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The Crooked Road
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The Crooked Road is Virginia’s officially designated Heritage Music Trail, a 250 mile driving route through the Appalachian Mountains from the slopes of the Blue Ridge to the Coalfields region. The Trail was conceived in 2003 to generate tourism and economic development by connecting heritage music venues in Southwestern Virginia. The traditional gospel, bluegrass, and mountain music heard today was passed down from generation to generation and lives on through a wealth of musicians and instrument makers along the trail. Performance venues and museums such as the Blue Ridge Music Center, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, the Carter Family Fold, the Ralph Stanley Museum and the Blue Ridge Institute anchor the trail, while festivals, weekly concerts, live radio shows, and informal jam sessions abound throughout the region.
Efforts to develop and promote “The Crooked Road” include production of a travel guide, website, and CD for trail visitors; production of audio CDs featuring musicians from the area; and highway pull-offs with radio transmitters and additional written information along the trail route. Highway signage identifies the route, which also includes outdoor recreational activities, museums, crafts, and historic/cultural programs. The Crooked Road” is now a vibrant partnership of dozens of local governments, regional planning districts, state agencies, tourism organizations, and music venues. Tobacco Commission funds granted through the Southwest Economic Development and Special Projects programs have assisted in construction or renovation of several of the anchor venues, as well as marketing efforts that are attracting visitors and much deserved recognition from around the globe.
For additional information visit The Crooked Road on the web at www.thecrookedroad.org or call (276) 492-2085.
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