Moyock

Moyock is located on the very edge of the Virginia and North Carolina state border, and often serves as the first introduction to Currituck County and NC in general for Outer Banks visitors who are driving to the area from the northern half of the country.

Fairly substantial with a handful of popular roadside tourist attractions, Moyock is considered a good place for long-distance drivers to take a break from the road, stretch, and get their first look at coastal North Carolina.

About the town

Moyock's northern borders are the Virginia State Line and the southern end of the Chesapeake Expressway toll road. Because of its locale just 25 miles away from Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Moyock is a popular residential community for Hampton Roads commuters.

As a result, and because its distinctive locale on the Virginia / NC state line, the town is home to a range of fast food restaurants, local businesses and services, and several big and noticeable tourist attractions, namely Southland and the Border Station.

Both of these sprawling travel plazas / souvenir shops have a wealth of southern-themed knick-knacks, fireworks, cigarettes and tobacco products, and ice cream or other grub. Located on either side of the main US Highway 168 to the Outer Banks, both establishments are popular "rest stops" for tourists who are heading to the Outer Banks.

The region is noticeably quieter off the main highway, and Moyock also has a pretty and relatively secluded waterfront on its eastern edge that borders the Northwest River and Tulls Bay.

History

Like the majority of Currituck County, Moyock was settled fairly early in the late 1600s and became a popular farming and port community. In the late 1700s, Moyock was actually adjacent to a now long-gone inlet, Currituck Inlet, which connected the region with the Atlantic Ocean.

This locale and the town's early distinction as a port town led to several 1800s and 1900s businesses, spearheaded by local entrepreneur Fred Poyner, including the ''Poyner Oil Company" and the ''Moyock Bottling Works." (Subsequently, the Moyock Bottling Works was the only cola drink producer in the county.) His father M.C. Poyner opened three general stores in Moyock from 1898 to 1903.

In the 1930s, the Cavalier Kennel Club (CKC) moved to Moyock after being shut down by Virginia state officials, and the town attracted a new crop of visitors to gamble and watch the regular dog races.

The CKC was shut down a second time, this time by North Carolina state officials, and the quarter mile oval track was transformed into a NASCAR course. From 1962 until 1966, the new "Dog Track Speedway" (DTS) hosted seven NASCAR races until it was finally shut down for good, due to poor revenues and the onslaught of newer, nicer North Carolina race tracks.

Today, Moyock is an interesting mix of tourist attractions and residences for Hampton Roads commuters, and it remains one of the most populated and visited towns in mainland Currituck County.

Quick Facts

• Moyock has a population of 3,759, which makes it one of the larger Currituck County mainland communities.
• During the Dog Track Speedway's 1960s heyday, a number of famous drivers came to Moyock to race, including Ned Jarrett, (who won the most races at the track), and "The King" of racing, Richard Petty.
• Visitors can view an entire three-block area of historic homes at Shingle Landing Walk, which boasts a collection of late 19th century and early 20th century homes that were originally close to the Shingle Landing Seaport.
• Drivers on US Highway 168 will spot the remnants of the original Moyock railroad, which runs parallel to US HWY 168 and 158, and was originally constructed and used in the early 1900s.
• Moyock is home to the Currituck County Welcome Center, which is located on 106 Caratoke Hwy, and which offers a wealth of tourism information for both the mainland and barrier island destinations.
• There are 20 restaurants in Moyock, including pizza parlors, American grills, fast food restaurants, and BBQ joints.
• Because both businesses straddle the VA / NC border, the impossible-to-miss Border Station and Southland are popular spots for certain types of discounted fireworks, which are legal in Virginia but illegal in North Carolina.
• Southland is an especially popular travel plaza for tourists, as the establishment features a convenience store, gift shop, discount cigarette and tobacco store, and a separate on-site restaurant.
• A public boat launch with 30 parking spaces is located on 129 Creekside Drive in Moyock. This boat launch accesses the Northwest River, and eventually connects with the Currituck Sound.
• Poyner's Road Park, which features picnic facilities, fishing, and a public North Carolina Wildlife boat ramp, can be found at 458 Poyner's Road in Moyock. The park is free and open to the public.