PRISCILLAMORRIS.COM The Priscilla Morris Team is a proven winner, consistently earning top accolades, and they have been recognized locally, regionally and nationally as a Top Real Estate team for Long & Foster, Inc. Provid- ing excellent client service is a top priority. The team is specially trained and ready to assist with real estate ~ whether it is residential, commercial, land or investment properties. Why should you entrust your real estate needs to The Priscilla Morris Team? Each member has a passion for the industry and is com- mitted to helping you fulfill your dreams of buying or selling property. Pam Powell Priscilla Morris REALTOR®, SFR® REALTOR®, GRI®, ABR®, CRS®, SFR® 540-599-2239 540-320-3586 [email protected] [email protected] Nicole Price Chad Tickle REALTOR® REALTOR® 540-558-8774 540-599-2323 mrs.nicoleprice@ [email protected] gmail.com The 3601 Holiday Lane Blacksburg, VA 24060 PRISCILLA Team Enabling Dreams MorrisEarning Trust Exceeding Expectations gilescounty.org 3 DiscoverSmall Town Charm &Narrows Natural Beauty • Hiking • Biking • Fishing • Music • Swimming • Disc Golf 540-726-2423 TownofNarrows.org Wolf Creek Sweet ANNA’S Mac Arthur Inn RESTAURANT Thursday Night Music Jam &Dinner Ms. Audre’s Deals & Auctions Fabric-N-Fellowship Serving Lunch & Dinner, Buffet Style & order from menu. Dine in or take-out. • Sewing classes available Historic Hotel Circa 1938 • Great selection of Fabrics & Sewing notions MACARTHUR-INN.COM Located beside 540-921-2042 540-358-2516 Anna’s Restaurant. 100 Monroe Street, Narrows 540-726-7510 206 Main Street | Narrows, VA Like them on FB 540-726-3545 Creekside Classics Creekside Laundry Mat Narrows Flowers Samantha’s Hair, Nail & Tanning Salon Mirror Images & Gift Shop Creations Beauty Salon & Tanning Great gift ideas & more! Flowers for all occasions! Full service salon offering cuts, Full service laundry mat, FTD Florist perms, color & more! Make an offering dry cleaning service appointment & walk-ins welcome. 362 Main Street, Narrows 113 Monroe Street, Narrows 114 Monroe Street, Narrows 540-726-2478 108 Northview St., Narrows 540-726-2028 540-726-2028 Like them on FB 540-726-2619 4 GILES COUNTY 2019-2020 gilescounty.org 5 Contents Published for the Giles County 8 Welcome 34 Camping Tourism Committee by Country Media, Inc. 10 River Trail 36 Dining Design by: Country Media, Inc. 14 River Itineraries 38 Shopping Phillip Vaught 18 New River Water Trail Map Photos by: 40 The Arts Alisa H. Moody - Wild Country Studios 20 Lodging 42 History David Martin - Night Watchman Photography Billy Bowling 22 Weddings 44 Business Silver Pebble Photography Kristie Lea Photography 26 Things to do Nathan Cooke Photography 46 Education Virginia Tourism Corporation 30 Hiking Writing by: 48 Community Cora Gnegy 32 Biking Joanne Anderson 50 Events Main Cover Photo: Billy Bowling Photography © 2019 Country Media, Inc.Country Media, Inc. will not knowingly publish any advertisement that is illegal or mis- leading to its readers. Neither the advertiser nor Country Media, Inc. will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publisher assumes no financial liability for copy omissions by Country Media, Inc. other than the cost of the space occupied by the error. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from Country Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Real Estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. 6 GILES COUNTY 2019-2020 gilescounty.org 7 Social Media Welcome to Giles County Welcome to Giles County in Virginia’s New River Valley! Giles is a great place to live, work, and do business. With a population of 16,700, our residents are proud of this place they call home. Quality educational systems, access to higher @theflowersarenotnew education, and low cost of living are some Thank you for your interest in @adamciner qualities our residents enjoy. Home to Giles County, Virginia! Welcome to those both high technology startup business and who have not yet explored Virginia’s international corporations, Giles provides Mountain Playground®. Welcome back to access to a high quality of life for employers those who are visiting once again for our and their employees. mountains, river, creeks & streams, friendly Combining the world-class fishing communities, historical sites, or events & and hunting along the New River Water festivals. As you dive into your adventure Trail, with unique lodging and premier Giles County is a beautiful, four-season region in the in Giles, enjoy 37 miles of the New River @arhhaven destination dining you have plenty to Water Trail, five towns and multiple Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia. National Forests, country discover during your time in Giles County. communities that offer lodging, history, roads, rivers and streams, mountains, valleys and charming small @lawyeringgolfer Visit our five small towns, explore our 92 dining, shopping, and outdoor adventure towns offer some of the nation’s