Star City Life
Mill Mountain and the Greenways
Every city has a landmark. Ours is a hundred-foot star on a mountain in the middle of town, and honestly, we would not trade it for anything taller.
Reviewed by our dentists, Updated April 2026
The Star above everything
The Mill Mountain Star has watched over the valley since 1949, long enough that giving directions by it is a local birthright and spotting it from a new angle still feels like a small win. The overlook beside it delivers the whole valley in one view: downtown's brick and neon, the ridgelines stacking blue into the distance, the river threading through it all. First dates, family photos, post-race cooldowns, the Star collects them all without charging admission. When people ask why a dental practice named for this city leans into the Star City identity, the answer is simple: we grew up looking at that thing too.
The valley on foot and on wheels
If the Star is Roanoke's face, the greenways are its circulatory system. The Roanoke River Greenway carries walkers, strollers, and bikes along the water through the heart of the city. The Mill Mountain Greenway climbs from downtown toward the Star for anyone whose legs want a conversation. Out our way in southwest Roanoke, Murray Run winds through quiet woods and schoolyards, and the path through Garst Mill Park, minutes from both of our offices, fills every evening with dog walkers and kids learning to pedal. The whole network keeps stretching further each year, and the valley keeps using every new mile of it.
Why this page lives on a dental website
Not to sell you anything, mostly. Our team lives here: staff who log greenway miles before work, families who feed the Mill Mountain Zoo goats on Saturdays, at least one stubborn soul who bikes the Star climb in July. A practice is its people, and our people are thoroughly of this valley. The Star on our branding is not a marketing decision so much as a hometown reflex. If you are new here and want the local orientation beyond trails, our new to Roanoke guide covers the practical side of settling in.
The gentle footnote
Since you made it this far: we are a two-office dental practice in Cave Spring, Dr. David Perry on Electric Rd and Dr. Syed Razi on Brambleton Ave, and if a trail spill ever costs you a tooth corner, our emergency care team and custom mouthguards exist for exactly that. Electric Rd: 540-774-8288. Brambleton Ave: 540-774-3143. Or book online after your next loop on the river. See you out there, probably near the Star.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mill Mountain Star really visible from all over the city?+
From a remarkable amount of it. The Star sits on Mill Mountain above South Roanoke and has been lit since 1949, and catching sight of it from an unexpected street corner never fully wears off. The overlook next to it has the best free view in the valley, day or night.
Which greenway should a beginner start with?+
The Roanoke River Greenway is the backbone: flat, paved, and scenic, threading through the city along the water. If you are in southwest Roanoke near our offices, Murray Run Greenway and the path through Garst Mill Park are gentle, shaded, and rarely crowded on weekday mornings.
Does Roanoke Dental Center sponsor trail events or teams?+
We keep our community involvement modest and local, and this page is not a sponsorship brag. Mostly we are the practice whose patients arrive in running shoes and whose staff compare greenway mileage on Mondays. That feels like the right size for us.
Any dental advice for runners and cyclists, since you are a dental practice after all?+
Two honest ones. First, sports drinks and gels are acidic and sugary, so chase them with plain water on long efforts. Second, if you ride technical trails, a mouthguard is far cheaper than a front tooth. That is the whole sales pitch on this page.
What is the best time of year on the greenways?+
Ask five locals, get five answers. October gets the glory for foliage along the river, but a cool June morning on the Mill Mountain Greenway climb, with the valley opening up behind you, makes a strong case. There is no bad answer except never.
★ When You're Ready
Come see for yourself.
Take your time choosing the office that fits.
Pick the Cave Spring office that's closer to you. Appointment scheduling is open 24/7 by phone or online, clinical visits are Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM at both offices.
Visit Electric Rd
2660 Electric Rd Suite A
Visit Brambleton Ave
4907 Brambleton Ave
Or call the front desk