The Parkway Explorer’s Guise to Patrick County

BY GRACE COOPER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PATRICK COUNTY TOURISM

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. To its millions of travelers annually, this mountaintop roadway is known for its scenic beauty, historic attractions and abundant outdoor recreation. Riding on the Parkway can give you that much needed getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You can drive for hours without seeing much civilization. At milepost 177.7 you will see one of the rarest views on your ride: a town. Refuel your car, your stomach, and your soul in Meadows of Dan, Virginia.

Rocky Knob Recreation Area

Drive along the parkway north of the Meadows of Dan Village and you will find the Rocky Knob Recreation Area. This expansive section of the Parkway is shared with the neighboring county of Floyd. Here there are three trails ranging from easy to difficult. The most challenging is the Rock Castle Gorge National Recreation Trail, a 10.4 mile loop offering intense elevations, meadow strolls, steep descents, historical hideaways, abundant wildlife and even a waterfall. The second is the Black Ridge Tail, a moderate 3-mile loop with its own historical ruins and creeks. The third is The Rocky Knob Trail, an easy 2.3 mile out and back trail with a shelter at the top offering a stunning view. The Rocky Knob Visitors Center is open Friday through Monday from 10 AM until 5 PM for area information and assistance. Stay for a picnic and you may even spot the family of deer that are often seen grazing in the field near the picnic shelter most evenings! Pitch your tent or park your camper at the Rocky Knob Campground. Reservations are not necessary but are always helpful. www.recreation.gov or 877.444.6777.

Wineries on the Parkway

Wine lovers will enjoy the two neighboring wineries in this section of the Parkway. Villa Appalaccia (which sits next to the famous festival grounds of Floydfest) is a charming, Italian-inspired winery. Those with a taste for drier, European-styled wines will find themselves at home in the Villa’s open aired tasting room. Villa Appalaccia offers music on Saturday afternoons in the Summer. Just down the road is the well known Chateau Morrisette Winery & Restaurant. The largest producing winery in Virginia, Chateau Morrisette offers guests an expansive tasting room & gift shop, tours, live outdoor music and a restaurant serving elevated southern cuisine. Both wineries are very dog friendly and offer lawn space for picnics.

Historic Grist Mills

The historic Mabry Mill is the most photographed spot on the Parkway. You will find this exact mill pictured on postcards, framed prints, and used on various “home style” product packaging and marketing across the world. This grist mill is over one hundred years old and is open to the public! In the Summer and early Fall Thursday through Sunday 10AM - 5PM, travelers can go inside the mill and learn how it operates with the help of an educational interpreter. See the newly renovated flume and watch the giant wheel turn with the water. There are also live demonstrations of blacksmiths, basket weavers and more. Listen to live traditional music on Sundays as well. After your tour, grab a seat at the restaurant just next door and purchase souvenirs from the gift shop.

Off the Parkway, down the road from the village, is Cockram Mill. This 130-year-old grist mill sits on the banks of the Dan River. Visitors can tour the inside