The Eden, North Carolina Issue www.showcasemagazine.com
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CONTENTS
Showcase Magazine
MARCH 2020
THE EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA ISSUE Showcase Magazine
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FEATURES Welcome to Eden
Our Community, Our Nature 8
Spring Break Fun in Martinsville – Henry County 24
ALSO INSIDE Games
Crossword & Wordsearch 18
Welcome to Eden
Our Community, Our Nature
PG.
8
Confessions of a 30 Something Memories of Eden 19
ALSO INSIDE Editor’s Letter
Small Town... Big Outdoors 6
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife How to Make Homemade Butter in a Mason Jar 22
Paws for a Cause
Empathy for Living Creatures 21 4 SHOWCASE Magazine |
Nine Grams
Instagrams from Eden North Carolina 26 MARCH 2020
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PG.
24
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Small Town... Big Outdoors Tourism is rapidly changing. Many travelers are not interested in your normal cookie cutter attractions, restaurants and lodging. Rural tourism is getting its start in small towns just like Eden, North Carolina. Travelers want to experience local culture, food, attractions, nature and people. Eden is proud to call itself “Small Town—Big Outdoors”. That just makes you feel something when you say it. We have the charm of small town living that can be experienced in our historic downtown, in our cozy neighborhoods, at our signature events or experiencing the local flavor in our restaurants. Then on the other hand you can experience nature at its best along our paddle trails, walking trails and many parks. Our signature events have become an important part of our tourism efforts with many cities and several states representing our visitors. We are proud to offer nine signature events that begin in May and continue into September. Along the way we also throw in several small but dynamic events for our citizens and visitors to experience and enjoy. • May–Spring Grown & Gathered • June–Piedmont Pottery Festival & Oink & Ale • July–Shaggin’ on Fieldcrest • August–Summer Grown & Gathered & Touch-A-Truck • September–RiverFest • October–Heritage & Heroes • December–Winterfest Smaller events include Hispanic Heritage Day & Movies Under the Stars. There is something to be enjoyed by the small child to the senior. One of the most unique amenities Eden is proud of is our Eden Drive In. Car loads of excited movie-goers come from near and far to experience the nostalgia of watching a movie under the stars. Most nights during the summer the venue is a sell out! This jewel is only one of several left in the state of North Carolina and is the largest movie screen in Rockingham County! To accompany that nostalgic feeling you can still receive curbside service at our historic Circle Drive In and Dick’s Drive In. They serve up some of the best hotdogs and French fries in the State!! Eden is most proud of our trails both on the water and the land. Our paddle trails include our crown jewels, the Dan and Smith Rivers. There are so many adventures to be found on the rivers whether it be kayaking, canoeing or tubing. An abundance of wildlife can also be seen from the water or along the banks that include heron, geese, deer, turkey, birds, turtles and so much more. The rivers are a photographers haven. Our land trails include the beautiful Smith River Greenway that runs 1.7 miles along the Smith River and the Matrimony Creek Nature Trail that rewards you one mile in with a gorgeous waterfall. You can also enjoy the Freedom Park Nature Trail and the Dan River Nature Trail. So, if you’re looking for an adventurous day trip or a weekend that could include some regional treasures as well - visit Eden, NC. Our city has a rich heritage and a flair for good ole’ southern hospitality. We are here to help you create precious memories by experiencing an adventure on the river, a slow-paced shopping & dining experience in our historic downtown, a fun night at the Eden Drive In, or a day at one of our award winning festivals. Check these and so many other activities out at www.ExploreEdenNC.com or follow our Explore Eden facebook page. We really do live in a small town with a BIG outdoors!! See ya’ll soon. Cindy Adams Coordinator of Tourism, Special Events & Projects City of Eden, NC
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CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com EDITORIAL INTERN Reid Brown GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net FINANCE MANAGER Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com ADVERTISING Lee Vogler | Director of Sales and Marketing lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 Sam Jackson | Marketing Consultant sam@showcasmagazine.com | 434.709.3528 CUSTOMER SERVICE Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3, Danville, VA 24541 Phone 434.709.7349 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cindy Adams | Angie Barrett Jennifer Atkins Brown | Paulette Dean Michael Dougherty | Angela Fowler Sam Jackson | Lee Vogler CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Angie Barrett | Captured Portraiture Eden Chamber of Commerce | Sam Jackson Visit Martinsville COVER Animal sculpture art at Grogan Park in Eden Photographed by Captured Portraiture Scan with your smart phone for
