Located in the southwestern part of the state, this charming town nestled in the mountains has much to offer.
By Kathleen Walls, F522187
October 2023
What better place to go RVing than the Appalachian Mountains? Wytheville, Virginia, sits on the edge of the mountain range and is a unique town with natural beauty and lots to see. It’s just a few miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Wytheville KOA Holiday serves as the perfect base. Aside from the usual 50-amp electricity, water, and sewage hookups, the campground offers so much on-site fun that you may not want to leave. The Bowling and Family Fun Center includes a six-lane regulation bowling alley, along with batting cages, arcade games, and snacks at the AOK Café. In summer, lounge around the pool with a double water slide. You can make your own colorful tie-dye T-shirts or take a Saturday night ride on the KOA Express train. For music lovers, on Friday nights a DJ hosts karaoke.
The campground can accommodate RV combinations up to 78 feet long, plus cabins and adorable Conestoga wagons are available for rent. Wytheville, Virginia
I know the KOA is fun, but do tear yourself away long enough to visit Wytheville (pronounced WITH-ville) and see its attractions. The town offers a combination of nature, history, and culture to enjoy, plus some great dining.
BIG WALKER LOOKOUT
Big Walker Lookout, a 100-foot observation tower along the Big Walker Mountain National Scenic Byway.
Big Walker Lookout stands atop the highest point on the Big Walker Mountain National Scenic Byway. The 100-foot observation tower, where you can see five states on a clear day, is Virginia’s oldest privately owned scenic attraction. Big Walker Lookout and the Big Walker Country Store host regional musicians and artisans every weekend from May to October. Inside the Country Store, you will find tasty sandwiches, hot dogs, and handmade ice cream and fudge to replace all the calories you burn climbing the tower. You can shop for local art, crafts, and food items such as jams, honey, and barbecue sauce. You also can purchase books by local authors, who often do book signings there.
The lookout and store were begun by Stuart and Abigail Kime. Stuart was a World War II machinist. When the war ended, he wanted a peaceful place to settle and discovered this spot. He moved the original building and opened a small restaurant. He began building the tower around 1952 and opened it in 1953, charging 25 cents for admission. By 1956, he expanded to the Pioneer Dining Room, which seated 60 people. However, a fire destroyed the restaurant in February 2003. His son, Ron, and his grandson, Michael, rebuilt the present country store a few months after the fire. Big Walker Lookout is now operated by Stuart’s granddaughter, Heather. There is plenty of RV parking with space to turn around easily, so it’s worth driving up the mountain for the view alone. The fudge and ice cream are an extra treat.
EDITH BOLLING WILSON BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
Wytheville was the home of Edith Bolling Wilson, the second wife of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. The house where she was born now serves as a museum that tells the story of the Wytheville native and is one of only eight sites in the country dedicated to a first lady. Many historians believe Edith Wilson was the first acting president of the United States when a stroke partially incapacitated President Wilson in 1919.
Betsy Ely portrays first lady Edith Wilson and tells her story at the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum.
She was the only Appalachian-born first lady and the only first lady who was a direct descendant of American Indian Pocahontas. She has some other interesting presidential connections, too. Her paternal great-great-grandmother was the sister of President Thomas Jefferson, and she was a cousin of Martha Washington and Robert E. Lee.
The family came to Wytheville after losing their plantation home following the Civil War. The small museum downstairs has furnishings, photos, and artifacts reminiscent of that era. The second floor, which was the Bollings’ home from 1866 to 1899, has not been renovated. So, when you walk through, you will note that it is not in the best condition, but this preserves the historic feel. Each room has an audio recording with information about its use. My favorite is the room where Edith was born.
I also got to meet Betsy Ely, the Wytheville resident and retired educator who portrays Edith. She does a very realistic impersonation of the first lady. Admission to the museum and the tours are free, but they appreciate donations. Group tours are priced very reasonably, plus you get to meet the first lady.
DOWNTOWN
I loved the murals on Heritage Walk downtown that depict Edith Wilson’s life. Star markers in the brick walkway commemorate what was once there, such as the one for the Crest Department Store that was in operation from the 1940s to 1990s. Wytheville has a number of interesting individually owned stores — no chains. There’s Fisher Finds Antiques, where you might discover your next treasure. Right next door is Jo Jo’s Attic, which bills itself as “Quite possibly the coolest place ever.” They might be right. I found an Underwood typewriter from the 1930s and more collectible jewelry than anyone could ever need.
The Millwald Theatre on Main Street was built in 1928. It hosted vaudeville and “moving pictures.” Today, it is renovated and shows live music acts.
WYTHEVILLE TRAINING SCHOOL CULTURAL CENTER
The Wytheville Training School Cultural Center preserves the historic Wytheville Training School, built in 1883 for African American children and in operation until 1952. Inside, there’s an African American Heritage Museum with photos and memorabilia that tell the history of African American education in Wythe County. A map on the floor outlines how far students traveled to the school and the circuitous transportation they took to get there. Board president Patricia S. Austin tells visitors stories about the former students and the history of the school.
