Fun Fact: Locals refer to Bland County as the “Land between the Tunnels.” The two I-77 tunnels on Bland County’s borders make Bland the only U.S. county accessed through interstate highway tunnels.

Did we stumble onto a secret paradise? It sure seemed so with Bland County’s endless forests, more waterways than Mack could shake a fishing rod at, and everything juxtaposed against a backdrop of majestic peaks. Better yet, there wasn’t a traffic light to be found.

We gave 5 out of 5 stars to Bland County’s accommodations, history, recreation, sightseeing, and its friendliness to Fido.

• Accommodations ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Dog Friendliness ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• History ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Recreation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Restaurants ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (We rated 3 stars because Bland County offers limited dining options.)
• Sightseeing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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We visited Bland County a few times and created a suggested itinerary featuring highlights of our trips.

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Bland County Adventure: Day 1

East River Mountain Tunnel

Thanks to the marvels of engineering, we entered Bland County in just over one minute through the East River Mountain tunnel. Before completion of this tunnel in 1974, a commute to and from West Virginia involved trekking over the mountain. Sometimes this meant waiting until Spring.

Phoenix Bridge

This dog friendly pedestrian trail includes a rare, historic bridge.

The Phoenix Bridge Company built this railroad bridge in 1912. Builders employed the vertical and diagonal pattern, known as Pratt Truss, to efficiently bear a heavy load, and included trademark Phoenix columns. It is one of a handful of remaining Virginia bridges with this engineering which became obsolete with the development of steel I-beams.

Be sure you have a valid Virginia fishing license because the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources stocks trout at Bland County’s Wolf Creek. Native fish include smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill and rock bass (red eye).

Veterans Memorial

Bland County’s Veterans Memorial, located near the bridge, honors the service of its sons and daughters.

Phoenix Bridge and Bland County Veterans Memorial, 76 M L Thompson Drive, Rocky Gap

LOVEworks

Much to my delight, this neck of the woods features two LOVE signs.

Virginia Welcome Center, Interstate 77 South, Mile Marker 61, Rocky Gap

Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum, 6394 North Scenic Highway, Bastian

Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum

Bastian’s Wolf Creek Indian Village provides a rare glimpse into Virginia’s pre-Columbian culture.

After the discovery of artifacts in 1970 during the construction of I-77, an archaeological excavation uncovered remnants of a village site from 500 years ago.

The Wolf Creek Indian Village not only brings the past to life but this dog friendly establishment invites Fido into the museum and along for the site tour.

See the PBS YouTube video for a brief overview of the village and museum.

Wolf Creek Indian Village, 6394 North Scenic Highway, Bastian

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Join your local caving club! (https://caves.org/find-a-grotto) It’s the only way to access Bland County’s underground wonders, including an extensive cave system with dozens of caves stretching for miles.

The views are spectacular down here.

To learn more, contact the VPI Cave Club which regularly explores the caves in Bland County.

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Bland County Adventure: Day 2

Bland County Historical Society

The Bland County Historical Society building served as the community’s jail from 1866 until 2004.

Be sure to get a “cell-fie” during your visit.

Artifacts donated by local citizens include fabulous pieces of “Bland County-style” Americana. My favorites:

vintage license plates,

a metal crate from 1920 designed to mail 3 dozen eggs, and

an elaborate Victorian-era wreath crafted from human hair (Hair art was all the rage during the mid-19th century.)

Attention Family Historians: The on-site Bogle Library includes a vast collection of genealogy records, so you may want to stay awhile.

Open Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm from April through December and otherwise by appointment. (276) 688-0088

Bland County Historical Society, 19 Courthouse Square, Bland

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Kimberling Creek Wilderness

Bland County’s vast swath of Jefferson National Forest (over 74,000 acres) includes several thousand acres of Kimberling Creek Wilderness — an important and protected habitat.

Beware all ye who enter here. The Kimberling Creek Wilderness contains steep terrain and no marked trails. At minimum, bring a map, a compass, plenty of water, and snacks. While technically dog friendly, we found it difficult to hike with our crew of leashed dogs.