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FEATURE EDEN: THE HISTORY
Eden
The Land of Two Rivers BY ANGELA FOWLER, PRESIDENT, EDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PHOTOS BY CAPTURED PORTRAITURE
E
den NC is a small southern city which borders Danville & Martinsville VA., Caswell County and Guilford County NC. Eden has a population of roughly fifteen thousand people and is often referred to as “The Land of Two Rivers”. The Dan and Smith Rivers flow north and south of the city, and they supply a bevy of natural resources to the area. Small town living with good old down-home southern hospitality awaits you within a 25-minute drive from the Danville area. Eden is just a short drive to many larger populated areas such as Greensboro, Winston Salem, High Point, Charlotte, and Roanoke VA. Many of our residents live in Eden and work in the larger cities not only saving money in the housing market but also some residents prefer a smaller town atmosphere to live and raise their children. Eden is a young city, only 52-years old. The City was incorporated September 1967 through the consolidation of three towns—Leaksville, Spray, and Draper. Eden is also the largest city in Rockingham County. During the mid-1800s and well into the 20th century, the three separate towns thrived. The dominate industries were textile mills and farms that produced tobacco and agricultural goods. The two rivers supplied travel access
for goods to be imported and exported to and from Eden. In modern times, the Dan and Smith Rivers provide recreation, canoeing, fishing, and serene settings with various access points for boats and or swimmers. In the early 1700s, a Virginian named William Byrd II purchased 20,000 acres south of the boundary line from the North Carolina commissioners. This wedge-shaped tract of land lies almost entirely within present day Rockingham County, NC. A very small sliver at the eastern edge of Byrd’s tract lies in present day Caswell County, NC. A few years later, Byrd added an additional 6,000 acres. Leaksville was founded in the 1790s and incorporated in 1874. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War veteran, John Leak. Spray was settled around 1813. It was originally called Splash or Splashy, because of the water that splashed about on the waterwheel at the local mill. Spray was not incorporated until 1951. Draper was originally established as a mill village in 1905 and not incorporated until 1949. During those days, the three areas were commonly known as the “tri-cities.” On September 12, 1967 residents of Leaksville, Draper, Spray, and the unincorporated Meadows Greens Sanitary District (what is now known as Central Eden) voted to consolidate the communities.
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FEATURE EDEN: THE ECONOMY
Eden
Looking within and without for economic vitality BY MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDEN NC PHOTOS BY CAPTURED PORTRAITURE
S
ince 2016, Eden’s poverty rate has declined 25 percent, the real estate market has improved dramatically, and new investors have surfaced both in downtown and in its industrial areas. On the industrial front, in September 2019, Gildan Yarns reopened the former SGRTex yarn spinning operation, adding 85 employees. Two additional projects are in the works. One is an innovative operation that will add an initial 40 jobs and the other is a fabrication company that will bring more than 30 new jobs. Both of these companies will be announced by March 2020. Eden is a partner in the Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill by providing both water and sewer utilities to the park. The Mega Site continues to garner interest from global companies. The site has been characterized as “checking all the boxes” for a mega-site: rail, abundant utilities, broadband, etc. Both the Virginia and North Carolina Departments of Transportation are working to make the park more accessible. VDOT has approved a plan to connect Berry Hill Road, where the site is located, to the Danville Expressway. NCDOT will extend I-785 from Hicone Road in Guilford County, NC to the Virginia State Line in 2027, if not before. This will improve one of the major impediments to the park—highway accessibility.
It has been described as the new “currency” in economic development. Eden’s historic downtown has enjoyed an infusion of new investment. New apartments, a coffee shop, two new restaurants and a meadery/tapis bar will open by June 2020. These types of attractions are critical to attracting younger people to our community. Since 2008, Eden has progressed forward by welcoming existing industry expansions and new companies. It is not alone among rural communities seeking to reinvent themselves and provide new opportunities for its citizens. In 2020, economic development staffs in Eden, Rockingham County, and southern Virginia communities will work together to replace jobs in existing facilities, recruit new investment, and build a talented workforce to achieve regional prosperity.
