Abingdon, Virginia: Appalachian Culture and History Meet Contemporary and Outdoor Pleasures in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Just two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, 10 minutes north of Bristol, Tennessee and four and a half hours west of Richmond, Abingdon, Virginia, is nestled between the soaring peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Great Appalachian Valley, offering extraordinary scenic views and refreshing outdoor delights. With its enthusiastic drive for historic preservation and passion for the contemporary, Abingdon is a walkable, bike-able, and drive-able town that’s easy to love. Within the 20-block Historic District the tree-lined, brick sidewalks of Main Street are presided over by preserved and re-purposed wood and brick Victorian Federal, and even Frontier, architecture. Many are filled with art galleries, distinctive shops and over 30 independently-owned restaurants, from Traditional Southern to New South, farm-to-table to Southern country and BBQ, and plenty of options for all tastes and budgets.
The town honors its cultural roots through music, art, theatre and cuisine. The Barter Theatre, a meticulously-preserved jewel that was born from Depression-era ingenuity of New York City actors, thrives on critical acclaim and nightly ovations. During the pandemic, this innovative theatre has made national headlines for staging live performances at Abingdon’s historic drive-in theatre. “Barter at the Moonlite Drive-In” offers the same quality of performance, with a completely touchless (and delightfully nostalgic) experience. The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace, an architecturally breathtaking, soaring glass, wood, and stone visitor center, showcases the music, crafts, foodways and outdoor attractions of the region through its events and juried gallery. The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace is also the hub of The Crooked Road, a driving trail highlighting traditional music, as well as Round the Mountain, an artisan trail. The William King Museum of Art features world art, contemporary Appalachian art and evocative Appalachian cultural heritage. Watch artists showcase their skills in working studios at the Arts Depot. One of the oldest locally-made craft cooperatives in the country, Holston Mountain Artisans, started in 1971.
The land, architecture and people are of authentic Appalachian, Colonial and Frontier roots, for Abingdon has been a meeting and trading point for Native Americans, the last outpost on the Western frontier and an important Colonial settlement. The atmosphere tingles with history: imagine Daniel Boone exploring Wolf Hills; pioneers traveling the Great Road across the Blue Ridge Mountains; Civil War soldiers on the grounds of the elegant Martha Washington. Abingdon played a role in helping our young nation gain independence. Citizen militia “Overmountain Men” gathered at The Abingdon Muster Grounds in 1789 to begin a two-week, 330-mile march to join in defeating the British at Kings Mountain, South Carolina, a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
Abingdon is also the perfect place to set up headquarters for outdoor exploration within an hour’s drive. Just off Main Street is the bucket-list, Hall of Fame Virginia Creeper Trail. Through picturesque countryside and mountain drives, the outdoors beckons amateur and expert enthusiasts with lazy kayaking and hiking, horseback riding, biking and rock climbing. Explore heart-soaring views, waterfalls, rushing waters and rugged terrain, including The Appalachian Trail, Grayson Highlands State Park, with its wild ponies and The Channels Natural Area, full of natural geological wonders.
When it’s time to turn in, choose from charming luxury inns, B&Bs, cottages, Virginia mountain cabin rentals and family- and budget-friendly flagship chains. Peruse them all at visitabingdonvirginia.com/plan-your-trip/lodging.
Abingdon is a perfectly preserved, warmly welcoming, lively, exciting and photogenic place you’ll want to visit again and again. With so much to experience, it’s no wonder the town’s slogan is, “It’s always play time in Abingdon.” www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com
Fast Facts & Trivia
- Abingdon is one of the oldest English-speaking settlements west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, founded in 1778.
- One of Abingdon’s oldest buildings is The Tavern Restaurant, serving patrons since 1779, and the oldest operating tavern in the state. Notable guests include Louis Philippe, the King of France, President Andrew Jackson, and Pierre L’Enfant, the architect/designer of Washington, D.C.
- The town was given its original name of Wolf Hills by the legendary Daniel Boone.
- Born from the determined, “show must go on” ingenuity of the Great Depression, The Barter Theatre, named the “State Theatre of Virginia,” literally traded produce and ham for Hamlet and Broadway hits; survived, thrived and hosts world-class plays. Alumni include Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and more.
- The hub of The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Music Heritage Trail, is in Abingdon at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center, highlighting the region’s role in the growth of traditional Appalachian music, gospel, string bands, blues, ballads, The Carter Family Fold and the Birthplace of Country Music.
- The western terminus of the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, in the National Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, is in downtown Abingdon. Bikers come from all over to get a shuttle here and ride the mostly downhill trail back to Abingdon. The fit and determined start out at the climb.
- Abingdon is located on the old well-traveled wilderness route called the Great Road, which many pioneers traveled through the Blue Ridge Mountains on the way to settle the new American frontier.
- In 1860, in a former private residence, Martha Washington College opened in Abingdon. The college closed in 1932, but the grand building, “The Martha” became a hotel in 1935. It’s one of the most photographed and iconic architectural beauties in the town.
Annual Events
- Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights–January; Celebrates the writers and stories of the region, both past and present, resulting in new plays being produced not only on Barter’s stages but in regional theatres across the country.
- Barter Theatre–Opens in Spring annually with 300 performances per year at a traditional and a theater-in-the-round venue.
- Other annual events include Restaurant Week in March, Plumb Alley Day in May, Tractor Show at Fairview Homestead in June, and the Town-Wide Yard Sale in August.
- Abingdon Fiddlers Convention – June; Celebrating bluegrass and old-time music with youth, adult, band and dance competitions.
- Virginia-Highlands Festival–July; Celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of Abingdon and Southwest Virginia, a 10-day Artists’ Market, juried fine arts, crafts and photography shows, performances, music, outdoor trail tours and more.
- Plein Air Abingdon – October; a Plein air paint-out and pop-up gallery that offers a place to create new work, sell work, and network with fellow artists and creators. Throughout the event, a juried Plein air competition takes place around Abingdon, Virginia and the surrounding region.
- Christmas in Abingdon–Mid-November through December 31st; Abingdon’s historic charm is merry and bright. The brick sidewalks and ancient oaks are lined with lights, the grand old Martha Washington Inn & Spa is decorated to the hilt and the Market at The Martha features Christmas crafts each weekend. Barter Theatre continues its series of live performances live on stage. Make plans to attend the annual Christmas Parade, and enjoy the Holiday Lights Tour.
- Catch live music year-round at Wolf Hills Brewing and Abingdon Vineyards.
Itineraries
Dining, Shopping and In-Town Exploration
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