Kimberling Creek Wilderness location coordinates 37° 11′ 12.59″ N, 81° 4′ 23.48″ W. Parking in various locations.

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Bland County resident and modern-day Mountain Man, Mike Reed, teaches survival skills on his YouTube channel. Mike’s channel originated in the early days of YouTube when his daughter filmed him for a high school project. Today, Mike’s channel is quite literally a lifesaver, with a wealth of crucial tips for every aspect of survival in the outdoors.

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The Saga of Jenny Wiley Started here in Bland County

On your journey through the Jefferson National Forest, imagine it is 1790 and you are witnessing Tom Wiley’s amazement at the return of his wife. Tom believed Jenny to be dead because Native tribesmen had taken her captive one year ago. However, his brave and resourceful wife outwitted her captors and escaped.

During her horrific ordeal Jenny witnessed the murders of all 5 of her children. After returning to Bland County, she and Tom welcomed a second family of 6 children. Thankfully, their son Vard ensured that his mother’s story was documented for future generations.

The cabin no longer stands where Jenny Wiley and her husband lived during our nation’s infancy. However, Jenny Wiley’s legend grows stronger with each generation. Kentucky holds an eponymous annual festival and authors continue to write anew about her harrowing captivity and extraordinary escape.

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Bland County Adventure: Day 3

Big Walker Lookout Tower

The Big Walker Lookout Tower stands directly on the line separating Bland County from Wythe County. At the top you can see clear to Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Not only is Bland County a birding destination but the Big Walker Lookout Tower is a birding hotspot. If you’re lucky, you might see an eagle!

The Big Walker Lookout Tower and Country Store are both delightfully dog friendly and Fido can climb all 200 tower steps to enjoy the view. (However, our dogs said “No, thank you.”)

The country store serves the most delectable ice cream.

Big Walker Lookout Tower and Country Store, 8711 Stoney Fork Road, Wytheville

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Bring your bike and check out Bland County’s bike trails. See the map to locate trails for beginning (green) as well as for advanced cyclists (black).

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Future Farmers of America Museum

The goddess of grain approves this museum.

The collections within this small, white building in Ceres—a farming town named after the goddess of grain—preserve and share the story of how a national icon took root.

Clockwise from top: antique cash register, farming textbooks from yesteryear, photo of Depression-era local farmers, donated artifacts, Future Farmers of America creed, photo of founder Henry Groseclose’s home in Ceres.

“Future Farmers of America was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting – it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.”

Source-https://www.ffa.org/about/

Henry Groseclose, Bland County native son and key founder of Future Farmers of America

The museum welcomes all visitors, including Fido, the farmer’s best friend, and is open by appointment only (276) 266-6089. Donations are appreciated.

Future Farmers of America Museum, Ruritan Drive, Ceres. (Donations can be sent to Ceres Alumni Association, P.O. Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318)

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Yes, we CAN! Bland County features not just one but two public canneries with equipment and on-site experts to share knowledge on canning everything from soup to (no kidding!) cake. To make an appointment, call (276) 688-4622. Cannery Locations: 11 Osborne Drive, Bland and 54 Ruritan Drive, Ceres.

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Historic Cemetery at Sharon Lutheran Church

This cemetery, on the Register of National Historic Places, contains approximately 60 tombstones dating to the early 1800s with Germanic arts and crafts designs.

Historic Cemetery at Sharon Lutheran Church, 4288 West Blue Grass Trail, Ceres

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Appalachian Trail

After a bit of hiking on the Appalachian Trail we found the perfect spot for a picnic lunch.

O’Lystery Picnic Area, on Google Maps this is “Appalachian Trail Parking at VA-42” in Ceres

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Does Fido like to walk in the woods? Bland County contains a whopping 56 miles of dog friendly Appalachian Trail, including one of my very favorite spots in the county—the Kimberling Creek Suspension Bridge.

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What animal consumes over half its weight in insects each night? If you answered “the bat,” you are correct.

