There and Back Again: Rocky Mount to Bristol
There and Back Again: Rocky Mount to Bristol
The Crooked Road—from Virginia to Tennessee
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Backroads transport us to the places in between. This regularly occurring feature takes you to and from two southeastern destinations via winding rural roads lined with spacious farmland, historic sites, captivating overlooks, and locally owned businesses. Take one route there and another back to experience two unique journeys.
Our spring excursion follows a portion of “The Crooked Road,” an established music heritage trail in Southwest Virginia that offers more than just good tunes and live performances. It also leads to distilleries and vineyards where you can sample locally curated spirits; hikes to waterfalls and mountain overlooks; a country store that grows 600 varieties of daylilies and hosts cruise-in style music jams; and more.
Start your journey in Rocky Mount, Virginia, then travel four hours and forty-three minutes to Bristol on the border of Virginia and Tennessee. The return to Rocky Mount takes four hours and thirty-three minutes. We recommend booking an overnight stay in Bristol to ensure enough time for maximum enjoyment of these intriguing destinations.
For this week’s bonus content, we’ve suggested a cool place to stay in Bristol and more detailed descriptions of some of the stops on our journey.
Tip: Our “There and Back Again” routes always take the road less traveled. Set your GPS options to “avoid highways” for a more scenic experience.
GET THERE
Rocky Mount to Bristol
Access the Google Maps coordinates here.
Backroad Route
4 hours 43 minutes, 215 miles
6 stops
Rocky Mount to Ferrum to Pembroke to Wytheville to Marion to Bristol
STARTING POINT
Twin Creeks Distillery
140 Franklin Street, Rocky Mount
Start your trip strong with a taste of the spirits that once provided a way of life and means of survival for many Blue Ridge Mountains residents. Chris Prillaman opened Twin Creeks Distillery in 2014 to honor the traditional practice of whiskey-making. Located in the “moonshine capital of the world”—Franklin County—the distillery recently moved from 510 Franklin Street to its new location at 140 Franklin Street, and is expected to reopen in April. Products include 90-proof First Sugar Moonshine and Apple Brandy, 100-proof Copper Corn, and 86-proof Peg Hatcher’s Straight Whiskey. Stop by for a sample or to purchase a bottle. Some of the distillery’s spirits are also sold at Virginia ABC stores. Learn more at twincreeksdistillery.com.
The Blue Ridge Institute & Museum at Ferrum College
215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum
Ferrum College created the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (BRIM) to celebrate the region’s folk heritage and history. BRIM’s heritage farm serves as the site for the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival each October and hosts concerts throughout the year. A major venue on The Crooked Road, BRIM also offers educational programming to help Ferrum College’s students build valuable skills. In 1986, Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles and the state legislature designated BRIM as “The State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore.” Spring events include Monday night jams, the Blue Ridge Plant and Seed Swap on April 13, 10–11 a.m., the 8th Annual Moonshine Heritage Bash & Car Show on April 27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and more. Check out the calendar at blueridgeinstitute.org.
Cascade Falls Trailhead
2068 Cascade Drive, Pembroke
Stretch your legs during a scenic hike to Cascade Falls in Jefferson National Forest. This four-mile round trip hike to a 66-foot waterfall is low-to-moderate in difficulty, and offers picnic areas and fishing opportunities at Little Stony Creek. Restrooms are available at the trailhead, and parking costs $3 per vehicle. No bikes or horses are permitted. Learn more at virginia.org/listing/cascades-national-recreation-trail/6927.
Mountain Lake Lodge
115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke
Just a few miles away in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find Mountain Lake Lodge. Located in the center of a 2,600-acre nature preserve, this site of several important scenes in the 1987 hit movie Dirty Dancing offers accommodations ranging from cabins to cottages, and the Main Stone Lodge’s well-appointed rooms. Enjoy farm-to-table fare and events such as themed Dirty Dancing weekends April 26–28 and June 21–23. Mark your calendar for a celebration of Virginia's finest craft breweries at the 2024 BrewRidge Music Festival on Saturday, May 18. Other spring events such as an Easter Brunch March 31, Wellness Weekend April 19–20, and more. Visit mtnlakelodge.com for details.
Big Walker Lookout
8711 Stoney Fork Road, Wytheville
The highest point on the Big Walker Mountain National Scenic Byway, Big Walker Lookout is the only place on this journey where you can climb a lookout tower that offers an expansive view of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ natural splendor, and experience an old-fashioned country store that serves up hand-dipped ice cream and fresh fudge. Located on U.S. 52 between Wytheville and Bland, Big Walker Lookout hosts live music performances on-site May through October. Learn more at scenicbeauty-va.com.
The Lincoln Theatre
117 E. Main Street, Marion
After visiting a grand movie palace in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a successful furniture factory owner in Marion named Charles C. Lincoln Sr. set out to build what is believed to be one of the last remaining Mayan Revival-style theaters in the world. Lincoln invested $150,000 ($2 million in today’s currency) in the project, and hired New York’s Novelty Art Studios to design interiors that would evoke the feeling of walking into an ancient Mayan temple. Lincoln died of pneumonia in 1928 before construction of The Lincoln Theatre was complete, but his sons continued the project, and on July 1, 1929, The Lincoln Theatre officially opened with Close Harmony starring Buddy Rogers and Nancy Carroll. This spring you can see shows there like “An Evening With Aaron Tippin” or the “Mark Lowry and Friends Tour 2024.” It’s an experience you won’t forget. Learn more at thelincoln.org.