During the last few years, Danville and Pittsylvania County have worked to transform the local workforce. They have invested heavily to establish a pipeline of high school students pursuing advanced manufacturing occupations. Rockingham Community College leaders are seeking to offer complementary workforce development programs to those offered in Danville and Martinsville, VA. The goal of this initiative is to create an unsurpassed regional workforce that will set this area apart from other sections of the county and help us compete with urban areas. The importance of a skilled workforce cannot be overstated. www.showcasemagazine.com
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FEATURE EDEN: THE RECREATION
Eden
New addition makes a splash BY JENNIFER ATKINS BROWN PHOTOS FROM EDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
O
perated by the City of Eden’s Parks and Recreation Department, one of Eden’s newest recreational additions has already made quite a splash. The Freedom Park Splash Pad had almost 8,000 visits and many pad parties since opening for the first time in June 2019.
The splash pad adds another fun element to the already popular Freedom Park, which offers amenities including a three-field softball complex, paved walking track, nature trail, 10 RV pads, skateboard park, two picnic shelters, Eden Kiwanis Ampitheater, two outdoor basketball courts, bocce ball court, miniature golf facility, and a dog park.
“This facility was needed to continue to provide new experiences for the City’s residents and to attract people to the City of Eden,” said Johnny Farmer, Parks and Recreation director. “Splash pads are one of the most popular facilities being built by municipalities across the country, and the City of Eden is very proud and happy to have built and opened the first splash pads in Rockingham County.”
“The Freedom Park Splash Pad is important because it gives the residents of Eden and Rockingham County something new and fresh to take part in,” Farmer said. “It also attracts visitors to Eden and Rockingham County and lets potential businesses and individuals who may look to relocate here know the area has outstanding parks and recreation facilities that provide quality of life amenities to its residents.”
Open to all ages, the splash pad’s purpose is to provide an aquatic facility with a zero depth feature and less risk than a swimming pool. The Freedom Park Splash Pad includes the interactive splash pad area, lounge chairs, sand chairs, picnic tables, umbrellas, two pavilion areas, concessions, restrooms, showers and changing areas. Designed using a flow through set-up system, the splash pad uses city water, and does not have to be chlorinated since it uses treated water from the city’s water treatment facility. No chemicals are required. The facility has a staff to supervise operations and includes a water-saving feature and fence. Planning for the Freedom Park Splash Pad began in the summer of 2017 after city staff toured similar facilities and Guilford and Alamance counties. The city council approved the funds to build the facility and also obtained an additional $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for the project.
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FEATURE EDEN: SMALL BUSINESS LONGEVITY
Turner Furniture
Decades of getting to know the customers BY SAM JACKSON PHOTO BY SAM JACKSON
I
t would be cliché to say the key to Turner Furniture’s nearly six decades of success has been “doing things the old-fashioned way.” To owner Jerry Robertson, it’s more about doing things the right way. Open since 1952, Turner’s has been a staple in Eden, Rockingham County and beyond ever since, by the simple art of handling all its customers’ needs. Of course, the key to understanding those needs is to know your customers, and that’s where Turner’s staff excels. When a customer enters the store, a conversation ensues, not just a sales pitch. The philosophy at Turner’s is to get to know the customer’s needs and go the extra mile to fill them. That means it takes extra care to listen to the client and procuring the right pieces to fit what the community wants. “We see a lot of stuff that may be selling elsewhere that isn’t selling right here,” said Mike Tilley, one of Turner’s six “do-everything” workers. The key is buying the right merchandise at the right time. “That’s a major challenge,” Robertson said. Robertson took over Turner Furniture in 1999, when his job as an electrical maintenance supervisor disappeared due to the rash of mill closings in the region. Rather than being daunted by the mid-career shift, he took over a
store that already had decades of history, a solid reputation, and a staff that made the transition easier. “It wasn’t so bad,” Robertson said. “I had a lot of good folks” who stayed around after Robertson bought the store from the Turners, he added. Changing the name of the store never entered Robertson’s mind, since name recognition was a major selling point. “I knew that all I needed to do was not mess up the name they had worked so hard to build,” he added. One way that name is maintained these days is through one feature rarely seen in the furniture business—free delivery, both near and far. Turner’s regularly delivers to Danville, Martinsville, Reidsville, even further if the circumstances demand it. Another key is making sure there’s enough of everything to satisfy demand. Turner’s sells a large number of sofas, bedroom sets and a barrage of recliners, and it is one of the few dealers that can service the lift chairs it sells. As ever, volume is key. “We’re not afraid to pull the trigger and buy lots of things we know will be a good deal,” Robertson said. For Robertson, it’s a simple equation that leads to success. “Better price plus free delivery,” he said. It doesn’t hurt that Turner’s has spent half a century building relationships with its customers, to the point where it is often the first name given to anyone in need of furnishings. “The fact is, a lot of people come in and say, ‘when I said I needed furniture, I was told to come here,’” Robertson said. Those visitors may be customers, but they become something more at Turner’s. “When I worked in the textile mills, I had 200-300 friends I worked with. Now, I work with thousands of people,” Robertson said. “I’ve made a lot of friends.”
