Music to Our Pack’s Floppy Ears
Fun Fact: The Galax Dulcimer is a musical instrument developed in the mid-1800s near Galax, Virginia in Carroll County.
We stayed in Carroll County over a long weekend. Based on our experiences, Carroll County receives high marks all around but truly excels in its opportunities for recreation. We awarded that category with 5 out of 5 stars.
- Accommodations ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Dining ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Dog Friendliness ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- History ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recreation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Sightseeing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We compiled the “Carroll County caNine List” to showcase our 9 favorite dog friendly features.
1. Dog Friendly Accommodations
We stayed at this phenomenal dog friendly house with a pond, available on AirBnb.
Photo from AirBnb
Our portable fence saved the day!
I admit that I had trouble persuading Mack to leave the property for some sightseeing.
If this place is already booked, no worries. Other dog friendly options include:
- several local hotels featured on BringFido.com, and
- the Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground.
2. LOVEworks Tour
Our pack took in the beauty of Carroll County while hunting down its LOVEworks.
Carroll County Courthouse, 515 N Main St, Hillsville
Galax Department of Tourism, 110 E. Grayson Street, Galax
Galax Outdoor Swimming Pool, 501 S Main Street, Galax
Virginia Welcome Center, I-77N – MM 0, Lambsburg
Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground, 202595 Blue Ridge Parkway, Fancy Gap
Fancy Gap Country Store, 7982 Fancy Gap Highway, Fancy Gap
3. Devil’s Den Nature Preserve
77 Cemetary (sic) Rd., Fancy Gap
Entrance to Devil’s Den Cave
I love caves and was psyched to see Devil’s Den cave. OK, technically we saw the entrance to Devil’s Den Cave because signs at the Devil’s Den Nature Preserve warn visitors not to enter the cave.
From Facebook-Devil’s Den Nature Preserve
To reach the cave entrance from the parking lot, we hiked along the short portion of the Good Spur Loop Trail.
On the way down, we noticed (but ignored) benches placed here and there. On the way back up, those same benches became paramount to our journey.
That uphill hike is a doozy.
The Spur Loop Trail which leads to the Devil’s Den Cave
Tip: Watching this Smell N Roses video helped us know what to expect while hiking the Devil’s Den Nature Preserve.
4. Blue Ridge Parkway
Enter from exit 8 on Interstate 77
Carroll County may have invented the Sunday drive with its 30 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway.
Pilot Mountain & Groundhog Mountain Scenic Overlook, Milepost 189
Photo from Facebook, Exploring Virginia. Photographer: Travis Chriscoe.
Pilot Mountain inspired the fictional town of Mount Pilot on the Andy Griffith Show.
Puckett Cabin, Milepost 190
No matter the weather, “Aunt Orlean” Puckett either walked or rode horseback to deliver 1,000 babies over her long and successful career. Sadly, while Puckett is known for losing neither a single baby nor a mother, none of her own 24 children survived past infancy. Born in 1837, Puckett lived to be 102.
Mount Airy Granite Overlook, Milepost 202.8
Do you see the white streaks in the distance? Neither do I. Anyway, those belong to the Mount Airy quarry in North Carolina, the world’s largest granite quarry.
Piedmont Overlook, Milepost 203.9
Rolling hills and forests characterize the piedmont, a geological region that borders the Blue Ridge mountains.
5. Blue Ridge Music Center
Blue Ridge Music Center, Milepost 212
Photo from Facebook
The Blue Ridge Music Center features both free and ticketed live outdoor music for the enjoyment of dogs and their humans.
(Our only suggestion: Make the Roots of American Music Museum a dog friendly venue.)
Photo from Facebook
The origins of today’s country music industry can be traced back to Carroll County.
The Loose Strings Band from Carroll County
A century ago, record producer and entrepreneur Ralph Peer recorded musicians for the market he envisioned in “hill country music.” Carroll County native Ernest “Pop” Stoneman heard one of these recordings and declared, “I can sing better than that.” Stoneman traveled to Peer’s studio in New York City and recorded “Sinking of the Titanic” which became one of the biggest hits of the 1920s.
Stoneman’s influence helped form the bedrock of today’s country music industry. Upon Stoneman’s advice, Peer moved his recording studio to Virginia. Soon, Jimmie Rodgers, and then the Carter family showed up to record their songs, thus laying the foundation for country music as we know it.
The Church Sisters from Carroll County
Today, Carroll County continues its rich music tradition. Each year, the town of Galax hosts its Old Fiddlers Convention and as always, there’s no shortage of local talent.
New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters from Carroll County:
Tip: I didn’t even think I liked country music but I watched Country Music: a Film by Ken Burns and that changed everything (It’s available on PBS and Amazon Prime.)
6. Creek Bottom Brews
307 Meadow Street, Galax
At Creek Bottom Brewing Company, dogs are welcome to bring their well mannered humans to enjoy some tasty grub, a home brew, and live music.
