Bush Mill

The historic Bush Mill in Nickelsville, Virginia. Originally build in 1831, it burned down in 1895 and was rebuilt.... operating as a commercial grist mill until the 1970s. The mill is still in operating condition and is open every year on Memorial Day and the 1st Saturday in October.

Powell Valley Sunset

The setting sun provides a warm glow to the mountain vista of Powell Valley in Wise County, Virginia.

Virginia Creeper Trail Autumn

Fall colors highlight this scene of Laurel Creek flowing peacefully under the Virginia Creeper Trail near Damascus, Virginia.

Sunburst Forest

The sun peaks through the shade of the deep woods surrounding the Powell River Trail in Appalachia, Virginia on a warm summer day. A perfect place to hike, take in nature, and cool off while reliving railroad history!

Sugar Hill Cabin

The chimney on Sugar Hill, just west of St. Paul, Virginia. In 1772, John English settled here, making him the first settler in present Wise County, Virginia. He built a log cabin on this site. On March 8, 1787, Indians suddenly burst into his home, killing his wife, Molly English, and their two little boys. John English moved to Moore's Fort in Castlewood, Virginia and later sold this home and land to a Frenchman, Francois Pierre de Tubooefuf. Francois later built this chimney on to the existing hand hewn cedar log house, which sat on this site for nearly two centuries until it was burned down by vandals in 1976. The Frenchman, his family and servants cleared this land and named it "St. Marie on the Clinch". Francois was later killed by white thieves, some of which were caught, tried, and convicted in Russell County. His survivors then moved out of the area. Future owners farmed the land and in the 1930's a maple syrup and sugar operation existed here, thus the current name of the place, "Sugar Hill".

Laurel Hill View

Long range view into the North Carolina Blue Ridge mountains from Laurel Hill Road in Grayson County, Virginia.

Upper Comer Falls

The gentle flowing waters of Upper Comer Creek Falls in the Mt. Rogers Natural Recreation area in southwest Virginia. Comer Creek falls is just a short walk from the Appalachian Trail that crosses just south of Marion, Virginia.

Mayberry Trading Post

The Mayberry General store in Mayberry, Virginia. Built in 1892, it still operates as a general store just off of milepost 180 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mayberry, Virginia is thought to be the place that was the origin of the town of the same name in the famous American television sitcom, the "Andy Griffith Show". Andy's grandparents lived in Mayberry, Virginia and Andy visited their many times during his childhood.

Dame's Rocket

Dame's Rocket provides a beautiful spring stage for an old, abandoned "Triple A" type mill house in southwest Virginia.

No Privacy

Ravages of time have taken their toll on this vestige from yesterday in Grayson County, Virginia.

Friday Night Jamboree

The Floyd Country Store, in Floyd, Virginia is the site of the famous "Friday Night Jamboree". It has become a traditional gathering place on Friday nights for musicians, dancers, and visitors from all over the world. The Friday Night Jamboree is an outstanding and authentic experience shared by old-timers and new visitors alike. Country Living magazine identified the Floyd County Store as one of the two best places in the country to hear bluegrass music (the other place was a club in New York City). The show starts on Friday nights at 6:30 and ends around 10:30 when they close. Admission is just $5.00!

Gabriel's House

Their must be a story about why this large angel is in front of this house. We will never know, since "Gabriel's House" is no longer occupied!

Comer Creek Falls

A fall backdrop highlights the gently flowing waters of Comer Creek Falls just off of the Appalachian Trail in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area.

Fall Flow

The autumn leaves highlight the cool waters of Laurel Creek as it flows over one of many waterfalls in the Jefferson National Forest near Damascus, Virginia.

Wilderness Road Block House

A replica of the Anderson Blockhouse that was built in the Natural Tunnel State Park in 2003. The original Blockhouse was built by John Anderson in 1775 in the East Carter Valley of what is now Scott County, Virginia. It became an important stop-off point for the many settlers that traveled through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. The original Blockhouse burned in 1876.

Bobwhite Bridge

The Bobwhite covered bridge in Patrick County, near Woolwine, Virginia. Sadly, this bridge washed away in a flood on 29 September, 2015. Thus, I am glad to have taken this photo in the spring of 2014 to have preserved the memory of this venerable

Guest River Gorge Tunnell

The railroad tunnel on the Guest River Gorge trail highlighted by vibrant fall color. Formerly built by the Interstate railroad to access coal fields in 1922, it was used by Norfolk and Western (later Norfolk Southern) railroad until 1988. The 5.8 mile rail bed was then donated to the State and converted into a beautiful hiking and biking trail along the Guest River.

Callahan Tunnel

The Callahan tunnel on the Powell River trail in Appalachia, Virginia. The 255 foot Callahan tunnel was constructed in 1891 to permit the Louisville & Nashville railroad to traverse the mountains in southwest Virginia. It is now part of the Powell River trail, which comprises a 1.2 mile paved trail, two tunnels, two bridges, and a wealth of history. The trail will eventually be expanded to Big Stone Gap providing hiking and biking opportunities between these two towns.

Fannon Train Museum

The Fannon train museum located in Duffield, Virginia, the smallest incorporated town in Virginia. The museum is actually a replica depot that was used as a prop in the movie "Coal Miners Daughter". In the movie, it had a sign on the depot indicating that it was in Van Lear, Kentucky, which was the closest town to Butcher Hollow, where Loretta Lynn grew up. The depot was donated to Kenny Fannon in 1980 after the movie production was finished. The caboose previously belonged to Norfolk and Western railroad and was donated to Kenny Fannon in 1989. It was built in 1940 in the Roanoke, Virginia shops.

Cooper Creek Trestle

The Copper Creek trestle near Clinchport, Virginia. The taller of these two trestles stands at 167 feet and was the tallest trestle on the east coast when it was built in 1908 by the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railroad. CSX railroad now owns the tall trestle and Norfolk Southern the shorter trestle. They were built to create quicker access to the coalfields of southwest Virginia and southeast Kentucky.

Abingdon Depots

The depot in the far background was built in 1870 and now houses the "Arts Depot", an artist cooperative. The "new" depot in the foreground was built in 1912 and until recently was occupied by the Historical Society of Washington County. They have since moved to another location in Abingdon in hopes that Amtrak service will begin from Abingdon in the future. Both depots have been fully restored.

Rural Retreat Depot

The fully restored train depot in Rural Retreat, Virginia. A famous O. Winston Link photograph was made next to this depot in the late 50s.

Bristol Train Station

The restored railroad station in Bristol, Virginia was built in 1902. After passenger service stopped, it was used as a shopping and dining venue and then left empty. It was purchased by the Bristol Train Station Foundation in 1999 and lovingly restored. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Bristol is trying to restart passenger rail service again via Amtrak, as Roanoke succeeded in doing in October 2017.

Green Cove Station

Built in 1914, the Green Cove Station served as a depot, general store, and telegraph office for the Abingdon Branch of the Norfolk and Western railroad - otherwise know as the Virginia Creeper train. It was made famous by an image captured by the reknowned photographer O. Winston Link entitled "Maud bows to the Virginia Creeper" in October 1956. The last train ran by this station in 1977 and the tracks were removed by the end of the following year. Green Cove Station has been preserved and is now a visitor's center for the Virginia Creeper biking / hiking trail that runs from Abingdon, Virginia to the North Carolina State line.