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EXTRA GAMES
Games
Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Composer 6 Put on __ 10 Male deer 14 Fearing 15 Planted 16 Foot part 17 Automobile 18 Cede 19 Uncommon 20 Bard’s before 21 Canoe propellers 23 Famous inventor 25 Convexity 26 Foot extension 27 __ of Capricorn 30 Faster 34 “basement” gas 35 Undiluted 36 Moving truck 38 Black 39 Remnant 40 Pointy end 42 Serving of corn 43 Behave 44 Food consumer
45 Giant wave 48 British King’s name 49 Rive 50 Colored horse 51 Curly yarn 54 Remove from office 55 Pencil end 58 Bridge support 59 Invitation abbreviaton 61 Remove 63 Painter of melting clocks 64 Dueling sword 65 Smooth tightly twisted thread 66 Ardor 67 Citizen of DOWN 1 Flower jar 2 Vessel 3 Travel by horse 4 Cell stuff 5 Infamy
6 Aggressive feelings 7 Colored part of eye 8 Reverend (abbr.) 9 Common pet name 10 Yell 11 What Celestial Seasonings makes 12 Air (prefix) 13 Valley 22 Most basic 24 Doctor (slang) 25 Onto 27 Maple 28 National capital 29 Smells 30 Almost identical 31 Advise 32 1997 Madonna movie 33 Leaf gatherer 35 Ball 37 Smart person 40 Calmly 41 Hock 43 Lined with paper 46 Gamin
47 Zero 48 Aurora 50 Indian money 51 Ordered
52 Voiced 53 Ca. University 54 Kiln 55 Project
56 Island 57 Pare 60 Resort hotel 62 Rio de Janeiro
Word Search EDEN
HISTORIC
OUTDOORS
CITIZENS
EXPLORE
IMAGINATION
RECREATION
COMMUNITY
FREEDOM PARK
NATURE
RIVERFEST
BASECAMP
CONNECTIONS
ROCKINGHAM
This month’s Games Page is sponsored by Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Christine Piper Page 7
Evince Magazine is a montlhly publication covering and distributed throughout the Dan River Region.
Meditation Moment Page 8
Sharon Telisha Moore Leigg Making Mom & Teachers Proud
Photo Finish
See Page 5
Page 14
www.evincemagazine.com Answers on Page 22 18 SHOWCASE Magazine |
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CONFESSIONS OF A 30 SOMETHING
Confessions of a 30 Something
Memories of Eden WRITTEN BY LEE VOGLER PHOTO BY CAPTURED PORTRAITURE
Everyone knows I love Danville. It’s my home and always will be. Every once in a while, however, it’s nice to check out other places and see what they have to offer. For years, Eden has been one of the places I love to visit to get away from my normal routine. I can still remember seeing the first Jurassic Park movie at the Eden Drive-In when I was a kid and hiding in the backseat of my parents’ car during the scary parts. There have been dozens of other movies along the way, most recently when Blair and I took the kids to the latest Godzilla film. Watching a gigantic fire-breathing monster stomp through a city on a huge screen in the open air is a neat experience.
There’s also a brewery on the way, which I’m sure we will venture out to. I know we’ll definitely bring the kids down to some festivals they have coming up this year. Maybe I’ll see some of you there. Because memories are great, but it’s even greater when we continue to create new ones. I’m looking forward to creating new memories in Eden this year, and many more to come.