Bland County’s extensive cave system provides crucial habitat for several bat species, including a number of endangered ones. Let’s hope they eat as many mosquitoes as possible.

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Big Walker Tunnel

We exited Bland County through the Big Walker Tunnel. Farewell for now, Land between the Tunnels!

Bland County is off the charts when it comes to hospitality. We did not meet any strangers during our visit. We want to extend a very special thanks to Eisle Havens, President of Bland County’s Historical Society, who showed us around and provided numerous invaluable tips. Thank you, Eisle!! Also a huge thank you to Kali Archer, Reilly Blackwell, Jake Lieber, Laura Mustard, Mike Reed, Erin Thompson, and Molly Penley Thompson. This blogpost would not be possible without your help.

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Wythe-Bland Animal Welfare League

In addition to the lookout tower, Bland County also shares an animal welfare organization with its sister county. The Wythe-Bland County Animal Welfare League (WBAWL) provides a spay and neuter service and helps place rescued animals with fosters and adopters. WBAWL accepts donations for its much needed work. (Bland County does not have an animal shelter. Wythe County provides this service to Bland County.)

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The Saint Francis Dogs organization started its prison pup training program here in Bland County. The program benefits those in need of service dogs, as well as providing a positive experience for the inmates and the puppies they train.

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Know before You Go

Download Bland County onto your Google maps and print out this county map. We lost signal while we were out exploring.

Check out VisitBland.com for additional information on things to do.

Be sure to pack your binoculars for your trip up the Big Mountain Lookout Tower.

Accommodations:

Bland County offers everything from dog friendly campsites to a dog friendly resort. As an Appalachian Trail Community, Bland County caters its accommodations primarily to hikers and the FarOut app is a good resource to find hostels.

We stayed at the pet friendly Big Walker Motel, a family-owned business since 1984, which has almost a cult following among its customers. Experience the clean rooms, the great service, and the blissful Zzzzzzs for yourself.

Located at 70 Skyview Lane, Bland (off I-77 and US-52 at Exit 52, the North Entrance of the Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway). Make reservations by phone. (276) 688-3331.

Dining in Bastian:

• DownShift Diner – 46 Indian Village Trail, Bastian
• Love’s Travel Stop has an Arby’s as well as a hot dog bar and a large selection of prepared food – 6168 North Scenic Drive, Bastian

Dining in Bland:

• Brushy Mountain Outpost – 2299 North Scenic Highway, Bland – closed Saturdays and Sundays.
• Bland Square (located in Sunoco) – 8870 South Scenic Highway, Bland – Oh no! This spot recently burned down but is undergoing renovations. We wish them great success and hope they open soon.
• Subway – 8285 South Scenic Highway, Bland
• Trent’s Grocery serves pizza, burgers, and deli sandwiches among other things – 900 Wilderness Road, Bland

Dining in Rocky Gap:

• Woody’s Grill – 12749 North Scenic Highway, Rocky Gap. Grill closed on weekends.

We shopped for our delectable picnic lunch at Grant’s IGA Supermarket – 615 Main Street, Bland.

If you time your visit for these special events you are in for a real treat:

• Ceres Day held annually on the first Saturday in May. Be sure to arrive early for breakfast.
• Bland County Farmers Market held every Saturday from 9 am to noon, mid-May through October.
• The Big Walker Lookout features live music, craft demonstrations, and local authors every weekend from May through October.
• Bland County Fair held annually in August.
• Bland County Festival of Leaves held annually in October. Go for the food, crafts, flea market, hayrides, kid activities, and Elvis!
• Also, each year in October, Bland County hosts its annual Tour de Bland, a fun cycling event to support area charities.

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Road Trip Reads

Each of these books highlights a different facet of Bland County. Find these on Audible for easy road trip listening.

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Chasing the Squirrel tells the story of Virginia native and drug smuggler Wally Thrasher who lived in Bland County at the time of his 1984 disappearance. Did he die in a plane crash? Was he murdered by some unsavory associates? Or did he successfully fake his own death? You be the judge.

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