THOMAS J. BOYD MUSEUM
The Thomas J. Boyd Museum, named for the man who was known as the “Father of Wytheville,” focuses on local history and crafts. Wytheville was a Union target during the Civil War because of the lead mines there; the museum tells that story.
Wytheville was the hardest-hit U.S. city per capita during the polio epidemic in 1950. Baseball was big there in 1950, and the town was home to a minor-league team called the Statemen. The son of the second baseman came down with polio on June 28, 1950. Within three weeks, 15 more cases broke out and three children died. Thus began the story called the “Summer Without Children.” The exhibits include a child’s iron lung and an adult version.
There is so much more to see at the museum, including a replica of a general store, firefighting wagons and equipment, old household items such as stoves, and a switchboard from before the age of cellphones.
Many exotic animals can be seen at Fort Chiswell Animal Park.
FORT CHISWELL ANIMAL PARK
Home to more than 200 animals from six continents, Fort Chiswell Animal Park provides visitors an interactive experience. When you first enter, you get to meet a Burmese python named Old Yeller, a talkative macaw, and a small alligator in his own little tank. Out in the yard, you can feed the alpacas, deer, and numerous birds while you wait for the Safari Bus. While aboard the bus, you can feed animals through the windows.
It’s amazing to see bison, deer, zebras, donkeys, and even a zedonk (a hybrid between a zebra and donkey) roaming here with emu and ostriches. They all know the bus is bringing food-bearing visitors, so they crowd around the windows looking for their shares. The Vietnamese potbellied pigs are so cute. They don’t usually rush the bus, but I loved seeing the babies nursing and scampering around playing. What a thrill when one bison pulled the feeding cup right out of my hand. After the bus tour, go over and feed Puff the camel. He snatches everyone’s cups of food.
LOG HOUSE 1776 RESTAURANT
When you dine in the Log House 1776 Restaurant, it’s like a trip back in time. With portions of the building dating to 1776, this is one of the oldest structures in Wytheville.
Judging by the huge serving sizes here, one might assume Colonial Americans had enormous appetites. My favorite is orange chicken, which is served on a bed of wild rice topped with Mandarin orange slices, wontons, and almonds and drizzled with their signature orange sauce.
Outside, an amazing experience awaits. You’ll find bunnies, doves, herbs, flowers, and vegetables surrounding the artwork and shops. There’s a cement shepherd resting on a stone seat between a pink rosebush and a dark-green archway; three metal-art sheep stand in the grass across the brick path. You’ll see lots of other art pieces between the Wilderness Road Trading Company and the Earth Evolved Gift Shop. All the buildings are part of the restaurant complex and look as if they were built in Colonial times.
GRAYSON RESTAURANT
Locals know where to find the best food. Grayson Restaurant was packed when we had breakfast there. They offer down-to-earth dining. It’s not fancy, but they serve well-prepared traditional food at reasonable prices.
Seven Sisters Brewery showcases high-quality craft brews in a relaxing atmosphere.
SEVEN SISTERS BREWERY
Seven Sisters Brewery is located in the repurposed historic R.P. Johnson Building. The current building dates to 1939, but the carriage and wagon business it originally housed started in 1840 and moved to this site in 1849. In the 1900s, with the coming of automobiles, Johnson’s descendants branched out and turned the building into a sawmill, woodworking, and heavy machinery shop.
Seven Sisters brews all the beer on-site and has teamed up with Heart and Seoul Food Truck, so you can dine while you enjoy a craft brew. There’s a game hall where every age can have fun while local musicians play music. The brewery is pet-friendly, too.
7 DOGS BREWPUB
7 Dogs Brewpub is a relatively new establishment. Owner Nelson Tidwell rescues dogs and the occasional cat. He found one more thing that needed to be rescued in 2018; the historic Carpenter Building across from the courthouse was going to be torn down. He bought it and then opened 7 Dogs Brewpub. Now it’s a popular local spot for music, beer, and food.
In addition to naming the brewpub after his seven rescue dogs, he divided the menu items into sections named for each of them, as well as Dizzy, his gray cat, who rules over the dogs. If you choose to eat in the outdoor biergarten, you can bring your furry friend. You’ll find specials on the menu for him, plus dog biscuits, while you dine on people food.
PETALS WINE BAR
Where there is beer, there will be wine. Petals Wine Bar combines a florist, bottle shop, and dining spot serving gourmet grilled cheese paninis, soup, salads, and charcuterie boards with artisan wines from local and worldwide vineyards. I enjoyed a fruity sangria with my “prosciutto blue cheese and fig sandwich” and tomato basil soup. The sangria was unusual since it was white wine with whole grapes added.
West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
WEST WIND FARM VINEYARD & WINERY
West Wind Farm is a fourth-generation homestead, but Paul and Brenda (Humphrey) Hric just planted their first vineyard in 2003. It’s family owned and creates small batches of wine every year using traditional winemaking methods. The cozy stone fireplace in the tasting room provides a relaxing spot to sample some of their products.
Wytheville is easily accessible via interstates 81 or 77, which cross there. And with no other towns in the United States sharing its name, plus its interesting collection of attractions, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind destination.