I love that Eden has two old-fashioned drive-in restaurants, which are usually on our rotation of places to eat while there, along with King’s Inn Pizza. Like Danville, Eden also is home to the Dan River, but also has the Smith River, so there are plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities. I’ve become a big fan of their walking trails. They recently added a splash park, which is perfect for kids on a hot summer day. The thing I’ve recently noticed while spending time in Eden is a sense of optimism and renewal. As you’ve probably noticed from reading this edition of Showcase, they have a lot going on. I’m very excited to see the progress of their Main Street initiatives in the downtown districts. And yes, I said districts, as in plural. As the article on Eden’s history explained, the city is made up of three former towns. That gives Eden multiple distinct downtowns. They’re definitely worth checking out. www.showcasemagazine.com
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MARKETPLACE
JOIN THE Y FAMILY • Free & unlimited exercise classes • Free child care while you work out • Summer camp (feat. daily swimming & weekly field trips!) • After-school child care, youth sports & swim lessons • Special member rates for programs
Everyone belongs at the Eden YMCA! 301 S. Kennedy Ave., Eden • ymcagreensboro.org/eden • 336.623.8496
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PAWS FOR A CAUSE
Paws for a Cause Through my years with the Danville Area Humane Society, we have dealt with hundreds of cruelty cases and thousands of neglect cases. Some have been the stuff of nightmares. Horrifyingly, several have been because of the actions of children or youth. In each of those cases, the child has been old enough to, as the old folks say, “know better.”
WRITTEN BY PAULETTE DEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
have feelings. Empathy takes that one step higher to actually caring that animals have feelings. I have a precious memory of my father helping a baby bird. When we were teenagers, we had moved to Danville and into a house with a basement and window wells. A baby bird had fallen into a window well and the mother bird nervously stood watch. My father put a broom down into the well and I heard him say, “Come on, little one, I’m trying to help you. Come on, little bird.” Finally, the baby bird did figure it out and hopped up on the broom to get to his mother.
Some children are born with a love for animals. They still must be guided and taught appropriate behavior; empathy can be nurtured in that way. Empathy is the ability to recognize and feel what another living creature (whether human or animal) is feeling, and then to act in an appropriate and compassionate manner. Empathy for living creatures can be developed, with guidance from parents, teachers, and caring adults.
MEET ZINNIA
Many children go through a stage of “innocent” cruelty during which they may harm insects or other small animals. However, the well-known anthropologist, Margaret Mead, said, “One of This little girl is a boxer mix. She’s about the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill eight weeks old. Don’t let her sweet expression fool you; she is filled with energy! or torture an animal and get away with it.” Parents and other responsible adults have the primary responsibility of teaching children how to respect animals and how to take care of them. Positive interaction with animals will, hopefully, lead to understanding that animals
Parents are the ones who have the moral and ethical obligation to teach their children how to have empathy and how to treat animals (and humans, for that matter!). In the world of today, it is a very sad fact that some children just do not have the guidance from parents. I will forever be grateful that my parents took their responsibility seriously. In the world today, empathy in large measure is lacking and all too often the weakest members of society are the victims, including animals.
DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
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FEATURE BIG BEAR’S WIFE
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife
How to Make Homemade Butter in a Mason Jar WRITTEN BY ANGIE BARRETT OF BIGBEARSWIFE.COM PHOTO BY ANGIE BARRETT
Did you know that you can make homemade butter in a Mason jar? All you need is a Mason jar, some heavy cream, and salt to make homemade butter. Prep Time: 2M; Shake Time: 15M; Total Time: 17M INGREDIENTS • Heavy cream
• Salt
• Mason jar with lid
INSTRUCTIONS • Pour heavy cream into jar, filling the jar halfway. • Add a pinch of salt. • Add lid to jar. • Shake for 10 minutes. You will hear the heavy cream go from a slosh sound to a thick thudding sound as it starts to get solid. • After about 10 minutes you will have whipped cream, keep shaking until it starts to make a thud sound with a slosh.
• You’ll notice the buttermilk has separated from the butter at this point. • Pour out into a bowl and form the butter into a ball with your hands. • Toss out or use buttermilk for something else. • Run ball of butter under cold water until water runs clean. • Store in fridge.
