Along route/hwy 58, sw virginia info (Danville, Martinsville: real estate, home, gated communities)

[joee]

I've been hearing a little bit about galax, fancy gap, martinsville, danville.

can you fill me in on that area give or take some north,south of that area.

whats the area/areas like, rolling hills or pretty steep, pretty isolated, housing possibly cheaper than say roanoke/blacksburg area.

just basically anything you can tell me about it.

also how bad does it get in the winter around that area, 2-3 inches then it's gone in a day or 2 or worse, also how comparable would the weather in that area be to roanoke.

[rheaburris]

I have driven that route several times and it is just south of the area I'll be moving to. I don't know the area real well, but, it is beautiful.The area slowly climbs and winds up the mountain. The job opportuniy isn't the best in that area. But it all depends on what you can do..There is some snow in the area but I understand it's gone within a day or so usually. As you go further north towards I-81 the mtn gets signifigantly steeper. I heard mention that the hwy will get closed if they get ice. I hope that helps you out.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by joee

I've been hearing a little bit about galax, fancy gap, martinsville, danville.

can you fill me in on that area give or take some north,south of that area.

whats the area/areas like, rolling hills or pretty steep, pretty isolated, housing possibly cheaper than say roanoke/blacksburg area.

just basically anything you can tell me about it.

also how bad does it get in the winter around that area, 2-3 inches then it's gone in a day or 2 or worse, also how comparable would the weather in that area be to roanoke.

Martinsville/Danville are the larger towns in that list, more in the flatter part of the state. Once you start going west of there - especially past Stuart - the road gets kinda wild Curves, switchbacks and climbing elevation into Fancy Gap, which really isn't more than a wide spot in the road with a gas station, restaurant and a number of realtors. There's access to the Blue Ridge Parkway at that spot and the land shillers are stationed there to show available real estate (more expensive because of its retirement/second home value). I believe there are a few gated communities back up in the hills, too. That town (well, more like wide spot) and Galax I'm more familiar with. Galax isn't particularly impressive, IMO. More a smallish mountain town without a lot to support it. There is a yearly Fiddler's convention, and the town tries to styles itself as a gateway to the Blue Ridge.

[KewGee]

I don't know anything about the area from a personal standpoint, but I'm learning a lot on these posts. I have also found out on the internet that there is a Martinsville Speedway and know I will stay very clear of that area. The physical address for the Speedway is in Ridgeway which, I guess, is very close to Martinsville, hence the name of the place.

[joee]

I was talking to someone today & heard that down around the floyd area there are a lot of old hippies around.

is there any truth to that or what.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by joee

I was talking to someone today & heard that down around the floyd area there are a lot of old hippies around.

is there any truth to that or what.

*laughs* Welllll......

In the past few years, the Floyd area has been promoted as part of "The Crooked Road" - a route that showcases resurgent interest in bluegrass and mountain music.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...051001336.html

http://www.virginia.org/site/feature...FeatureID=344:)

The instances we were there, we saw it as a sort of non-impressive small mountain town. (AMJB, I think it was an area of interest to you?) It's not a dramatic place to live; fairly pretty. Reaching it by SR8, it's curvy drive, Rt221 is milder. The "hippy" notion might come from the fact that poetry readings are now held at a local coffee house. Check the town's home page for more details http://www.floydvirginia.com/