best in family and rural lifestyles, square miles of the Jefferson National for every traveler. Family friendly vacations, job and entrepreneurial opportunities and wonderful outdoor Forest, and enjoy the variety of outdoor small group gatherings, corporate outings recreation. To lifetime locals, transplants from all over and visitors recreation and adventure within our area. and meetings, the entire wedding party, alike, Giles (most residents drop the County) is a slice of heaven on or reunion groups all find their place in As you browse our newest edition of the Giles. If you’re searching for a relaxing or earth. Visitors Guide we hope you will come and thrilling adventure, you have found your enjoy Virginia’s Mountain Playground®. destination. 92 SQUARE MILES OF JEFFERSON NATIONAL FOREST Sincerely, Enjoy our newest edition of the 52 MILES OF THE FAMOUS APPALACHIAN TRAIL Chris Lang Chris McKlarney Giles County Visitors Guide to learn more 37 MILES OF THE STUNNING NEW RIVER Barney's Wall - Whitney Bowles Giles County Administrator about our attractions, events, business 100s OF MILES OF TRAILS AND BACKROADS community, and schools. Then share with SENSATIONAL SUNRISES AND SUNSETS Chris McKlarney a friend to plan your trip to Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. We’ll see you soon! ... and wonderful small streams, mountain biking and hiking, Sincerely, ziplining and awesome views provide a wide range of adventure. Cora Gnegy From soft activities for the walker, birdwatcher, camper and @GilesCoVA | @NewRiverWaterTrail Tourism Marketing Director geocache explorer to exhilarating escapades like whitewater rafting, GilesCountyVA | GilesCoVA treetop ziplining and challenging mountain biking and hiking that Cora Gnegy ranges from strolling to strenuous, Giles County is the perfect place to relax or challenge your limits ~ or both. Jon Cox Nathan Cooke 8 GILES COUNTY 2019-2020 gilescounty.org 9 River Trail The New River is the second oldest river in the world, so it was “new” when discovered, and it is one of the few to flow north. The majority of its 37 miles of Giles County is suitable for many activities though it ranges from a depth of a few inches in some places to 100 feet at the base of the Palisades Cliffs. THE NEW RIVER WATER TRAIL A new appreciation and organizations and individuals to Headwaters are found near recognition for the value of the nation’s designate the New River as a natural, Blowing Rock, N.C., and the New River rivers is materializing through water waterway trail. A little more than 10 is one of a few waterways which flows trails. Which is where the ubiquitous percent of its 320 miles meander north. Water depths in Giles County paddle replaces the knobby-soled through the county, and the waterway range from a few inches to 100 feet hiking boot for forward motion, and the is notable for being the second oldest near the Palisades vertical rock cliffs cut trail is filled with sparkling, free-flowing river in the world (thus, New compared away by the river’s constant flow across water. From the seat of a canoe, kayak, to the Nile). One of several stories about centuries. Historically speaking, the New raft, boat, or paddleboard, the waterway its name points to a Captain Byrd. He River provided a transportation route hiker in Giles County glides along the was charged with opening a road from for Indians, pioneers, and commercial surface of the New River. the James River to Abingdon in 1764. trades, and served as a life-saving Preservation, restoration, The map he used, written by Thomas landmark in the 1700s for Mary Draper and pure enjoyment of this historical Jefferson in 1755, did not show the river, Ingles. Mrs. Ingles was captured by river have propelled Giles County so Byrd noted it as “New River.” Indians who took her hundreds of miles 10 GILES COUNTY 2019-2020 gilescounty.org 11 Water depths in Giles County range from a few inches to 100 feet Class I, II, and III rapids in places along the entire 37 miles. Fast water and big rocks create the perfect water environment for big smallmouth bass and flathead catfish. on waterways up into the Ohio Valley. Upon escaping, she followed the rivers backwards, using the New River as her guide home. A local cooperative effort has been initiated to promote and enhance New River Water Trail experiences, develop maps, and landmark designations, and connect with land and bicycle trails. As a recreational corridor through beautiful scenery, abundant fish and birds and noteworthy geological formations, the New River provides waterway adventures for all outdoorsy folks. Visitors who enjoy a soft adventure can cruise quietly along sections of the waterway, while those who lean toward more thrilling excitement can find it in Class I, II, and III rapids in places along the entire 37 miles. Local outfitters offer equipment, guides, knowledge, and half-day, full-day and overnight excursions on this wonderful, friendly, historic waterway.