Fun Fact: History records are unclear…Was Greensville County named after Roanoke colony leader Sir Richard Grenville or Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene?

Download this handy map of Greensville County.

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Our “Greensville County caNine List” showcases our 9 favorite dog friendly “Spots.”

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1. Nottoway River

Public Boat Launches

• 36.8475, -77.4932 / Jarratt
• 36.8468, -77.5607 / Purdy / Double Bridge

In 1970, Virginia designated the Nottoway as a scenic river due in part to its mostly undeveloped shorelines.

It’s possible to float from the Purdy to the Jarratt boat launch site. This involves dropping off a second vehicle at Jarratt (or arranging a shuttle) and taking several hours to float there from Purdy.

If you just want to explore a section of the river with your 4-legged kayaking companion, we suggest heading to the deeper waters of Jarratt to float your boat. We found that the shallow, rocky conditions at Purdy make for some difficult kayaking.

We asked Grendel which Nottoway River site he preferred.

Grendel: WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

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2. Agaves Family Mexican Restaurant

118 Jarratt Ave., Jarratt

We asked Jake, our pack’s gastronome extraordinaire, to talk about our visit to the Agaves Family Mexican Restaurant.

Jake: “The patio at Agaves certainly made a favorable first impression on me. This enormous dog friendly seating area provided all the space we needed. Plus, we were protected from the sun and didn’t have to worry about the chance of rain.”

We ordered the veggie fajitas and a beef chimichanga which were both fantástica.

Jake: “Then our food arrived and ¡Qué Rico! I especially recommend the veggie fajitas which include potatoes, squash and cactus in the mix. Muchas gracias, Agaves, for an excellent meal and a most pleasurable dining experience.”

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3. Greensville County Animal Shelter

1001 Meherrin Park Rd., Emporia

We stopped by the Greensville County Animal Shelter with some dog treats. See the shelter’s donation page for list of needed items, Amazon wish list, and other ways to donate.

Image from Facebook |Greensville County Government

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4. Emporia Reservoir

Public Boat Ramp, Wiggins Rd., Emporia 36.698765,-77.560349

For a few hours, we had a pack of Reservoir Dogs.

Jake, Reservoir Dog

Jake and I greatly enjoyed a bit of kayaking on the still waters of Emporia Reservoir. We saw the warnings online about mudflats and floating logs, but we only encountered camera-shy, sunbathing turtles on this 200-plus acre lake.

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5. Meherrin River Trail Park

255 Falling Run Rd., Emporia

We give this park an A+ for its wide, flat and well-maintained path, perfect for walking a dog (or three). Even better, this riverside nature trail intersects with downtown Emporia for more dog walking opportunities.

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6. Emporia Historic District

Parking lot near 138 E. Atlantic St., Emporia

Amos, our pack’s historian guided us on a tour of Emporia’s historic buildings. This nearly 3-mile “there and back” walking tour allows a glimpse into Emporia’s past.

Tour Stop 1

H. T. Klugel Architectural Sheet Metal Work Building (1914), 138 E. Atlantic St.

Amos: “This is my favorite building on the tour. I love its black and silver, ornamental Beaux-Arts style that was popular when this building was constructed. I also love that it’s fashioned from sheet metal and served as an advertisement for the business once located here. The owner, H. T. Klugel, made a name for himself by manufacturing bespoke architectural pieces for his customers.”

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Tour Stop 2

Train Depot (1900), 400 Block Halifax St.

Amos: “Emporia’s history is tied to the railroad. During the Civil War, the Union army destroyed Emporia’s railroads to prevent supplies from reaching the Confederates. In the beginning of the 20th century, a newly prosperous Emporia constructed this railway freight and passenger station. After it fell out of use, Emporia renovated its Train Depot in 1995 and the building now houses the city’s Chamber of Commerce.

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Tour Stop 3

Bethlehem Building (1907), 400 Halifax St.

Amos: “In the era when the Bethlehem Building was constructed for a little over $10,000, gas might have cost as much as 15 cents per gallon.”

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Tour Stop 4

Hotel Virginia, 300 Halifax St.