Photo from Facebook
7. Beaver Dam Creek Trail
Beaver Dam Creek Trail, 36.779192,-80.735446 (Hillsville)
Tip: Enter the physical coordinates (36.779192, -80.735446) in your GPS because if you just enter “Beaver Dam Creek Trail” into Google Maps, you will end up in someone’s front yard.
We finally found the parking lot and, voila! There is the trail on the opposite side of the road.
This 3/4 mile length seems ideal for a there and back hike.
8. Carroll County Animal Shelter
200 Fair Street, Galax
Tip: We always like to include a visit to the local animal shelters on our trips, including the Animal Shelter in Galax, because our new best friend might be here waiting for us to show up.
Click here to make a donation to the Animal Shelter in Galax.
9. New River Trail State Park
Chestnut Yard Access, 1806 Iron Ridge Rd., Galax
Tip: Bring cash to pay the parking fee because we could not get a signal at the kiosk to pay online.
New River Trail State Park meanders through Carroll County as it parallels the New River.
To see Chestnut Creek Falls, we walked 1 mile upstream from the parking at Chestnut Yard Access,
We learned about Chestnut Creek Falls from one of our favorite resources: The Great Virginia Waterfall Trail
Map from: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Once we arrived at Chestnut Creek Falls, Mack started fishing. I hiked with the dogs on the flat and impeccably maintained trail. Pretty soon it started raining. It came down lightly at first but increased to a downpour. The dogs and I ran back to the shelter at the falls where a married couple now took cover. We almost had to yell our introductions, due to the assault on the shelter roof. The man said, “Look… There’s a guy fly fishing down at the falls. Now that’s a serious fly fisherman.”
I nodded in agreement. “That’s my husband.”
Tip: This Sherpa Guides Guidebook on the New River provided helpful information for our adventure.
Cold Case Corner
Sidna Allen House, U.S. 52, Fancy Gap
The Allens were once a prosperous and powerful family in Carroll County, exemplified by the Sidna Allen house which remains a prominent landmark. However, one notorious event ended the Allen dynasty.
On the morning of March 14, 1912, Mr. Floyd Allen stood in the Carroll County courtroom to hear the verdict of his peers. Upon conviction of interfering with an officer of the law, Judge Thornton Massie oversaw the jury’s imposed sentence of one year imprisonment. Mr. Allen stood and declared, “Gentlemen, I ain’t a goin’.” Gunfire, chaos, death ensued… all in a moment. Five people died and seven were wounded in the gun battle that followed. [from The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum]
The Allens were blamed for the massacre. Floyd Allen and his son Claude ended up being executed in the electric chair. Sidna Allen spent time in prison and lost his home to the state. However, many people in the courtroom were armed, and both Floyd and Claude proclaimed their innocence up until the end.
Though technically this case is solved, mysteries remain.
Who shot first? Who shot whom? Did politics play a role in the trials, especially in the sentence of Claude Allen, who was protecting his father? Did Floyd Allen’s enemies conspire against him? Did the Allens shoot only in self-defense?
In an attempt to answer these and other questions, much has been written about the massacre, including an historical account and 2 novels.
Tip: We watched this video to obtain a quick synopsis of the case.
Perhaps justice was indeed served. However, to this day, the case remains controversial.
You be the judge.
Epilogue: In the aftermath of the massacre, reporters descended upon Carroll County and their worldliness made an impression on one small boy named Bob Childress. He grew up to become the Man Who Moved a Mountain and built numerous area churches, including one in Carroll County.
Dinwiddie Church 2698 Homestead Road, Hillsville
Know before You Go
- We used the resources lovecarroll.com and visit Galax to help plan our trip.
- We lost internet connection while driving around but fortunately had downloaded Carroll County on Google maps and also printed out this map of Carroll County.
- In addition to the New River, Carroll County Fishing spots include 2 Wildlife Management Areas: Crooked Creek and Stewart.
- The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Hillsville annual Labor Day Flea Market as the world’s largest. Dogs are welcome. However, according to our Facebook post, the jury is out on whether or not Rover will enjoy himself. Some Facebook posters say that the weather and the pavement are too hot for dogs. Other Facebook posters say that their dogs enjoyed walking in the grass and visiting a nearby creek.
Tip: We watched this PBS video to learn more about Carroll County.
Road Trip Reads
These books added context for our visit and can be found on Audible for easy road trip listening.
I’m now a big Dulcimer fan & partly because I listened to this book.
I did not know anything about country music except that didn’t like it. This book, along with the accompanying film by Ken Burns, changed everything for me.
Noah Adams of National Public Radio travels the length of the New River by kayak, canoe, bike, and hiking boot to learn about its ecosystem, its people, and also about himself.
Roving through Virginia with Rover 
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