these industries made an important mark on the town and on the country. Today, the railroad depot still stands in the heart of downtown. The North Wilkesboro Speedway is again drawing crowds by the thousands after extensive recent renovations. And the Lowe’s brand is among the largest in the U.S.