Richmond County: History, Motorsport and Family Experiences

Richmond County combines an impressive motorsport history with railway heritage, museums, outdoor experiences and special attractions for families. Those planning a trip can choose between action-packed racing venues, historic buildings, activities for children and regional discoveries. The right holiday apartment or holiday home can be selected according to the individual focus of the trip.

Motorsport as a Defining Part of the Region

A notable attraction is Rockingham Speedway. The racetrack opened on 31 October 1965 as a flat oval measuring one mile in length. It hosted races in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series. The speedway is also one of eight locations on North Carolina's Moonshine & Motorsports Trail. Rockingham Dragway complements this profile with competitions and special events such as the GM Performance Super Chevy Show, ADRL Dragstock and the National Bikers Roundup.

DeWitt's Outdoor Sports also focuses on active experiences. Its offerings include various shooting experiences and can accommodate family, church and corporate outings. To use the John Lentz Hunter Education Complex, you need a range pass. This is available on site after you have watched a safety video and discussed the range rules with a safety officer.

Railways, Architecture and Local History

The Hamlet Historic Depot was built in 1900 as Hamlet's railway station and headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. Today, it serves as an Amtrak Kwik-Trak kiosk station with two trains a day and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Interactive terminals, hands-on exhibits and an HO-scale model railway present railway history in an engaging way.

The Bostick Schoolhouse and the Leak-Wall House offer further historical insights. The Bostick Schoolhouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was restored as faithfully as possible to the last one-room school building used at this location. The Leak-Wall House was built by John Wall Leak in 1853 and contains Victorian-era antiques, including some original pieces from the house.

The restored Rockingham Seaboard Rail Road Depot looks back on the railway lines it once served. The Main Street Commercial Historic District reflects significant local development in transportation and commerce. The district consists primarily of one-, two- and three-storey brick commercial buildings with decorative brickwork and plate-glass shopfronts typical of small towns in North Carolina in the early 20th century. The Richmond County Historical Museum displays memorabilia relating to local educational, sports, racing, railway, agricultural, military and public safety history. The Richmond County Community Theatre has been staging plays and musicals for more than 45 years.

Museums, Activities for Children and Time Outdoors

The Rankin Museum combines natural history, local history and Native American culture. Families can take part in an activity in a fossil pit, followed by an explanation in the Rankin Exploration Zone. There is also a self-guided “Search and Fact” tour lasting approximately one hour. The Astronomy Research Station at Discovery Place Kids–Rockingham teaches children about the solar system and satellites.

Hitchcock Creek is ideal for fishing, boating, walking and cycling outdoors. This allows visitors to combine museum visits, natural history and activities on the water for a varied stay without making one particular type of experience the sole focus of the trip.

Regional Specialities and Choosing Accommodation

Culinary and unusual discoveries are also part of the Richmond County experience. The Berry Patch in Ellerbe is described as the site of the world's largest strawberry. Triple L Farms grows fresh produce and sells fruit, vegetables, jams, jellies, ice cream, syrup, dressings, pickled vegetables and other goods at the Old Derby General Store in summer.

When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether historic buildings and museums, motorsport, activities for children, activities at Hitchcock Creek or regional produce should be the main focus. A holiday apartment or holiday home is then best suited to a travel plan that deliberately combines these interests. Information about the region and brochures for several counties in North Carolina are available at the Richmond County Visitor Center.

For further orientation, you can also explore Rockingham. Other destinations in the selection include Franklin County, Burke County, Union County, New Hanover, Alamance, Northampton County and Rutherford County.

For the overarching travel overview: North Carolina.