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Wytheville, Virginia

by ShanaCorbin

There’s only one Wytheville. It’s true, no other town in the world shares this name. But with one visit, guests discover that its name is not the only thing making this destination special. This unique Southwest Virginia town is situated at the crossroads of two major Interstates (I-77 and I-81) and has a history as the perfect, welcoming stop for travelers. Today though, many are discovering this is so much more than a stopover location. Beyond the convenient food and lodging that continue to draw Interstate travelers, there are locally owned restaurants and shops and unique local attractions. There are trails, parks and rivers, and a picturesque downtown that beckons visitors to stay a while.

Wytheville offers options for a relaxing getaway or an adventurous vacation, for a look back through history or a lookout over mountain vistas, for a welcoming downtown stroll or the thrill of hiking, biking and horseback riding. All in close proximity, Wytheville’s variety of homegrown attractions appeals to those looking for an authentic spot to enjoy.

This classic downtown is chock-full of gems. Five historic museums bring the area’s history to life. Visitors will also find the birthplace of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson, the second wife of Virginia-born President Woodrow Wilson. She has been called the “secret president” and the “first woman president” by historians. One cannot miss the iconic “biggest pencil in Virginia” on Main Street or “the smallest church in Virginia”.

These classics are joined by a historic bed and breakfast, a boutique hotel (each perfect for a romantic getaway), two new craft breweries, and a host of local shops and eateries. Nearby, the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre has been entertaining audiences for twenty years. This classic venue presents six musical productions each year. Take in a live performance or classic movie a the newly restored Millwald Theatre in the heart of Downtown. And speaking of music, Big Walker Lookout (the oldest privately-owned attraction in Virginia) is home to a series of Mountain Top Music performances, celebrating the roots music born in this region.

Outside of town, the outdoors summons the adventurous to local, state and national recreation areas. Just three miles from downtown the Crystal Springs Recreation Area and Big Survey Wildlife Management Area offer more than 9,000 acres of preserved lands, 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and the newly built Terrain Park. Enjoying trails, canoeing, tubing, kayaking and fishing are all popular at the New River Trail State Park & Historic Shot Tower, which includes a 57-mile trail along an abandoned railroad bed beside the historic New River.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy a trip through the winding mountain roads. The Big Walker Mountain National Forest Scenic Byway traverses 16 miles of beautiful mountain roadway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is just a short 30-minute drive away. A visit to the Jefferson National Forest, along the Blue Ridge Highlands Fishing Trail or the Claw of the Dragon Motorcycle Trail all offer amazing ways to enjoy this beautiful region, year-round.

To begin the journey, check out visitwytheville.com, then plan some time off the Interstate to enjoy Wytheville, Virginia. There’s only one. You don’t want to miss it.

Annual Events

Fast Facts & Trivia

  • Wytheville… There’s Only One! Our branding theme because there is not another town named Wytheville in the entire world.
  • Named for George Wythe, the first person from Virginia to sign the Declaration of Independence and the first American law professor who taught Presidents Thomas Jefferson & James Monroe.
  • Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of beautiful Southwest Virginia at the intersection of Interstates 77 & 81.
  • Fun Fact: Interstates 81 & 77 run together in a Wrong-way concurrency for approximately ten miles, meaning you are traveling on I 77 Northbound and I 81 Southbound at the same time while actually traveling due West.
  • Home of Edith Bolling Wilson, second wife of President Woodrow Wilson. Her birthplace is now a museum, one of only eight First Lady museums in the country. The Bolling Wilson Hotel, located across the street, is a chic boutique hotel named in her honor and themed upon her life.
  • Home to Big Walker Lookout, Virginia’s oldest privately-owned attraction. Featuring a country store showcasing Virginia artisans, authors and local musicians and a 100 foot observation tower allowing a panoramic view of five states.
  • A Summer Without Children – in the Summer of 1950 Wytheville was hit by the Polio epidemic resulting in the highest number of confirmed cases in the nation, 185 cases. “The worst per capita polio outbreak in the US.” This epidemic is memorialized in a permanent exhibit at Wytheville’s Thomas J. Boyd Museum.
  • New River Trail State Park is a 57 mile linear trail situated along the New River on a reclaimed rail road bed. Contrary to its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, second only to the Nile and like the Nile flows from South to North.
  • Wytheville was the boyhood home of William Gibson, award-winning Science Fiction author and “Father of Cyberspace”. His 1982 short-story collection entitled Burning Chrome marked the first appearance of the term.

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