Roanoke Rapids in Halifax County is the major gateway community welcoming visitors into North Carolina when traveling south on I-95. With more than 1,000 hotel rooms and a wide variety of local and chain eateries and North Carolina’s newest entertainment destination, Carolina Crossroads, your stay here will be full of Southern hospitality and comfort. Whether you love history, seek outdoor thrills like hiking, biking, fishing or canoeing or desire arts and entertainment and antiquing and unique shopping experiences, Halifax County should be your next vacation destination. Our calendar is full of events and festivals offering fun for the entire family all year round.
Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau
260 Premier Blvd.
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
252-535-1687
http://visithalifax.com
info@visithalifax.com
Arts & Performance
Atlantic One Amphitheater at Carolina Crossroads/Exit 171 (image to the right)
395 Wallace Fork Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC
(252) 538-4350
Atlantic One Amphitheater at Carolina Crossroads is North Carolina's newest entertainment venue. In operation since Summer 2006, the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District offered such artists as Big & Rich, Willie Nelson, Gretchen Wilson, Hank Williams Jr. and many more at its outdoor concert venue. The anchor attraction of the district is The Roanoke Rapids Theatre. A new, beautiful 147-room Hilton Garden Inn is also on site. Atlantic One has hosted such artists as Frankie Beverly and MAZE, Soulja Boy, and more.
http://www.atlanticoneamp.com
First for Freedom Historical Drama / Exit 168 (image to the right)
4-H Rural Life Center, Highway 903, Halifax
800-522-4282
The First for Freedom historical outdoor drama has been in performance since our bicentennial in 1976. Written by local playwright Maxville B. Williams, the drama depicts the events that led to the adoption of the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776, the first official declaration of independence by any colony. The drama is performed each summer at the end of June and July 4th weekend. Check the website for 2010 show dates.
http://www.visithalifax.com
Lakeland Theatre Company / Exit 173 (image to the right)
411 Mosby Ave, Littleton
877-330-0574
Produces a sensational variety of dramas, comedies, musicals and concerts featuring local talent. Dubbed the busiest community theater in America!
http://lakelandartscenter.org
The Centre at Halifax Community College / Exit 173 (image to the right)
200 College Dr, Weldon
252-538-4336
Enjoy performing arts series including such shows as the NC Dance Theatre, NC Symphony, dramas like Julius Caesar and musical tributes to Patsy Cline and John Denver.
http://hcccentre.com
The Roanoke Rapids Theatre at Carolina Crossroads/ Exit 171 (image to the right)
500 Carolina Crossroads Parkway, Roanoke Rapids
252-538-4040 Box Office
A diverse entertainment schedule is set for this 1500-seat theatre, including gospel, country, blues, R&B and more! Visit the website regularly for updates. Contact the box office directly Mon-Sat from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or purchase tickets online at Ticket Master.
http://rrtheatre.com
Agriculture & Foods
A&B Milling Company / Exit 154 (image to the right)
200 Halifax St, Enfield
252-445-3161
Aunt Ruby’s Peanut Gift Shop offers many peanut choices including raw shelled, country-style roasted, chocolate clusters, roasted redskin, honey roasted and salted in the shell.
http://auntrubyspeanuts.com
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park / Exit 168 (image to the right)
4963 Hwy 258, Scotland Neck
252-826-3186
Enjoy the breathtaking colors and variety of calls of the world’s largest collection of rare and endangered waterfowl with more than 1,500 ducks, geese and swans of over 170 different species. You'll walk through continentally-themed aviaries, have a picnic, enjoy a memorial garden, take a wetland walk, soar to new heights in the state's first accessible treehouse overlooking the wetlands, enjoy the playground and fossil dig and so much more!
http://shwpark.com
Heritage & Museums
Historic Halifax / Exit 168 (image to the right)
25 Saint David St, Halifax
252-583-7191
Site of the adoption of the Halifax Resolves, the first official action for independence by any colony. Ten historic structures, museum, film, living history demonstrations and archeological exhibit. Admission is free.
http://nchistoricsites.org/halifax/halifax.htm
Remembering Tillery / Exit 168 (image to the right)
321 Community Center Rd, Tillery
252-826-3017
This site tells the story of a 1930’s Resettlement Community, part of the “New Deal.” Transplanted into an exiting community, settlers purchased 40 acres and a mule to begin their lives raising crops and families along the mighty Roanoke River. The community suffered greatly during the Roanoke River flood of 1940.
http://cct78.org
Roanoke Canal Museum / Exit 173 (image to the right)
15 Jackson St. Ext, Roanoke Rapids
252-537-2769
Interactive museum showcasing our transportation, power generation and industrialization history via the Roanoke River and Roanoke Canal.
http://roanokecanal.com
Recreation & Relaxation
Lake Gaston / Exit 176 (image to the right)
475 Eaton Ferry Rd., Littleton
866-730-5711
One of the truly outstanding lakes in the country with over 20,000 acres and 350 miles of shoreline. Public swimming and boat ramp at Lake Gaston Day Use Area.
http://lakegastonchamber.com
Medoc Mountain State Park / Exit 160 (image to the right)
1541 Medoc State Park Rd., Hollister
252-586-6588
Offers seven hiking trails, a picnic shelter, individual and group camping sites, fishing and canoeing on Little Fishing Creek and picnic facilities, as well as educational programming throughout the year. Eleven miles of new bridle trails just opened this summer.
www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/memo/main.php
River Falls Park / Exit 173 (image to the right)
Hwy. 301, Weldon
800-522-4282
Offers easy access to the Roanoke River with an overlook that offers a great vantage point for viewing the rapids of the Roanoke River, playground, soccer field, boat ramp, picnic shelter and restroom.
www.historicweldonnc.com
Roanoke Canal Trail / Exit 173 (image to the right)
15 Jackson St. Ext, Roanoke Rapids
252-537-2769
A 7.5-mile nature trail for hiking and biking containing some of the most impressive and best preserved early nineteenth-century canal construction in the nation. One trail head is the Roanoke Rapids Lake Park, and the other trail head is River Falls Park in Weldon. Along the way is a power canal bulkhead overlook, an overlook at the aqueduct, a canal-powered cotton mill that is now an antique and artisan mall, passenger & freight railroad depots, a tunnel with a painted mural and more. The trail is great for birding and spotting other wildlife.
http://roanokecanal.com
Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Area / Exit 173 (image to the right)
145 Oakwood Ave, Roanoke Rapids
252-410-6318
Walking trail, 9-hole frisbee golf course, sand volleyball, swimming access, picnic facilities, a handicapped accessible fishing pier and a playground.
http://www.roanokecanal.com/rrlakepark
Roanoke River Partners Paddle Trail / Exit 173 (image to the right)
Launch site - River Falls Park, Weldon
800-522-4282
Canoe or kayak down the Roanoke River and camp on one of two platforms right on the riverbank in the historic towns of Halifax and Tillery.
http://roanokeriverpartners.org
Shopping
Riverside Mill / Exit 173 (image to the right)
200 Mill Street, Weldon
252-536-3100
Experience the rebirth of a historic Carolina cotton mill. Shop for unique gifts, antiques roadshow treasures and handmade Carolina products in a glorious setting. Explore our gleaming, spacious antiques mall and the largest gallery of craft art on I-95. Enjoy charming specialty shops and monthly live auctions.
http://www.riversidemill.net
Not-To-Be-Missed Stops Along NC's I-95 Corridor