Carolina Music Ways: Surry County

Part of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Surry County is considered one of the most vibrant strongholds of old-time stringband music in the world. During the folk revival of the 1960s and '70s, the area served as a mecca for world-wide aficionados of the genre who made the pilgrimage to study with local masters, including the late fiddler Tommy Jarrell from the county’s Round Peak community. Today, thanks in part to the longstanding influence of Mount Airy radio station WPAQ 740AM, a thriving heritage music scene continues, as old-time stringband, bluegrass, gospel, blues, and jazz can be heard in a variety of settings including street festivals, fiddlers’ conventions, live radio shows, parks, and restaurants.

DAVIDSON

DAVIE

For more county arts information, contact:

Surry Arts Council:

800-286-6193; (336) 786-7998

Email: customerservice@surryarts.org

Web: www.surryarts.org

Other county attractions include:

Andy Griffith Collection (memorabilia)

Andy Griffith Playhouse (home of Surry Arts Council)

(800) 286-6193; (336) 786-7998

E-Mail: customerservice@surryarts.org

Web: www.surryarts.org

Black Wolf Vineyards in Dobson:
(336) 374-2532
www.blackwolfvineyards.com

Blue Ridge Parkway:
www.blueridgeparkway.org

County Courthouse in Dobson

Village of Downtown Pilot Mountain

Edwards-Franklin House in Lowgap:
(336) 786-8359; (336) 789-7034

Gertrude Smith House in Mount Airy:
(336) 786-6856; (800)576-0231

Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery

(336) 835-4230 ; (336) 835-2458

http://www.grassycreekvineyard.com

Historic Downtown Elkin:
Historic Walking Tour begins at Visitor Center,
(336) 526-1111

Historic Downtown Mount Airy:
“Mayberry” spots such as Andy’s homeplace, Floyd’s Barbershop, Mayberry Jail
(800) 576-0231; (336) 789-4636
www.visitmayberry.com

Historic Rockford Village:
(336) 374-3825
www.rockfordpreservationsociety.com

Horne Creek Living History Farm in Pinnacle:
(336) 325-2298
www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/horne/horne.htm

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History:
(336) 786-4478
http://www.northcarolinamuseum.org/

Old North State Winery:

(336) 789-9463

www.38vines.com

Pilot Mountain State Park:
(336) 325-2355
www.ncsparks.net

Round Peak Vineyards in Mount Airy:
(336) 352-5595
www.roundpeak.com

Shelton Vineyards in Dobson:
(336) 366-4724
www.sheltonvineyards.com

Stony Knoll Vineyards:

(336) 374-5752

www.stonyknollvineyards.com

The Robert Smith House

(Donna Fargo and Chang & Eng Bunker Exhibits)

(336) 789-4636; (800) 576-0231

E-Mail: visitandy@tcia.net
Web: www.visitmountairy.com

William Alfred Moore House in Mount Airy:
(336) 786-4512

For information on lodgings and attractions, please contact:

Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce /

Mount Airy Visitors Center
200 N. Main Street

Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm

Saturday 10am-4pm

Sunday 1pm-4pm.

(336) 786-6116; (800) 948-0949
Fax: (336) 786-1488
E-mail: tourism@visitmayberry.com
Web: www.visitmayberry.com

Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce

(336) 526-1111

E-mail: info@yadkinvalley.org

Web: www.yadkinvalley.org

For on-line tickets, visit www.surryarts.org

For a road map of Surry County, visit www.ncdcr.gov/maps.htm and click on “Western Region.”

County roadways running north/south include I-74, I-77, US 52, US 21, US 29, US 601, and NC 104. East/west roadways include NC 89, NC 103, and NC 268.

Towns & Communities: Mount Airy and Elkin are the biggest population centers. Other towns include Dobson, the county seat, and Pilot Mountain. Smaller communities include Ararat, Beulah, Bryan, Devotion, Fairview Crossroads, Franklin, Lowgap, Marsh, Mountain Park, Pilot Mountain, Pinnacle, Pine Ridge, Ronda, Round Peak, Rockford, Siloam, Shoals, State Road, Stony Knoll, Toast, Thurmond, Westfield, White Plains, and Zephyr.