Surry County Directory

Surry County
Directory
Your Guide
to Life in the
Yadkin Valley
e
An abbreviated look at
things to do in Surry County
This is not meant to be a
comprehensive list of things to
do in Surry County as there are
many trails, festivals and other
happenings going on year-round in
the county.
Fishing
• Big Elkin Creek at Elkin Municipal
Park, 399 N.C. 268 West, Elkin,
offers stream-side fishing with
stocked channel catfish as well as
sunfish.
• Yadkin River fishing can yield a
number of fish species including
bullhead, flathead catfish,
largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish,
smallmouth bass and spott bass.
• Mitchell River fishing includes
delayed harvest trout water. Species
to be found include all stocked
brook trout, brown trout and
rainbow trout.
For more fishing opportunities in
the area, visit http://ncpaws.org/
wrcmapbook/FishingAreas.aspx.
State parks
• Pilot Mountain State Park, 1792
Pilot Knob Park Road, Pinnacle,
overlooks U.S. 52 in the eastern
portion of Surry County. The park
provides opportunities for those
looking to rock climb, hike, take a
less strenuous walk, horseback ride,
camp and fish, which a portion of
the state park located on the north
and south banks of the Yadkin River.
A 6.5-mile corridor trail joins the
mountain and river sections of the
park, with parking areas at both
locations. More information can be
found at http://www.ncparks.gov/
Visit/parks/pimo/main.php.
Alleghany County and through
Surry County dumping into the
Yadkin River just east of Elkin. It
boasts many fishing opportunities,
especially near Kapps Mill in the
Mountain Park community of State
road, for those looking to fish and
fly fish.
• Yadkin River is one of the longest
rivers in North Carolina and
forms the county border between
Yadkin and Surry counties. It is a
major water and power source for
towns from the mountains along
its length into South Carolina
where it becomes the Great Pee
Dee River. Recreation on the river
includes fishing, tubing, kayaking
and canoeing. The Yadkin River
State Trail, established in 1987, is
a blueway following 130 miles of
the river and is a paddle trail that
is part of the North Carolina State
Trails Program with launch points
and camping spots along the banks.
Reservoirs along the river include W.
Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkesboro.
Internal and Family Medicine
Rivers
• Fisher River flows mostly through
Surry County coming out of
Grayson County, Virginia, before
emptying into the Yadkin River near
Boonville. It is hatchery-supported
for those looking for fishing
opportunities.
• Mitchell River flows out of
Arts councils
• Foothills Arts Council, 129 Church
St., Elkin, ongoing events and
programs can be found at www.
foothillsartscouncil.org or by calling
336-835-2025.
• Surry Arts Council, 218 Rockford
St., Mount Airy, calendar of events
and programs can be found at www.
surryarts.org or by calling 336-7867998.
Reenactments
• Rockford General Store each
March hosts the Civil War Battle and
Living History Weekend in history
village of Rockford featuring the
7th North Carolina Cavalry along
with the 38th NC, 21st NC, 12th NC,
6th NC and the 24th VA reenactors.
Battles are scheduled Saturday and
Sunday on the event weekend as
well as an outdoor church service
in the Rockford Amphitheater on
Sunday. The event is free to the
public. For more information, visit
www.rockfordgeneralstore.com.
Quality Family H
Care Close to Ho
Why is it important to be
Board Certified?
Board Certification means that the doctor has
completed specialist training in their chosen area
Internal
Internal
and Family
and Family
Medicine
Medicine
Internalexam
and Family
Medicine
and has passed the board
for certification
with the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Faiza Rais-Reynolds. MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine
Quality
Quality
Fam
Quality Family
Health Family
(newborn
Care Close Care
to Home!
Care
Close
Close
to H
to
isWhy
it important
is it important
to be to be
Why isWhy
it important
to be
All of our doctors
are
Board
Certified
—
providing
Board Certified?
BoardBoard
Certified?Certified?
you with Higher
Standards,
Better
Care.
Board Certification
means
that Certification
the doctor
has that
Board Certification
Board
means
means
the doctor
that the
hasdoctor has
Did you know that Blue Ridge Me
completed
specialist training
in their chosen
area intraining
completed
completed
specialist
specialist
training
their chosen
in theirarea
chosen area
and has passed
the board
forpassed
certification
and has
passed
andexam
has
the
boardthe
exam
board
for certification
exam for certification
with thewith
American
of Medical
Specialties.
theBoard
American
with
the American
Board
of Medical
Board ofSpecialties.
