Just imagine, an entire county with only one stoplight. You will not even find an interstate highway -- an airport -- a railroad or McDonald's. Floyd, our largest town has less than 500 country folks. You will find the most friendly people in the world. They are glad to share folklore or just plain good storytelling about the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
		Floyd is a sight-seer's delight and a photographer's pleasure on 17 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with its misty mountains and breathtaking views. You can travel hundreds of miles of back roads and let your mind dream of longtime past with the -- miles of rail fences -- proud frame homes -- here and there a log home -- flowers in the yards -- smoke rising from a fat stone chimney -- bubbling creeks and rivers --turn of the century mills -- Over 30 churches, each with its unique history -- country stores -- picture book farms -- Floyd is a place of mellow beauty.
		On your journey in the wooded Blue Ridge, you will find many native trees -- red Oak -- yellow Poplar -- white oak -- Hickory -- red maple -- Beech -- sugar maple -- black Locust -- basswood -- bay Magnolia -- and more. The autumn is a blaze of colors -- brilliant flame Reds and yellows.
		Wildlife lovers will thrive on seeing our native animals -- deer -- beaver -- raccoons -- opossum -- bobcats -- bear -- red fox -- gray fox -- mink -- muskrat -- skunk -- red squirrel -- gray squirrel -- groundhog -- Turkey -- quail -- grouse -- and hundreds of colorful song birds.
		The woods and streams are lined with many flowering plants and trees -- some quite rare -- dogwood -- flame azaleas -- rhododendrons -- wild grape -- ferns -- mountain honeysuckles -- crested dwarf Iris -- trout lilies -- Devils bit -- trillum -- Jack in the pulpit -- galax groundcover and dozens of different wildflower.
		The white pine Christmas tree capital in America is Floyd County. You will find thousands of acres of beautiful tree farms throughout the 383 square miles of mountains and valleys. Many farms also produce a wide variety of ornamental landscape nursery trees for the entire east coast. Dairy, beef and tobacco farming, are also very popular. In touring the back roads, you may see a Buffalo -- donkey -- mule -- Peacock -- Arabian, Tennessee Walker, Morgan or quarter horse or other specialty farms.
		Moon shining was common -- beginning with the first Scotch Irish settlers in the 1700s. It has been reported that this activity still goes on in some of our back roads wilderness coves. It is also claimed that Edgar Allen Poe's sweetheart is buried in Floyd.

You will find some of the finest craftsmen anywhere among the 12,000 residents in Floyd County. Popular are wood carving -- weaving -- painting -- quilting -- potters -- furniture making and many others. Many craftsmen come together at the annual arts and crafts festival in the Floyd County High School. Thousands attend the gala event, so come early the first weekend in October. The Floyd County Merchants and Businessmen's Association have special sales and activities the same weekend called the Fall Harvest of Value Days. If you love an old-fashioned Fourth of July, with fireworks, live music, food, games and contests -- bring the whole family to this nostalgic festival in the Town of Floyd.
Music lovers will find many accomplished musicians performing country, bluegrass and gospel music. The playing of mountain music is a tradition that is still very popular any week at community gatherings.
Floyd County is the very best of the Blue Ridge Mountains -- please spend a few hours or a few days and see for yourself what quality life is really about.
| Back to Home Page |