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.

 

Island Smoothie Cafe

Island Smoothie Cafe

At Island Smoothie, we have created a menu and atmosphere that is designed to be as unique as the northern shores of the Outer Banks. Our creations utilize fresh local produce when possible. There is nothing better than local NC strawberries, blackberries or blueberries. Make sure to try our Carolina peaches. From our amazing acai bowls and smoothies to our signature sandwiches and wraps you simply won’t find anything like Island Smoothie.

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The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter

Founded in 1984 on the coast of the Outer Banks, NC, Farmer’s Daughter still remains a destination for people wanting great quality, outstanding selection of unique clothing, accessories, and gifts at affordable prices. Committed to offering great customer service, we strive to bring the latest fashions and the most popular brands to our store, while constantly staying in touch with the latest trends. Our store remains one of the most unique shops on the east coast as we offer a huge variety of products, ranging from lifestyle apparel and custom clothing to handcrafted jewelry and gifts.

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The Cotton Gin

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

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