Medical Specialties.
(newborn
and up)Patients
• Is Welcoming
New
All of ourAll
doctors
are Board
—Board
providing
of our
All
doctors
ofCertified
ourare
doctors
are
Certified
Board —
Certified
providing
— providing
you withyou
Higherwith
Standards,
Better
Care.
Higher
you with
Standards,
Higher Standards,
Better Care.
Better Care.
Hours: Monday–Friday from 8:30 am–5:00 pm
Faiza
Rais-Reynolds.
MDMD
ZuzanaMD
Banas, MD
Faiza
Rais-Reynolds.
Faiza Rais-Reynolds.
MD
Zuzana Zuzana
Banas,
Banas,
MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified
Board
in Family
Certified
Medicine
in Family Medicine
Board Certified
Board
in Internal
CertifiedMedi
in Internal
cine Medicine
(newbo
• Accepts
MostMedical
Insurances
Including Medica
Did you know
that BlueDid
Ridge
Group:
you
Did
know
you
that
know
Blue
thatRidge
Blue M
R
111 N. Comer Street
Offers
• Is Welcoming •New
PatientsSame Day Appointments
• Is Welcoming
• Is Welcoming
New Patients
New Patients
Hours:
Monday–Friday
from
8:30
am–5:00
pm
Dobson, NC 27017
• Accepts
Most •Insurances
Medicare and Medicaid
Hours: Monday–Friday
Hours: Monday–Friday
from 8:30from
am–5:00
8:30 pm
am–5:00
pm IncludingWalk-Ins
Welcomes
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
e Ridge
obsronDobson
D
r
Ou Blue Ridge
alOuGroup
Blue
Blue
Ridge
Ridge
(336) 386-8270
Medical Group
Do
Our
bson
• Accepts• Accepts
Most Insurances
Most Insurances
IncludingIncludi
Medi
111 N. Comer Street
• Offers Same Day Appointments
111 N. Comer
111 N.call:
Street
Comer Street
• Offers
• Offers
Day
Same
Appointments
Day
Appointments
• Offers 24
hr/7 Same
Day-a-Week
Answering
Serv
To schedule an
appointment,
Dobson,
NC 27017
• Welcomes Walk-Ins
Dobson,Dobson,
NC 27017
NC 27017
• Welcomes
• Welcomes
Walk-InsWalk-Ins
Has Board-Certified
Providers
• Offers 24 hr/7 •Day-a-Week
Answering Service for Emergencies
To schedule an appointment, call:
• Offers 24
• Offers
hr/7 Day-a-Week
24 hr/7 Day-a-Week
Answering
Answ
Se
To schedule
To schedule
an appointment,
an appointment,
call:
call:
• Has Board-Certified Providers
2
Medical
Medical
Group
Group
(336) 386-8270
(336)(336)
386-8270
386-8270
• Has Board-Certified
• Has Board-Certified
ProvidersProviders
Visit our website
www.blueridgemd.com
Visit our website
at:at:our
www.blueridgemd.com
Visit our
Visitwebsite
website
at: www.blueridgemd.com
at: www.blueridgemd.com
00793156
AREA PHONE NUMBERS
Cruise-ins
• Elkin Cruise! in historic downtown
Elkin is held the fourth Saturday of each
month from May through September.
Cruisers can enjoy classic and modern
cars, food and music from 4 to 9 p.m.
• Dobson Cruise-In held held the
second Saturday of each month March
through September beginning at 2
p.m. in the square around the historic
Surry County Courthouse. There is
food, music, door prizes, 50/50 raffle
and more.
• Pilot Mountain is host to the Hot
Nights Hot Cars Cruise-In the first
Saturday of each month May through
October, with thousands of cars, live
beach music bands, food, wine tasting,
Richard Petty Museum cars, visits from
Big Foot and more officially beginning
at 4 p.m. Visit www.hotnightshotcars.
com for more information.
• Mount Airy is host to Mayberry Cool
Cars and Rods Cruise In the third
Saturday from June through October at
4 p.m. The event features music, food
and monthly themes.
Elkin City Schools:
Administrative office
202 West Spring Street
Elkin, NC 28621
336-835-3135
Dr. Randy Bledsoe,
superintendent
Elkin City School Board
meetings are held the
fourth Monday of every
month. Open session
begins at 6 p.m.
