Look inside: This 1920 dairy barn was turned into a house. Now it’s for sale in Cary

A dairy barn built in Cary more than a century ago went up for sale this week, and the real estate agent says the offers are already pouring in for the historic property.

The home has indoor and outdoor spiral staircases, a dramatic Gothic roof and brick floors throughout. At 1,518 square feet, it has three bedrooms, one bathroom and an unfinished second-floor.

It went on the market at the end of April for $799,900.

“We’ve got multiple offers on it,” said Chad Ross, of Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s really a neat spot.”

The building, which sits on 1.8 acres in central Cary, dates back to 1920, according to the Wake County Department of Tax Administration.

Early in the same decade, what’s now called Western Boulevard was completed, offering an easy drive from Cary to Raleigh, and the state paved new roads to Durham and Apex, according to town historians.

That prompted one of the town’s earliest population explosions. Today, Cary remains one of the fastest growing communities in North Carolina and is the seventh largest city in the state.

The real estate agent included historical black-and-white photographs in the online listing, including one from 1926 bearing the text: “Dr. Rodger’s [of Raleigh] Farm at Cary, NC. First Gothic Roof Barn in NC. Designed & Built by David S. Weaver.”

“This rare piece of history could be renovated or live just as it is with the rustic charm of exposed brick walls and handsome oak ceilings,” the listing read. “No restrictive covenants or HOA but walking distance to everything in downtown Cary.”

Ross said some offers have come from folks interested in living there, while others are interested in its potential as an AirBnB, and some just crave the large lot.

The barn is located at 303 S. Dixon Ave. and is owned by the living trust of Taylor Copland, which has a Rocky Mount mailing address.

This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Look inside: This 1920 dairy barn was turned into a house. Now it’s for sale in Cary."

Mary Helen Moore

The News & Observer

Mary Helen Moore covers Durham for The News & Observer. She grew up in Eastern North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill before spending several years working in newspapers in Florida. Outside of work, you might find her reading, fishing, baking, or going on walks (mainly to look at plants).