Amos: “Conveniently located one block from the former train depot, the building that used to be the Hotel Virginia still dominates Halifax Street.”

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Tour Stop 5

Greensville Post Office (1938), 109 South Main St.

Amos: “President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression to combat unemployment. Among their many accomplishments, the young men working in the CCC reforested land, developed state parks, and constructed hundreds of buildings, including Emporia’s post office.”

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Look for Emporia’s LOVEwork, located at 100 S. Main Street across from the post office. Emporia LOVES its peanuts and hosts an annual peanut festival.

Also look for one of the entry points to Meherrin River Trail Park at the Emporia Farmers Market, 107 S. Main St. (next to the post office).

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Tour Stop 6

Greensville County Courthouse Complex (built 1834 but later remodeled), 301 South Main St.

Amos: “The date on the front of the courthouse, 1781, is misleading. It refers to the creation of Greensville County, not to the construction of the courthouse, which occurred in 1834.”

Amos: “This World War I era cannon adjacent to the courthouse stands in tribute to Emporia’s veterans from that war.”

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Tour Stop 7

Citizens National Bank (1910), 401 S. Main St.

Amos: “The limestone façade of this former bank provides Main Street with a touch of neo-classical architecture.”

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Tour Stop 8

Old Merchants and Farmers Bank Building (1902), 419 S. Main St.

Amos: “This small building delivers big in architectural details. It started its life as a bank but has also served as a law office, the city’s library, and the headquarters of the Emporia-Greensville Historical Society.”

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Tour Stop 9

Widow’s Son Masonic Lodge (1905), 427 S. Main St.

The term Widow’s Son refers to the historic distress call of the Freemasons: Oh Lord, My God. Is there no help for the Widow’s Son?

Amos: “Freemasonry is considered to be the world’s oldest secular fraternal organization, with a history going back to medieval times. Emporia’s Lodge traces its roots to Greensville County’s first Masonic Lodge, chartered relatively recently, in 1793.”

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Tour Stop 10

Village View Mansion (1815), 221 Briggs St.

Amos: “The final structure on the tour is also the oldest. Its Federalist architecture is indicative of the timeframe of its construction when that style was very popular. During the Civil War, the Confederate Army liked the mansion so much that they used it as a temporary headquarters.”

From here, it is 1.3 miles back to the parking lot at Tour Stop 1.

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7. Good Earth Peanut Company

5334 Skippers Rd., Skippers

We are absolutely nuts about the Good Earth Peanut Company.

This place has the widest variety of peanut products we’ve ever seen and we took the opportunity to stock up. (Jake highly recommends the honey roasted peanuts.)

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8. This AirBnb

Emporia

We awarded five stars to the Little Creekside Cottage in Emporia.

We enjoyed everything about our stay but our favorite part was the creek in the backyard.

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9. Tazza Grill & Wrap

647 S. Main St., Emporia

Jake is back to tell everyone about our trip to Tazza Grill & Wrap.

Jake: “Tazza Grill & Wrap is a popular spot with the locals, which is always a good sign. Even Kng Qvise has paid a visit. He liked the Slacker Burger (but said that the food was pricey).”

Jake: “The falafel was sold out when we arrived for dinner, so it must be pretty tasty. We made do with a cheese steak, a veggie wrap, and our usual side of onion rings…a wise decision as they know how to cook onion rings here. Everything was fresh and hit the spot. We definitely want to come back and sample the falafel.”

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Thanks for all the LOVE, Greensville County!

100 South Main St., Emporia

Good Earth Peanut Company, 5334 Skippers Rd., Skippers

Welcome Center, I-95 MM 0, Skippers

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P. S. We recommend the following audiobooks during your trip to Greensville County.

Sir Richard Grenville, who may or may not be the man for whom Greensville County is named, stars as the main character of this historical novel.

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Before I listened to this audiobook, I had no idea about the fascinating history of peanuts—Greensville County’s cash crop—and the plant’s enmeshment with slavery.

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This historical account largely features Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene who may or may not be the man for whom Greensville County is named.

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