Mount Airy City
Schools:
Administrative office
130 Rawley Avenue
Mount Airy, NC 27030
336-789-8355
Dr. Greg Little,
superintendent
The Mount Airy City
School Board of Education
meets twice per month on
the first and third Tuesday
of every month. The first
Tuesday meeting is a work
session. The third Tuesday
meeting is the business
section. The board meets
at a different school each
month.
Surry County Schools:
Administrative office
209 North Crutchfield
Street
Dobson, NC 27017
Dr. Travis Reeves,
superintendent
Surry County Schools
Board meetings are held
the first Monday of every
month at 5 p.m.
Other area schools:
East Wilkes High School,
336-835-4772
Jonesville Elementary
School, 336-835-3201
Surry Community College,
336-386-8121
Law enforcement:
Dobson Police
Department, 336-3568161
Elkin Police Department,
336-794-6475
Jonesville Police
Department, 336-8355020
Mount Airy Police
Department, 336-7863535
Pilot Mountain Police
Department, 336-3684725
Surry County Sheriff’s
Office, 336-401-8900
Governments:
Town of Dobson, 336-3568962
Town of Elkin, 336-7946464
City of Mount Airy, 336786-3501
Town of Pilot Mountain,
336-368-2247
Surry County, 336-4018200
Chambers of Commerce:
Yadkin Valley Chamber of
Commerce, 336-526-1111
Greater Mount Airy
Chamber of Commerce,
336-786-6116
Hospitals:
Hugh Chatham Memorial
Hospital, 336-527-7000
Northern Hospital of Surry
County, 336-719-7000
Libraries:
Charles H. Stone Memorial
Library, Pilot Mountain,
336-368-2370
Dobson Public Library,
336-386-8208
Elkin Public Library, 336835-5586
Lowgap Library, 336-3523000
Mount Airy Public Library,
336-789-5108
Media outlets:
Newspaper: The Elkin
Tribune, 336-835-1513
Newspaper: The Mount
Airy News, 336-786-4141
Newspaper: The Pilot,
336-368-2222
Newspaper: The Yadkin
Ripple, 336-679-2341
Radio Station: WIFM, 336835-1233
Other Surry numbers:
Animal Shelter, 336-4018484
Birth/Death Certificates,
336-835-5247
License Plate Agency,
336-835-2757
Poison Control Center,
336-835-7604
Other area numbers:
Jonesville Public Library,
336-835-7604
Jonesville Town Hall, 336835-3426
Jonesville Volunteer Fire
Department, 336-8356438
Cardiology, Sleep, Internal and Family Medicine
To schedule an
appointment with
Dr. Vybiral,
Dr. Burciu,
Dr. Chapman or
Jennifer Haymore
please call:
Tomas Vybiral, MD
Board Certified Cardiology
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Fellow American College of Cardiology
Jennifer Chapman, MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine
(336) 719-2440
Tiffany Fitch, FNP-BC
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
To schedule an
appointment with
Dr. Kriska,
Vivian Seal or
Tiffany Fitch
please call:
Airy
Blue Ridge
Medical Group
O
Hours: Monday–Friday from 8:30 am–5:00 pm
905 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030
Jan Kriska, MD
Board Certified Sleep Medicine
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Lipidology
(336) 719-2440
00792910
Dr. Vybiral, 24/7:
1-855-VYBIRAL
3
Visit our website at: www.blueridgemd.com
Vivian Seal, FNP-BC
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
t.
ur M
Catalin Burciu, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Hospice & Palliative Care
Rockford offers a glimpse to times past
By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffi[email protected]
4
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
Ever wish you could go back
in time?
To a time that was simpler,
a time when people talked
to each other during meals
instead of checking their smart
phones for new texts or emails.
A time when adults stopped
worrying about their jobs long
enough to notice the beauty
around them and actually talk
to each other. A time when
children got excited about
simple things like old-fashioned
candy versus the latest technological toy advertised on TV.
It’s not as difficult as you
might think. Something
magical happens when you
drive into the historic village
of Rockford, located in the
southeastern part of Surry
County. Your worry and cares
disappear, and you start to
remember and appreciate the
history that got us to where we
all are today.
Carolyn and Paul Carter
experienced it firsthand when
they got lost while looking for
a new home during Memorial Day weekend in 2004 and
found the new home they
didn’t even know they were
seeking. “I guess everything
happens for a reason,” Carolyn
said. “We missed a turn, and
we came through Rockford.”
