The Crooked Road
United States
Virginia's Heritage Music Trail threads through the Blue Ridge hollows where American roots music was born, fiddle tunes, bluegrass flatpicking, gospel harmonies, and old-time mountain ballads played in courthouses, country stores, and dance halls along 531 km of winding Appalachian road.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Rocky Mount
Franklin County seat and the Crooked Road's eastern anchor, once the moonshine capital of the world and a cradle of Blue Ridge mountain music.
- Stuart
Patrick County seat and JEB Stuart's birthplace. The surrounding hollows produced a fiddle tradition distinct from the adjacent Blue Ridge style.
- Floyd Country Store
Every Friday night this 1910s general store hosts a contra dance running since 1913, locals and visitors dancing to live old-time fiddle.
- Rex Theatre Galax
The WBRF Friday Nite Jamboree has broadcast live from this Art Deco theatre since 1955. Galax hosts the world's largest old-time music gathering each August.
- Fries
A New River mill town whose textile workers developed a bouncy, rhythmically complex fiddle style known as the Fries sound.
- Abingdon
Virginia's oldest town west of the Blue Ridge, home to the Barter Theatre, America's longest-running professional theatre, on a main street of 1850s brick.
- Carter Family Fold
The original Carter Family homeplace where A.P., Sara, and Maybelle invented country music. Live old-time shows every Saturday, no electric instruments allowed.
- Big Stone Gap
A coal-era town in Powell Valley hosting the Southwest Virginia Museum, preserving the industrial and cultural heritage of the Virginia coalfields.
- Breaks Interstate Park
The Grand Canyon of the South, a 600 m gorge cut by the Russell Fork River through Pine Mountain, the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi.
Where to Eat
- The Floyd Country Store CaféAmerican
Offers classic comfort food and homemade desserts in a historic setting, featuring live Appalachian music events.
- The Hardware Company RestaurantAmerican
Serves hearty American dishes in a restored hardware store, blending history with a cozy dining experience.
- The TavernGerman
Historic 18th-century tavern offering German and American cuisine in a charming, rustic atmosphere.
- The Log House 1776 RestaurantAmerican
Features traditional American fare in a historic log cabin setting, complete with antique decor and gardens.
Things to Do
- Blue Ridge Music CenterMuseum
Showcases the rich musical heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains with exhibits and live performances.
- Grayson Highlands State ParkNature
Offers scenic hiking trails with views of Mount Rogers and wild ponies roaming the highlands.
- Barter TheatreTheater
Historic theater known for professional stage productions and being the State Theatre of Virginia.
- Natural Tunnel State ParkNature
Features a massive naturally formed tunnel and offers hiking, camping, and scenic chairlift rides.