We’re Josh and Meika Darville and we met in South Florida, got married nearly 19 years ago, and have been building a life together full of adventure, hard work, and faith ever since. We’re also proud parents to two amazing boys, Elijah (14) and Noah (12), who keep us grounded, growing, and grateful every day.
After starting out in Raleigh, NC, we each followed our own paths—Meika working in the corporate world at Citrix Systems, and me running our renovation company, flipping houses and investing in real estate. Over the years, we’ve remodeled homes, managed rental properties, and dipped our toes into all kinds of entrepreneurial waters. But when the pandemic hit and our home had to become our office, church, gym, and classroom all at once, something shifted.
We began praying for a place that would allow us to create margin, breathe deeper, and build something meaningful. That’s when we stumbled across this big, mysterious house in the country—8,600 square feet, 11 buildings, sitting on 3 acres surrounded by farmland and pine trees. The pictures were bad, the layout confusing—but something about it tugged at us. So we drove out to see it, and instantly fell in love with the potential.
We bought the Scarborough House on December 30, 2020, during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. It needed everything—gutters, siding, paint, drainage, electrical—you name it. We partnered with our good friend Robb (a true fix-anything kind of guy) and started the process: Stop the decay. Increase functionality. Make it beautiful. That’s our proven formula when flipping houses, and we applied it here with everything we had.
We poured over a million pounds of concrete, installed 700 feet of gutters, painted with 2,000+ gallons, hauled away dumpsters full of rot and mold, and cleared acres of debris. At first, we treated the property as a high-end Airbnb, but then a bride asked if she could get married here—and that changed everything.
That question sparked the vision. We weren’t just restoring a home—we were creating a place where people could celebrate, grieve, laugh, dance, and love. A place that felt like home from the moment you arrived.
In 2024, we hosted over 15 weddings, several quinceañeras, family reunions, and even a funeral. And every time, someone tells us the same thing: “This place feels like home.”
Our Christian faith is the foundation of everything we do. We believe in loving people like Jesus did—with kindness, patience, and open doors. Scarborough House is more than a venue to us—it’s a place to experience peace, beauty, and connection. A place where your family can make lasting memories, just like ours has.
Thanks for stopping by and letting us share our story. We hope to be part of yours.
Back in the 1800’s what it was a large plantation, Scarborough House was located near the bustling community of Oak Grove. Little is known of the origins of Oak Grove. The community was never incorporated, and little remains now except a few of the oaks. The origins of the community may go back as far as the eighteenth century when stage lines ran through this area carrying passengers to Tarboro, Waynesborough (and later Goldsboro), and Martinsboro (later Greenville). Ammons Tavern (possibly a corruption of Amerson’s Tavern, Amerson being a local landowner), about one- half a mile north of the Scarborough House furnished amenities and lodging to travelers on the stagecoach route. The location of Oak Grove is said to have been equidistant from the three county seats, and therefore was an ideal stopping place on all the stage lines. A number of dwellings and a post office were also said to have been a part of the small community. In 1830 the shift of the community southwards became evident with the establishment of White Oak Baptist Church just south of the Scarborough House. When the plank road from Wilson to Greenville was completed in 1835, the focus of the community became the road, and by 1864 the name “Saratoga” was in use although it was not until the l870s that the town was incorporated.
Learn more about Scarborough House, the Scarborough Family and Ancestors. Click an image below.
Explore the historical findings of Lisa Y. Hendersen, as she continues to investigate the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the Scarborough land.
Lisa Y. Hendersen
Read this classic historical book by Jewel Davis Scarborough, where she in great detail, lays out the many ancestors and descendants of Major James Scarborough.
Jewel Davis Scarborough
Leading the way in preserving historic homes in Wilson County, POW has been at the forefront of revitalization in our community.
preservation of wilson
Scarborough House Resort is committed to a long-term and ongoing effort to more deeply understand and respond to the historic role this property contributed to the injustice of slavery, as well as the legacies of enslavement on the Scarborough Plantation. Through engagement with the members of the Preservation of Wilson, collaborative projects with our surrounding community, and continued initiatives of learning and research, the Scarborough House Resort resolves to memorialize and reconcile with the wrongs of the past. We aim to follow a path of love and respect for all humanity, creating an inclusive environment, where all people will feel welcomed.
Below are some important historical facts. This information will continue to be updated, as new facts come to light. Should you or anyone you know have information, photographs, documents or other artifacts pertaining to Scarborough Plantation or it’s below listed persons, please contact [email protected] or reach out to our Scarborough Staff. Thank you.
Known Enslaved People from the Scarborough Plantation:
Bluford, Guilford, Nan, Aggy, Silvia, Bunny, Milly, Lemon, Washington, Tom Sumter, Young Aggy, Haywood, Luke, Orange, Willis, and Treasy
* Please Note: The enslaved were stripped from any of their ownership and heritage when they were sold. It is assumed that the above named slaves would have had “Scarborough” as a last name.
Scarborough Family Members:
James Scarborough, Martha Scarborough, Zilly Scarborough, John R. Scarborough
Millicent Eason, Elisabeth Eason, James S. Eason, Polly P. Eason, Joshua B. Eason
This is a beautiful contribution to the architectural and cultural history of the site. With this tribute, we recognize the former enslaved residents from over 200 years ago. We are so grateful for the collaboration and continued support of Black Wide Awake, and thank Ms. Lisa Y. Henderson for her report prepared for Scarborough House Resort, Saratoga, North Carolina – 8 April 2023
Often, we are blessed with some very interesting guests! Many stop along their travels, exploring and enjoying the history of the Scarborough House Resort. The fine folks in this video, stayed in our Historic Residence while investigating the land, and unearthing so many wonderful artifacts from past. Wartime memorabilia, old money, buttons, and so much more. Really neat stuff!
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