Having lived in WinstonSalem their whole lives,
the Carters had never even
heard of Rockford. When the
missed turn took them by the
Rockford General Store, they
slowed down to stop, but Carolyn said, “There was a sign on
the door that said ‘Closed temporarily due to death.’”
Sarah Shadle, FNP-C
Certified Family Nurse
Practitioner
See ROCKFORD | 6
Civitas Media | File photos
Vendors offer wares in front
of a historic building in the
village of Rockford during the
2014 Sweet Potato Festival.
The historic 1914
Rockford Methodist
Church hosts The
Rockford Preservation
Society’s “Candlelight
Christmas”
celebration each year.
John Fesperman, FNP-BC
Board Certified Family
Nurse Practitioner
00792891
A step back in time
Staff Report
Making sorghum
syrup is
demonstrated
during the
cornshucking frolic
at Horne Creek.
barn, a corn crib, adjacent
fields under cultivation, and
the heritage orchard, which
is accessed on the main state
road just after entrance to the
visitors center and house.
The farm also hosts a number of workshops from apple
tree grafting at the heritage
orchard, which allows those
participating to take their own
variety of heirloom apple tree
home, to lace bobbin, quilting,
and more.
In 2015, the farm hosted
a crayon art workshop for all
ages, noting that crayons were
a new invention in the early
1900s. Those who attended
the workshop were able to
learn about the inventors of
crayons and then each made a
project by melting crayons on
fabric.
The Southern Heritage
Apple Orchard is a project
focused on by C. Lee Calhoun,
a renowned apple expert
and author of “Old Southern
Apples,” who donated 400
varieties of heirloom apples
for their preservation. The
orchard is a nonprofit organization.
During the past year,
apples from the farm have
been shipped to and shared
in Africa through a project
called Apples for Africa. The
program is a ministry which
strives to improve the lives of
widows and orphans in the
war-torn regions of Africa
by providing an orchard as a
means of food and income.
Jason Bowen, horticulturalist at the heritage orchard,
also is hoping to expand the
orchard’s offerings by adding
a work building and cold storage, which will extend time
for workshops and selling
produce from the trees. The
overall goal is to sell enough
apples to cover the costs of
operating the orchard.
The orchard contains 800
trees, a free-standing semidwarf tree and a back-up espaliered tree for each of the 400
varieties being preserved.
Horne Creek Living Historical Farm is at 308 Horne
Creek Farm Road, Pinnacle,
and can be reached at 336325-2298. More information
and a schedule of events are
available at http://www.nchistoricsites.org/horne/horne.
htm.
"Your Local, Hometown Pharmacy"
Surry Drug
Company
Dobson
E. Atkins St. across
from McDonald’s
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-2pm
5
(336) 356-4912
Fax: (336) 356-4915
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
As a state historic site,
Horne Creek Living Historical
Farm takes its role in preserving farming and rural living
history seriously. But the staff
at the farm finds fun, hands-on
ways of sharing that history
with generations young and
old.
One of the circa 1900 farm’s
largest events happens each
October with 2015 having
been the 24th annual Cornshucking Frolic at the Pinnacle
location. Site Manager Lisa
Turney said visitors to the
farm tell her it reminds them
of growing up in rural North
Carolina, and younger visitors appear to appreciate the
look of a different lifestyle and
learning where food comes
from and how those in an earlier time lived and survived.
Throughout the late 18th
and 19th centuries lives
were interwoven with the
rhythms of nature and families
relied on the soil to provide
the essentials necessary for
survival. Farming was the
economic base from which the
state grew. Market demands
later spurred the use of complicated machinery, replacing
manual labor and rural life’s
straightforward approach.
Turney explained a smaller
and smaller percentage of the
state’s population is directly
involved in its food and fiber
production. Changes in agricultural practices, together
with the effects of improved
transportation, industrialization and two world wards
carried people away from their
rural roots and showed them
a broader world, as well as the
lure of jobs in urban areas supported this decline.
In 1968, widespread con-
cern farming as a way of life
was dying out led to a grassroots movement to create a
farm museum in the northwest Piedmont region of the
state. The North Carolina Living Historical Farm Committee Inc. was officially formed
in 1984. It was composed of
farmers, educators, businessmen and women who worked
with the Legislature and the
North Carolina Department of
Cultural Resources and three
years later, on Oct. 17, 1987,
Horne Creek Living Historical
Farm was officially opened as
one of North Carolina’s State
Historic Sites.
