Wytheville . . .

Small Town/Fall Town

Although Summer may be coming to a close, it doesn’t mean the fun has to end. In fact, the change of the season brings a new lineup of Fall activities perfect for the entire family. The beautifully colored mountains and homegrown attractions in Wytheville make for an ideal autumn getaway or romantic escape.

Scenic backroads offer a beautiful alternative to the hustle-bustle of the interstates and a glimpse at unique businesses along the way. Local farms dressed in the beauty of harvest time as fields become blanketed with the orange of pumpkins. Many attractions offer music and crafts in the fall season as well as some spooky activities for all ages. This Fall round up will help you to make the most of peak leaf season and discover Wytheville… There’s Only One!

Mountain Top Music at Big Walker Lookout:

A better setting for live music (and photos) does not exist in the Fall. Big Walker Lookout, perched atop Big Walker Mountain, is Virginia’s oldest privately owned attraction and quintessential roadside attraction. The old country store offers the wares of regional artisans, authors, and musicians, as well as locally made preserves and Homestead Creamery ice cream which is not to be missed. The 100-foot observation tower provides a 360 degree panorama of the splendor of Autumn in the mountains where only the birds see more. As a Crooked Road affiliate venue, Mountain Top Music occurs every weekend from May through October. Live regional music with a breathtaking backdrop is a must for Fall fun.

Leaf it all behind and get Outside:

The natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains is spectacular anytime of year but the changing of the season adds a special element when experienced first-hand. Crystal Springs Recreation Area is a perfect choice for an immersive hike just minutes from Downtown Wytheville. CSRA includes multiple trails of varying difficulty and length on 1,800 acres of town-owned property. Primitive camp sites, mountain biking, and a bike terrain park are additional CSRA features. The New River Trail State Park is ranked in the top five Virginia State Parks each year and with good reason. This 57-mile rails-to-trails park offers biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, and canoeing adventures perfect for the whole family set against the backdrop of the majestic New River.

Fall on the Farms:

Richdale Farm in Wytheville knows how to put the fun in agritourism. During the family farm’s Fall on the Farm festival, you have a variety of activities to choose from. During your visit you can shoot apples at a target with an apple launcher or play pumpkin checkers while the little ones get lost in a straw bale maze and corn pit, the farm even has human-size rat wheels you can race friends and family in. While picking pumpkins may be the initial reason families stop by, the hillside slide is the farm’s most popular activity with the recent addition of the underground portion. The corn maze is another favorite that can be experienced during the day or after dark with the aide of a flashlight. Williams Orchard, another great stop on the fall farms tour, has been welcoming guests for over 70 years. This family-owned operation has a wide variety of produce from July until October ranging from apples and corn to pumpkins and gourds. The Fall Festival features “pick your own pumpkins”, corn maze, tractor drawn hayrides, children’s mini maze, apple launcher, pumpkin chunker and many other fun children’s activities! This event takes place every weekend in October.

Haunted Happenings:

This list wouldn’t be complete without a little scare factor to compliment spooky season and The 1870 Octagon Mansion History Museum is the perfect place to ease you in. Most famous for the massive Civil War artifact collection housed inside, the mansion has an active paranormal scene as well. When a team of paranormal investigators are not on site, you can pull up a chair during Dinner with a Ghost and meet the other “dinner guests” for yourself… if you’re brave enough. Another historic mansion with a sordid past is the Haunted Graham Mansion. Always a commanding presence, the mansion is said to still hold some horrible secrets. With these secrets come unsettled spirits from the past trying to find rest from their dark memories. Take an after dark tour to uncover more secrets from the past. For the thrill seeker in the group, Helheim Haunted Attraction is the nail in the proverbial coffin. This award-winning, spine tingling, post-apocalyptic maze of hallways and rooms is sure to have your heart rate elevated, even before you make it inside.

Leaves and Lagers:

After an amazing hike, day on the farm or hair-raising paranormal experience, the adults in the group will probably need a drink of some kind and we’ve got you covered. The wine connoisseurs will want to head to West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery. This fourth-generation family farm specializes in small batch, hand-crafted wines from grapes grown in the onsite vineyard. The tasting room is also a shopper’s paradise featuring gifts, gourmet snacks, and unique home décor. Craft beer lovers will find their spot at one of downtown Wytheville’s breweries. 7 Dogs Brewpub features a full-service restaurant with delicious pub-style fare to compliment their wide array of craft beers. Seven Sisters Brewery hosts a revolving schedule of food trucks to pair with the craft beers on tap. Both breweries are family and dog friendly with outdoor spaces, games and live events featuring music and trivia.

Where to Stay:

These homegrown attractions are joined by unique lodging options in Wytheville. The Bolling Wilson Hotel  is part of the Ascend Hotel Collection and offers 30 luxurious guest rooms, Graze on Main restaurant and a rooftop lounge. Nearby, the Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast, was named in the top 10 in the country in 2019 by Trip Advisor. This beautiful historic home features four guest rooms and a garden cottage. For a more rustic stay, one of the many nearby cabin and cottage rentals is the perfect solution. Wytheville offers multiple name brand accommodation options at every price point, for a full list of local lodging options, check the visitwytheville accommodations pages.