The Henderson
293 North Church Street, Marion
Before you leave Marion, stop by The Henderson, also known as the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts. Named for a southwestern Virginia luthier who has crafted guitars for the likes of Eric Clapton, Doc Watson, Dave Neal, and other famous musicians, the school includes a three-story brick building known as the 1908 Schoolhouse—also considered an important local landmark due to its location on the highest point in Historic Downtown Marion. In years past, this structure housed a high school, elementary school, library, school board, parole office, and historical society prior to functioning as The Henderson. Learn more at thehenderson.org.
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
101 Country Music Way, Bristol
Bristol’s expansion across the border of Virginia and Tennessee gives both states bragging rights to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a nonprofit Smithsonian Institution affiliate that celebrates the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions—recordings that triggered what many in the industry refer to as the “big bang of country music.” The museum offers immersive experiences and hosts the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival in downtown Bristol, which takes place September 13–15 this year and celebrates the region’s rich music culture—from traditional to progressive genres. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum also serves as the broadcasting and streaming site for WBCM Radio Bristol, which airs music with vintage and modern roots. Learn more at birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
OVERNIGHT STAY SUGGESTION
Wonder Into a Yurt
Book an overnight stay in a cozy yurt at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, located at 22010 Nicewonder Drive in Bristol. All yurts are pet-friendly and offer an evening under the stars with the convenience of modern amenities. Enjoy peaceful moments on a secluded back porch while gazing at southern Virginia wildlife. Each yurt is stocked with locally-curated snacks, Nespresso pods and teas, and of course, Nicewonder Vineyards award-winning wine. Learn more at nicewonderfarm.com.
Bonus: Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards is on the way to the Virginia Creeper Trail—your next destination.
AND BACK AGAIN
Bristol to Rocky Mount
Access the Google Maps coordinates here.
Backroad Route
4 hours 33 minutes, 173 miles
5 stops
Bristol to Abingdon to Mouth of Wilson to Floyd to Rocky Mount
STARTING POINT
Accommodations of your choice in Bristol
Virginia Creeper Trail
Trail terminus: 300 Green Spring Road, Abingdon
Trailhead: 331 Douglas Drive, Damascus
Start your return trip with an invigorating hike on the Virginia Creeper Trail terminus—the closest access point from Bristol. You’ll reach a point where you’re only a half-mile from the next stop, Abingdon Vineyards. From Abingdon, This rails-to-trails venue stretches 34 miles to Damascus. You can also ride it on bike or horseback. The trail winds along the Whitetop Laurel River and reaches its highpoint at Whitetop Station near the North Carolina state line. It also passes through Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the Virginia highlands. Stop for a bite to eat at 7 Trails Grill or Wicked Chicken, both in Damascus. Map it out at vacreepertrail.org.
Abingdon Vineyards
20530 Alvarado Road, Abingdon
Abingdon Vineyard is just a half-mile from the Virginia Creeper Trail, so you won’t have far to go before you can enjoy delicious reds, whites, and rosés made from nine grape varieties that grow on the vineyard’s 13 acres of vines. In addition to sampling wines in the tasting room, enjoy a glass or two with cheese, crackers, salami, and other charcuterie delights by the South Holston River. Sit at a picnic table or bring a blanket for the lawn. Kids and dogs are allowed, and the vineyard hosts events featuring live music and food trucks. Learn more at abingdonvineyards.com.
Grayson Highlands State Park
829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson
Feast your eyes on unforgettable views at this Mouth of Wilson park—well worth the 45-minute southeastern drive from Abingdon. In addition to hiking across 4,502 acres of breathtaking vistas, you’ll encounter herds of wild ponies that graze between the rock outcroppings without a care in the world. Every third Saturday in June, The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival & Guitar Competition features performances by some of the region’s best traditional and bluegrass musicians. An annual tradition in Southwest Virginia since 1995, this year’s festival will be the final one, and it will be held on June 15. Henderson, a world-renowned luthier and National Heritage Award recipient (who is also mentioned in our section on The Henderson in Marion), always performs live at the festival. Learn more at dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands and waynehenderson.org.
Wildwood Farms General Store
2380 Floyd Highway South, Floyd
As you make your way back to Rocky Mount, stop by Wildwood Farms General Store in Floyd where, in addition to 600 varieties of daylilies available for purchase, you can enjoy a cold drink and hot dog from the kitchen; shop for unique home and garden gifts; and listen to traditional, classic rock, or bluegrass music jams every first and third Saturday April through October, 1–4 p.m. These events are “cruise-ins”—so you can attend them from the comfort of your vehicle. Learn more at wildwoodfarmsdaylilies.com.
Twin Creeks Distillery
140 Franklin Street, Rocky Mount
End your trip where it began. If you ever wanted to try authentic moonshine, now’s your chance! Check out the options at twincreeksdistillery.com. Enjoy your journey and feel free to email “There and Back Again” ideas to us at hello@backroadportfolio.com.