The farm is host to the
annual cornshucking frolic
around the anniversary of the
historic site’s opening each
year. It gives those young and
old an opportunity to see how
the farmers would’ve gathered
the corn in a neighborhood
effort, shucked it, shelled it,
ground it and more. Also,
music and food are on hand,
wagon rides, apples from
the site’s Southern Heritage
Apple Orchard. Cornshuckings along with other “frolics”
like quilting, barn raisings and
hog killings, accomplished a
given task and provided an
opportunity for rural families
to socialize.
Horne Creek’s annual frolic
includes about 40 heritage
demonstrations for visitors to
view and, in some cases, try
out.
Another quick filling event
is the annual Christmas by
Lamplight held on a couple of
nights in December. The evenings include candlelit tours
of the Hauser farmhouse,
singing of carols, and supper
by the fire. The one-and-a-halfhour event is held by reservation only for a fee with several
event times scheduled on each
of the nights of the program.
Horne Creek’s site includes
the Hauser family’s original
farmhouse, a tobacco curing
00792887
Horne Creek Farm
preserving 1900s
farming history
6
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
ROCKFORD, continued from 4
Intrigued by the little village
along the Yadkin River, the
Carters returned to WinstonSalem and drove back the next
day. They stopped by the Davenport Gallery, a historic home
that used to be open for tours,
and met some members of the
Ladies Preservation Society.
One of them was Eva Anthony, who previously owned
the store with her husband,
Paul. She told them about the
store’s history and the death
of 74-year-old Annie Barnett
the previous September, who
had continued to run the country store, after her husband,
Glenn, died.
The Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend, Paul Carter
drove to the Surry County
Courthouse to look up the
executors of Barnett’s estate.
After contacting her niece and
nephews, Carolyn and Paul
Carter purchased the country
store, which had been open
since 1890, and the Railroad
Section House, located diagonally across the road, where
the Barnetts had lived. Both
are North Carolina Historic
Properties.
The Carters celebrated their
grand opening of the Rockford
Country Store on June 30.
Carolyn runs the store with
her sister-in-law, Pam Foy, who
lives in Davie County.
The hardwood floors are
so old they creak loudly, and
there’s a whole section of jars
filled with old-timey candy.
The Rockford General Store
also sells local produce when
it’s in season along with jams,
honey and preserves.
Also featured in the store
are local crafts, including handknitted and crocheted items,
books by area authors, all kinds
of North Carolina products and
old-fashioned toys.
A grill Carolyn said was
added seven or eight years ago
offers deli meat sandwiches,
Angus beef burgers, hot dogs
and at times freshly-made
chicken salad and pimento
cheese sandwiches. Their spe-
cial — called “The Rockford
Steak” — consists of about a
quarter pound of bologna, a
fourth-inch slice of hoop cheese
and is served cold or fried on
sliced homemade rolls, depending on customers’ preferences.
“We’ve got an old drink
box,” Carolyn said, “and we
sell old-fashioned bottle sodas.”
And for dessert, there’s handdipped ice cream or, of course,
candy.
Paul runs Yadkin River
Adventures, offering canoe
and kayak trips on the Yadkin
River. He also offers faith floats
for churches and youth groups,
Carolyn said, “which is like
Sunday school on the water.”
Suzy Stammetti, a middleschool science teacher in
Yadkin County, also offers
ecotours. “She is very familiar
with the water and the animals and the sand erosion,
everything you can see on the
water,” Carolyn said. “She’s
very, very knowledgeable. Kids
eat that up, and so do families.”
Carolyn said there are a lot
of bald eagles and blue herons
on the river as well as fish, turtles and snakes. “Suzy makes
people aware of what happens
when they dump stuff along
the river,” she said. “It can hurt
our environment, and it does.”
Pam’s husband, Robin Foy,
and Paul’s brother, Jimmy,
purchased the Jesse Lester
Tavern, two doors down
from the general store shortly
after the Carters purchased
the store. This expanded the
store’s property so it would be
large enough for the Carters to
put in a well and septic tank in
2007.
“That’s the first time the
store ever had running water,”
Carolyn said. “There was a
port-a-john outside. That’s
what everybody used. And we
used to buy gallons of water
and hand sanitizer and that
kind of stuff. We somehow
made do.”
