Richmond County: Motorsports, Rail Heritage and Museums

Rockingham Speedway opened on October 31, 1965, as a flat, one-mile oval. Its history is connected with 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. Together with Rockingham Dragway, it shapes the destination’s motorsports focus: the dragway hosts competitions and special events such as the GM Performance Super Chevy Show, ADRL Dragstock, and the National Bikers Roundup. If an event is the reason for your visit, check the dates while planning your trip.

Railroad and Local History

The Hamlet Historic Depot was built in 1900 as Hamlet’s train station and as the headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it presents railroad history through interactive terminals, hands-on exhibits, and an HO-scale model train. The depot also serves as an Amtrak-Kwik-Trak kiosk station, with two trains daily. Check the schedule before your trip if you plan to use this connection.

The restored Rockingham Seaboard Rail Road Depot also tells the story of the railroad: it overlooks the rail lines it once served. The Main Street Commercial Historic District reflects a significant local development in transportation and commerce. Its streetscape features mainly one-, two-, and three-story brick commercial buildings, decorative brickwork, and plate-glass storefronts, typical of small towns in North Carolina in the early 20th century.

The Leak-Wall House and the Bostick Schoolhouse offer further insights into architectural and educational history. John Wall Leak had the Leak-Wall House built in 1853; the house contains Victorian-era antiques, including some original pieces. The Bostick Schoolhouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was restored as faithfully as possible to the last one-room schoolhouse used at this location.

Museums and Activities

The Rankin Museum brings together natural history, local history, and Native American culture. One activity takes visitors to a fossil pit, followed by an explanation in the Rankin Exploration Zone. Visitors can also take the self-guided “Search and Fact” tour, which takes about an hour. Check before your visit to see whether the tour is available. At Discovery Place Kids–Rockingham, the Astronomy Research Station teaches children about the solar system and satellites.

Hitchcock Creek also offers a range of activities: it is suitable for fishing, boating, walking, and cycling. You need a shooting-range pass to use the John Lentz Hunter Education Complex. You can get one on site after watching a safety video and reviewing the range rules with a safety officer. Since procedures can change, checking before your visit is recommended.

Regional Information and Seasonal Offerings

The Richmond County Visitor Center provides information about the region and brochures for several North Carolina counties. The Richmond County Historical Museum displays memorabilia relating to local education, sports, racing, railroad, agriculture, military, and public safety history. For more than 45 years, the Richmond County Community Theatre has staged plays and musicals.

For seasonal shopping, 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. The selection may change seasonally; if you are looking for a particular item, ask ahead. The tourism authority describes the Berry Patch in Ellerbe as the site of the world’s largest strawberry.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a hotel in Richmond County, you can start by considering which themes you want to shape your trip: motorsports, railroad and architectural history, museums, or activities along Hitchcock Creek. This can help you plan a stay around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Rockingham, Carteret County, Iredell, New Hanover, Orange, Yadkin County, Burke County, Buncombe

For the broader travel overview: North Carolina.