A Realtor’s Guide to Experiencing the Best Wendell Has to Offer

Wendell is located approximately 18 miles due east of downtown Raleigh and is the quintessential version of small-town America. In fact, their motto is “Small Town, Big Charm,” and when you visit the quaint downtown area, you will easily see why it garnered that nickname. Wendell offers residents plenty of events and festivals that help encourage the community spirit that is inherited in this small town. Erica Anderson, a top REALTOR® and owner of Team Anderson Realty, has been serving the real estate needs of the community since 2014. As a top-recommended Wendell real estate agent, Erika can help ensure a smooth real estate experience.

History

Wendell, like many places in the area, started as a tobacco town. In the 1850s, tobacco crops in Granville County failed due to wilt, so many farmers moved south into eastern Wake County looking for fertile soil to plant their crops. As the area grew with the influx of farmers and their families, there arose a need for a school, so Ambrose Rhodes donated the land upon which Rhodes School was built. The town still hadn’t been named yet, so the townsfolk asked their school teacher, M.A. Griffin to come up with a name. Being a lover of poetry, Mr. Griffin chose to name the town after his favorite poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes. However, the pronunciation would change over time due to the porters at the train station calling out “Wen-dell” with an emphasis on each syllable, and that particular pronunciation took hold. In 1891, a post office was built and in 1903, Wendell was officially incorporated into a town. The town continued to grow as more people and businesses moved into Wendell, and Main Street was created when a local man drove his horse with an extra-wide plow up and down the area, which is why the street is still so wide today. The town’s first newspaper, the Wendell Clarion, began publishing in 1911, and the town’s first graduating class was in 1915.

Downtown Wendell

Wendell has a charming historic district that is on the National Register of Historic Places. As you stroll through downtown, you will notice many historic homes and buildings with unique, period architecture that really lends to the quintessential small-town America feeling of Wendell. Downtown offers a variety of shops and restaurants, and the town provides free Wi-Fi, which makes it convenient and easy to explore the area.

Bearded Bee Brewing Company is a favorite spot to grab a pint with friends. They have a great selection of handcrafted brews that are served in their taproom and beer garden, with pets allowed in the latter. Their mission is to brew great beer using local ingredients, support the honeybees and local beekeepers, and create a place for the community to gather. They host a great selection of food trucks on weekends and have a calendar full of special events, including: live music nights featuring a variety of local artists, music bingo, ax throwing, and a Bearded Bee Run Club. Wine & Beer 101 is a bottle shop and tasting room located across the street that offers tastings, classes, and wine and beer dinners. Their mission is to create a customer-first community of wine and beer enthusiasts, with a focus on the education of products from brewers and winemakers around the globe.

41 North Coffee Company is a delightful coffee shop located on Main Street with a focus on providing a space for the community to come together and enjoy conversation over a cup of coffee. In addition to their handcrafted beverage menu, which features a wide variety of options to suit every taste, 401 North also offers a breakfast and lunch/dinner menu with a delicious assortment of breakfast foods, paninis, and salads. Don’t forget to visit their pastry counter for an amazingly delectable selection of treats!

Farmers & Merchants is located at 1 N. Main Street and is housed in the old building formerly occupied by Farmers & Merchants Bank, who owned it prior to the Great Depression, and was later occupied by Wendell Savings & Loan. In January of 2019, the Westerlund’s acquired the building and had the vision to restore it to its former glory and turn it into a fun gathering place for people in Wendell. They named it Farmers & Merchants as a nod to the original tenants, and opened up a modern pub in a historic location that serves up great food, craft beer, bourbon, and good times!

Everest Kitchen is located on Main Street and offers an eclectic menu full of Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes that customers rave about. Aubrey’s & Peedie’s Grill is a favorite place among locals to grab a quick breakfast or lunch, and their prices can’t be beaten: $3 for a hamburger and nothing on the menu over $7 (only cash accepted). Chocolates by Whitney is a confectionery delight located a few blocks from Main Street. Their showcase is filled with an assortment of beautiful, hand-made chocolates that are sure to bring a smile to your face!