Carolyn and Paul Carter,
Jimmy Carter, who also purchased a home in the historic
village, and Pam and Robin
Foy are in the process of fixing up the old Rob Clark Store
right beside them as well as the
tavern.
“Back in the 1700s and
1800s,” Carolyn said, “people
would come here to ford the
river, meaning to get across.
Back then, they traveled with
horse and buggies, and that
was the lowest part of the river
they could cross.”
When the river was up, she
said people would rent a room
in the Jesse Lester Tavern if
available or sleep on the floor.
Carolyn said her brother-inlaw, Jimmy, purchased a house
in Rockford not long after she
and and her husband. “We’ve
just kind of made it a big old
family thing here in Rockford,”
Carolyn said. “It is full of history.”
The Rockford General Store
hosts events during the year
to bring in more visitors to
the historic town, including a
Sweet Potato Festival on the
third Saturday in September.
“We promote North Carolina
sweet potatoes,” Carolyn said,
“and try to use as many Surry
and Yadkin County sweet potatoes in all the dishes that we
make.”
This year’s event marked
the 18th year the Sweet Potato
Festival has been held.
Coming up in March of 2016
will be the 10th year for Rockford’s annual Civil War Reenactment. “Reenactors come
in and camp just like they did
during the Civil War time,”
Carolyn said. “They invite the
Blacksmith Paul Spainhour of
Lewisville works on a piece of iron
during a living history event.
public into their camps. Since
we’re historical, we try to do
history-type events that people
can relate to.”
The Rockford General Store
also hosts signings by authors
from Surry, Yadkin, Forsyth
and Wilkes counties. “That’s a
way for people to see that there
is more to small towns than
just corn and tobacco and all
that,” she said. “We have some
awesome talent here as well.”
Carolyn said the Rockford
General Store has been a destination of families for years.
There used to be an old low
water bridge that people could
drive over, but it was torn
down in 2002.
“We get generation after generation of families coming in
who remember coming in with
their grandparents,” she said.
“It’s always a good feeling to
see that tradition carrying on.”
Kathy Chaffin can be reached at 336-2584058.
00758470
Friendship Motor
Speedway a ‘great
destination’ for fans
[email protected]
Limited Sportsman racers battle
three-wide during a race in July 2015.
Photos by Ryan DeCosta
Chris Cheek pauses his championship celebration to share a moment with
a toddler during Championship Weekend at Friendship Motor Speedway.
Drivers from
across the state
flock to the dirt
track at Friendship
Motor Speedway,
like Mocksville’s
Brad Mickalowski.
Mickalowski
celebrated his first
career win during
Championship
Weekend in
October.
Your Southern Surry County Supercenter!
Open 24 Hours
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
Newly
remodeled
in 2015
- Self Checko
ut
Lanes, new
&
expanded se
ctions
and more!
• Smart Style Hair Salon
• Deli
• Vision Center
• Bakery
• Pharmacy
• 1 Hr. Photo
548 CC Camp Road, Elkin NC • 336-526-2636
7
While there are many
attractions across Surry
County for families to go
to, none of them quite stack
up to Friendship Motor
Speedway in Elkin.
Opened in 1982, Friendship Motor Speedway is
the only dirt track Surry
County has to offer, and for
a state like North Carolina,
where moonshiners made
their mark and started
what NASCAR is today, the
speedway’s a great place
for racers and fans alike to
come together.
“I think what we can
offer here at Friendship is a
family atmosphere,” Jason
Atkins, the track’s general
manager, said. “We think
we can provide a form of
sports entertainment and
still be affordable for a
family to bring their entire
family.”
Where family comes in,
so does the racing community. During the season,
the track puts on auctions
to benefit those who might
be battling cancer or recovering from a severe injury,
and the community buys
into that to create something greater than themselves.
“A lot of that flies under
the radar, but we try to
make this race track about
the community, and about
the people that attend,”
Atkins said.
The race track also has
seen NASCAR drivers like
Kasey Kahne, Spencer Gallagher and Joey Coulter
take the track for hot laps,
and many times, to go out
and race alongside local rac-
ers during feature events.
Sometimes, a local driver
like Dobson’s Landon
Mitchell or Chase McCormick will show those NASCAR stars how it’s done,
making for some great competition.
“The cool thing about
dirt track fans is they’re
loyal,” Mitchell said. “They
live and breathe dirt track
racing.”
