Smyth County, Virginia, has some blasts from the past, perfect for family fun
SMYTH COUNTY, VIRGINIA–JULY 2021–Smyth County, Virginia, sits along I-81 in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Easily accessible by multiple interstates, it’s just over two hours north of Asheville and less than a day’s drive from most of the east coast. Those who choose to fly have less than an hour’s drive from Tri-Cities Airport, in Blountville, Tennessee.
This is known as a paradise for fly fishers and motorcyclists and has been discovered by those who love to explore the trails surrounding Virginia’s highest peaks and the streets of some of its unique small towns. Its biggest claim to fame, or perhaps best kept secret, is the amazing collection of retro attractions, perfect for family fun. Those looking for unique adventures and small-town charm will find more than they bargained for in Smyth County.
- Park Place Drive-In (301 Park Boulevard, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-781-2222) is an old-fashioned, drive-in movie theatre. In addition to showing new release movies, Park Place has a putt-putt course, an arcade and an ice cream stand.
- The Dip Dog Stand (2035 Lee Highway, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-783-2698) is a Smyth County icon! It has been serving up batter-dipped, deep-fried hot dogs and delicious onion rings, shakes and more for the last sixty years.
- If a foot-long hot dog is called for, Buck’s Drive-In (1212 East Main Street, Saltville, Virginia 24370; 276-496-7231) is another local landmark. Here, they are famous for their foot-long dog as well as burgers, milkshakes, fries.
- A roller rink? Yes, a roller rink. Hall’s Skateland (52 Adwolfe Road, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-783-2690) is a family-operated skating rink, opened in 1973. They are open weekly for public skate nights and available for private parties.
In addition to these Smyth County favorites, there are some fun and quirky attractions to round out any family getaway:
- From Mammoths to Moon Missions: The exhibits of the Museum of the Middle Appalachians (123 Palmer Avenue, Saltville, Virginia 24370; 276-496-3633) illustrate what wooly mammoths, Civil War battles and Apollo 11 have in common.
- This is the home of the Hellbender! Officially the Eastern Hellbender Salamander, this bizarre looking creature is also called a Snot Otter. They live in the freshwater streams of the Appalachian Mountains. While they might look frightening, they are gentle giants, and in fact, human disruptions to the habitat have made them endangered. Visitors of Hungry Mother State Park, north of Marion, can visit one for themselves.
- Hungry Mother State Park (2854 Park Boulevard, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-781-7400) is one of Virginia’s six original state parks and perfect for families who love the outdoors. This beautiful park has a 108-acre lake for fishing, boating, paddling and more, as well as trails, campground and cabins.
If you go
Smyth County also has some amazing attractions for art lovers, as well. These unique venues are not to be missed when exploring the arts here:
The Lincoln Theatre (117 East Main Street, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-783-6092) was originally constructed in 1929 as Southwest Virginia’s premiere “movie palace” and is now home to the Song of the Mountains. The award-winning public television series showcasing the music and culture of the Southern Appalachians is taped here each Saturday.
The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts (203 North Church Street, Marion, Virginia 24354; 276-706-4010) is fulfilling a mission to preserve, promote and provide learning experiences rooted in the culture and heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Letterpress, painting, pottery classes and many others range from beginner classes for four or more to once-in-a-lifetime workshops with instruction from a world-renowned luthier.