The Wendell General Store may not have opened until 2014, but when you step inside it feels like you’ve traveled back in time to the old town general stores of yore. Shelves are lined with an impressive array of old-fashioned candies, jams, jellies, honey, old-fashioned soda bottles, and more. They serve delicious, creamy ice cream and milkshakes in a variety of fun flavors, as well as an assortment of produce from local farmers. Additionally, they have a great selection of gifts, including hand-made cards, bath bombs, lip balms, essential oil rollers, hats, mugs, and much more. They also have a fun selection of toys, as well as home and yard décor. The Wendell General Store is a place that you won’t want to miss!

Events & Activities

Wendell is a town that loves to celebrate together. They host a variety of events each year for residents and visitors alike. The most popular is the Wendell Wonderland which features the Lake Myra Christmas Light Show. The light show is a unique experience with synchronized light displays playing in tune to Christmas melodies; the shows can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and include over 180,000 lights! The Wendell Wonderland brings thousands to the town each year, with visitors gathering to take part in the festivities which include trolley rides, visits with Santa, a cookie walk, hot cocoa, popcorn, live music and dance performances, a tree lighting ceremony, “snow” in Town Square, a Christmas Market, food trucks, and much more. It’s a magical holiday experience for the whole family!

Wendell also hosts a 4th of July Celebration which includes a parade down Main Street with a children’s costume contest, a veteran’s tribute, a barbershop quartet, an awards presentation for an essay contest, and free hot dogs! In early October, you can kick off the fall season with the Wendell Harvest Festival which features a downtown parade, pumpkin derby, live auction, crafts, rides, food, music, and more. Wendell also hosts an annual Spring into the Arts Walk each May and an International Food and Music Festival each September.

Robertson Millpond Preserve is a hidden gem in Wendell that is nestled on 85 acres. This refuge is a favorite for nature lovers, canoeists, and kayakers. The Preserve is the only bald cypress habitat in Raleigh, making it the only spot where you can enjoy the unique experience of paddling through a forest-like setting. The 1.15-mile loop paddling trail is open daily during the peak summer season, and during the off-peak season is only open on weekends.

Wendell Country Club is a public golf course that provides a relaxed atmosphere with a picturesque backdrop. They have a fully stocked Pro Shop, and Divot’s Grill is open every day for breakfast and lunch.

Real Estate in Wendell

Wendell is a great option for those who work in the downtown Raleigh area, yet desire more affordable housing options, as well as more space. Wendell Falls is a new community that offers farmhouse-style townhomes and homes for sale in Wendell with prices starting in the high $200s and is located just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh. The community is full of great amenities, including: a massive pool with a waterslide; a beautiful Farmhouse Café where you can grab a coffee, beer, or bite to eat with neighbors; bike trails; and an elementary school within the community. Woodard Oaks and Maggie Way are two new subdivisions that offer single-family homes in the $300s. Since Wendell is a small town with a population of just over 7,000 people, many of the homes are not in a subdivision. However, new communities in Wendell have been developed in recent years in order to keep up with the demand of people searching for more affordable housing outside of Raleigh.

Ready to Buy a Home or Sell a Home in Wendell? 

Team Anderson Realty is an independent 5-star, concierge-style real estate firm that has been serving Wendell and the surrounding areas since 2014. We have an established presence in the community and are committed to helping buyers find the perfect home within their budget. If you are looking to buy a home in Wendell, we would love the opportunity to show you what’s available and help you purchase that perfect home! Likewise, if you have ever thought to yourself, “What do I need to do to sell my home?” then we can help with that too! We are a top seller’s agent in Wendell, and we would be delighted to put our expertise to work for you in getting you top-dollar for your home. We offer superior service to all of our clients regardless of budget. If you’re in the market to either buy or sell your home, please let a North Carolina real estate agent from our team help you make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Call our Wendell real estate agency today at 919-610-5126 and let us get to work for you!