There are racers and fans
alike who have been loyal
to the track, even when
it briefly went through a
period when the track was
paved. Race fan Bradley
Collins said his first year
coming to Friendship
Motor Speedway was 1993,
and he’s been coming ever
since because of the adrenaline rush it gives him. From
a racer’s standpoint, Elkin’s
George Anen Jr., 2015’s
Renegade series champion,
also has been coming to
Friendship Motor Speedway for a while, racing at
the track for more than 15
years.
“I’ve raced up and down
the East Coast, and this is
the hardest race track that
I’ve ever went to, to win a
race at,” Anen said. “For
the fans, come out and see
some killer racing with
some of the best drivers
around.”
Seeing some killer racing doesn’t have to kill
someone’s wallet, either.
Friendship Motor Speedway’s grandstand prices
are $11 for an adult, $5 for
kids, and free for kids 8 and
younger. The speedway is
located at 11420 N.C. 268.
Contact them at 336-9027626 or consult their Facebook page for more.
00793569
By Ryan DeCosta
The wineries of Surry County
By Kitsey Burns Harrison
8
SURRY COUNTY DIRECTORY
[email protected]
From Dobson to Mount Airy, Elkin to Rockford,
Surry County boasts around a dozen wineries, all part
of the Yadkin Valley Viticulture Appellation. Whatever
corner of Surry County a wine lover may find themselves in, there’s sure to be a winery nearby.
Whether it’s a quaint downtown location, like
Brushy Mountain in Historic Downtown Elkin or
Old North State Winery in downtown Mount Airy or
more rural settings amidst rolling hills and farm land
like at Grassy Creek Winery, there’s something for
everyone.
Throughout the county, the wineries work together
to promote the region. Visitors at one location are
often given directions and encouraged to visit the
next winery down the road.
The Surry Wineries group, which includes Adagio,
Brushy Mountain, Carolina Heritage, Elkin Creek,
Grassy Creek, Herrera, Slightly Askew and Stony
Knoll, host multiple events together throughout the
year. Charity 5Ks, dinner events and a winter wine
passport, are just a few of the events the group works
together to promote.
In the Elkin area there are multiple wineries, all
within just a few miles of one another. Heading up
Highway 21 towards Wilkes County, or further in to
Surry County on I-77 towards Dobson and Mount
Airy there are more wineries to discover.
There are unique stories, scenic views and, of
course, delicious wines to be savored at each stop.
At Brushy Mountain winery, there are frequent
evening events with live music. Grassy Creek features
live music on the second Saturday of each month and
Shelton Vineyards, too, hosts multiple concerts and
events throughout the year.
On Sundays, wine lovers can enjoy brick-oven pizza
at Elkin Creek Vineyard, all overlooking a beautiful
creek with gently flowing waterfalls. Elkin Creek and
Grassy Creek are popular venues for weddings as
well.
Carolina Heritage in Elkin is the first USDA-Certified Organic vineyard and winery in North Carolina.
Also in Elkin, Slightly Askew is known for its
unusual and fun names for its wines.
JOLO in Pilot Mountain and Shelton Vineyards in
Dobson are known for their upscale dining restaurants. The newest winery to open in the county, Herrera Vineyards, also boasts a restaurant.
Round Peak Vineyards in Mount Airy also creates
beer through its Skull Camp Brewery which is located
in Elkin.
Surry County is also home to the Surry Community
College viticulture program which gives students the
opportunity to make their own wines.
For more details on the many wonderful wineries of
Surry County, visit www.surrywineries.com.
Surry County Wineries
Adagio Vineyards - Elkin
Brushy Mountain Winery - Elkin
Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery - Elkin
Elkin Creek Vineyard - Elkin
Grassy Creek Vineyard
Herrera Vineyards - Dobson
Hutton Vineyards and Winery - Dobson
JOLO - Pilot Mountain
Old North State Winery and Brewery - Mount Airy
Round Peak Vineyards - Mount Airy
Shelton Vineyards - Dobson
Stony Knoll Vineyards - Dobson
Surry Community College Winery - Dobson
Skull Camp Brewery - Elkin
Photos by Kitsey Burns Harrison
Visitors from Virginia sample the
wines at Elkin Creek Vineyard.
The vineyard at Elkin Creek.
One of Grassy Creek’s most popular wines.
Herrera Vineyards