Games Solutions Continued from Page 18
Crossword Puzzle
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Word Search
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EXPLORE MARTINSVILLE
Spring Break Fun BY VISITMARTINSVILLE
Spring is on the way and everyone is ready for a break and ready to have some fun. Take advantage of the numerous low-cost activities and attractions available in Martinsville— Henry County and have big fun for a low cost. MHC offers everything from multiple museums, to an award-winning biking complex, to an exciting pinball arcade and more. Check out a few family-friendly suggestions below. • Visit the Smithsonian-Affiliated Virginia Museum of Natural History. Children will enjoy the interactive exhibits and playing in the Discovery Reef. Parents can relax with a cup of coffee from the Paleo Café & enjoy free Wi-Fi while watching them play. 276.634.4141. • The Discovery Room at Piedmont Arts is a place for children to use their creativity. From paint and crayons to musical instruments and puppet shows, every child can find something that sparks their imagination. 276.632.3221. • Blue Ridge Regional Library offers much more than books. Did you know that you can borrow a fishing pole and gear for FREE at the libraries? The Martinsville Branch is also home to the Family Fun Zone with toys, games and activity stations. 276.403.5430. • The Spencer-Penn Centre is great for families. Tour the historic facility, visit the children’s library, or enjoy camps & classes. See the Stanley Bowles 1927 classroom and school memorabilia on display throughout the building. 276.957.5757. • Treat your little ones to lunch at Simply Suzanne’s at the Blue Ridge Airport and they may be lucky enough to see a plane or helicopter land on the runway. With a great selection of family friendly sandwiches, salads and entrees, it’s lunch and a show. 276.957.1142. • Experience the Smith River Trail System. The trail system is a network of more than 20 miles of trail offering opportunities for running, hiking and bicycling. 276.632.8006. • Explore the many area murals and public works of art throughout MHC including our very own LOVEwork. Discover the full list at visitmartinsville.com/public-art. 276.632.8006. • The Mountain Laurel Trails biking complex provides 8 miles of award-winning trails on 150 acres. The trails offer varying levels of difficulty for beginners and seasoned bikers. 276.340.9144. • Pack up the family, bring the boat, fishing rods and a picnic lunch and you’re all set for a day at Beaver Creek Reservoir. Canoe and equipment rentals available on site, for a very low cost. 276.656.5179. • Fish the Smith River for native brown trout and stocked 24 SHOWCASE Magazine |
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rainbow trout. Eleven public river access points make getting in the river a breeze. Visitors and residents can take advantage of the free Tackle & Pole Loaner program at the Blue Ridge Regional Libraries & Philpott Lake. 276.632.8006. • Uptown Pinball & Arcade is the home of 5 of the top 10 ranked pinball machines in the world (as ranked by pinside.com’s top 100). Day passes available to play the 160+ machines. 276.224.7139. • Enjoy the natural beauty of Philpott Lake. The lake covers 3,000 acres with 100 miles of shoreline and offers boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and wildlife observation. Explore the Welcome Center’s exhibits on local wildlife. 276.629.2703. • Martinsville Speedway is NASCAR’s oldest and shortest track. Stop by on weekdays to walk the Half Mile of Mayhem. The Speedway is home to five NASCAR sanctioned races per year, plus the annual July 4th “Celebration” featuring rides, music and fireworks. 276.956.7200. • Wilson Park offers an 18 Hole 60 Par Disc Golf Course for your enjoyment. Visit the Martinsville Parks & Recreation online for course review and downloadable scorecard. Discs can be rented from the Martinsville City Parks & Recreation office. 276.403.5140. • Martinsville Grand Prix Go Karts lets you start your engines and see who the best racer in the family is. They offer a basic racing package that includes 15 lap racing with single and double-seated karts. Feel the need for more speed? Bullet carts are available. 276.340.9968. • Hunt for fairy stones, a naturally occurring crystal called staurolite that is formed in the shape of a cross. Learn about the legend of these stones and find some to take home. Multiple locations available, visit www. VisitMartinsville.com/fairystones, 276.632.8006. • Do your kids love seeing animals? If, so call Infinity Acres Petting Ranch and schedule a guided tour. Camps and workshops are offered throughout the year. You can go alpaca trekking, hold a sugar glider, see giant tortoises and much more. 276.358.2378. • Stonehaus Farms offers farm tours so visitors can get an up close and personal look at the animals raised there. The one-hour tour features Nigerian dwarf milking goats, llamas, donkeys and more. They also offer classes for children and adults. By appointment. 276.957.4656. Be sure to go to www.VisitMartinsville.com for more information on these venues and to discover more ways to have fun in Martinsville—Henry County this spring.
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INSTAGRAMS FROM EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA
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