Explore Virginia’s Crooked Road

Located in Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Road (thecrookedroadva.com) is more than just a driving route. This 330-mile heritage music trail winds through the Appalachian Mountains and connects major music venues and heritage sites which highlight the traditional music of the region. Along the way you’ll find stage shows, outdoor concerts, festivals and jam sessions.

That said, the music is only half the draw. As one local banjo player noted, “Music is a living tradition here. It evolves as people evolve. Folks come here to experience this living heritage and to meet the people involved in it.” So in the end, the Crooked Road is just as much about the people as it is about the music. And not only is it a great spot to hop off-the-beaten-path and experience some local culture, but it also boasts a number of wheelchair-accessible sites.

A Great Road Trip!

Although you can hop on the Crooked Road just about anywhere along the route, a good starting point is at its eastern terminus – Rocky Mount. And it’s conveniently located just 25 miles south of Roanoke. From there, just take VA 40 west towards Ferrum and follow the Crooked Road signs. Not only is this the easiest access point, but Ferrum makes a great first stop; as the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (www.ferrum.edu/brim/home) offers a good overview on the regional heritage.

Located on the campus of Ferrum College, the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum features indoor gallery space plus an outdoor heritage farm museum. The gallery space hosts exhibitions which highlight the people and heritage of the region. There is level access to the museum, barrier-free access throughout the exhibits, and plenty of accessible parking outside.

Save some time to look around the Farm Museum, which is located just across the street There are level dirt and gravel pathways throughout this open-air farmstead, with ramps up to the barns and a few steps up into the farmhouse. The pathways are doable for most people in dry weather; and even though you can’t access every display, you can still get a good feel for what Virginia farm life was like back in 1800.

And don’t miss the Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival, held at the Blue Ridge Institute on the fourth Saturday in October. This annual event is billed as the largest celebration of Virginia’s folkways and includes live music, old time food, a quilt show, a moonshiners’ storytelling stage, coon dog contests and a mule jumping contest. It’s a great way to really experience the heritage of the area.

Friday Night at the Rex

Located about 60 miles east of Ferrum, Galax is another must-stop; more specifically it’s a must-stop on a Friday night. Galax is known as the world’s capital of old time mountain music, and on Friday nights everyone heads over to the historic Rex Theater (www.rex.theater) for the weekly installment of Blueridge Backroads Live.

This entertaining radio show features local musicians, and is broadcast live on WBRF 98.1. It’s kind of the Crooked Road version of the Grand Old Opry. The show features fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, autoharp and banjo music along with local dancers. The wheelchair access at the Rex is good too, as even though the theater was built in 1938, it features level access, an accessible unisex family restroom in the lobby, and wheelchair seating. Even better – tickets for the accessible seats can be purchased online.

Birthplace of Country Music

Bristol, which is located just 115 miles west of Galax, is a required stop on any Crooked Road itinerary. Known as the Birthplace of Country Music, it’s where Victor Talking Machine talent scout, Ralph Peer made recordings of local artists like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family in 1927. And with those recordings (known as the Bristol Sessions), he introduced the world to the music of Appalachia.

Today, Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum (birthplaceofcountrymusic.org) focuses on the history of country music, with emphasis on the period after the Bristol Sessions. This unique museum contains exhibits about the roots of country music and the musicians that helped shape the genre, including an extensive exhibit about Tennessee Ernie Ford, Bristol’s native son. It’s a good primer on the music, and it helps put the whole Crooked Road experience in the proper perspective. Access is excellent throughout the museum, with a level entrance and barrier-free access to all the exhibits.

There’s plenty of live music to be had in Bristol too, with weekly concerts at the Birthplace of Country Music Mural. And as far as access goes, there is good wheelchair-access to the seating area at the mural.

Then on Saturday night, be sure and head to the Carter Family Fold (carterfamilyfold.org), which is located in  Hiltons, about 20 minutes from Bristol. The AP and Sara Carter homestead is home to a long standing weekly concert, where only acoustic instruments are allowed and no alcohol is served. There’s accessible parking near the entrance and accessible seating up front. It’s truly a Crooked Road highlight.

A Man And His Music

No Crooked Road trip is complete with out a visit to the Ralph Stanley Museum (ralphstanleymuseum.com) located in Clintwood, near the western terminus of the route. Also known as the “Man of Constant Sorrow”, Ralph achieved national fame when he recorded the soundtrack for O Brother Where Art Thou.

Although stairs grace the front entrance of the museum, there is level access in back, near the accessible parking. Inside there’s elevator access to all floors, accessible restrooms, and barrier-free access to all the exhibits. The museum gives a good history of Ralph Stanley and traditional mountain music through interactive displays, audio and video clips and personal memorabilia.

But the exhibits are only half the draw of the museum. Save some time to sit a spell on the front porch and listen to the locals jam. Either way, it’s well worth the trip and the perfect way to end this Virginia road trip.