Info on Ft Chiswell, VA (Roanoke, Jefferson: waterpark, hotel, house)
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My wife and I recently purchaced some acreage in Ft Chiswell to eventually build a Christmas getaway home. We were very impressed with the hilly/mountainous landscape being from Florida. There are a couple of things I would like to know about the area.
First, what activities are there within a 25 mile radius? Second, how are the local medical facilities? My wife is completing her Master's in Nursing and would require a place to work if we ever decided to move there. Third, where is the closest Army National Guard Armory and what Branch (ADA, INF, etc...) for myself. Finally, what are the schools like for our daughter?
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
Ft. Chiswell is a nice quiet area and quickly accessible to Wytheville which will provide for basic shopping and restaraunts. There is a great rec center in Wytheville which provides year-round swimming, rockwall gyms, workout center, etc. Wytheville also host the Chitagua festival in June which has lots of activities and entertainment. Outdoor activities are everywhere from hiking to biking to the New River. As far as Medical Centers, the best one nearby is the Carillion New River Medical Center at Radford. I would advise your wife to stay away from Wytheville Community Hospital and from Pulaski Hospital. There is National Guard Armory in Pulaski but I don't know what branch. I believe they are currently deployed in Iraq.
As far as schools, I'm not sure what part of Fort Chiswell you will be in but...if you are in the Max Meadows or Jackson district you should be okay. If you are in the Sheffey disctrict be cautious. You will find that there are small classes and they are about 97% white. Great teachers but desperately underfunded. Also in VA you have to deal with the SOL (Standards of Learning) tests each year of which there is much resistance.
PM me if you like with your particulars and I'll try to help as much as I can. I live just down the road and have 5 kids in the school systems.
Our property is in the Max Meadows area, so its good to hear you approve of the schools there. As far as the Guard Branch, I can look that up if I know the city so you have been very helpful.
It sounds like there is a lot more to do locally than I had thought.
I really appreciate the warning on various medical facilities. I know Florida is the same way. Some are exceptional, and otheres have 'reputations' for a reason.
Bryan
Wytheville actually has a LOT of things to do! I think when you have lived in a place all your life you forget what it has to offer! I moved here in January (to Locust Hill Road, Max Meadows) from Texas and haven’t regretted a minute! The seasons are gorgeous, it’s the first summer in my lifetime I have spent without experiencing 100 degree weather. A “hot” day is mid 90’s.
I would be happy to send you some brochures on the area and town if you would like. I have a teenage son, a teenage daughter and two little boys, 6 and 11. They never want for anything to do on the weekends! There are various parks and hiking trails, lots of rivers and creeks in the area, Jefferson National Forest, Big Walker Mountain and Lookout (where they have mountain man storytelling and blacksmith demonstrations as well as old fashion candle making and lotion classes, art exhibits right there on the mountain crest! Beautiful! Last week we took the boys to Virginia City’s Gem Mine Cowboy Days.. with western shootout show, everyone dressed in period costumes, authentic jailhouse and great little shops, they also have a sluice mine for the little kids! That’s only about 10-15 minutes from Wytheville and on the way to Big Walker Mountain Lookout, makes for a great CHEAP weekend! There is the fish hatchery, both state owned and Brackens private ponds that are in a backdrop of historical house and building and beautiful rolling hills and ancient trees where even the smallest tyke is guaranteed to catch a trophy fish! There is also a Dinner Theater (Wohlfahrt Haus) which will be showing 7 Brides for 7 Brothers soon.. I am very excited! They have a matinee which is very affordable. There is also a Safari Park which is small, privately owned and truly a gem with the little bus tours, kids LOVE it because they can hand feed Humphrey the Camel, ostriches, Humphrey’s Best Friend the Zebra, goats, monkeys, wallabees, llamas… and everyone is so nice and personable
They have one festival after another and I cant wait until next year to start all over again! Chautauqua is GREAT fun for the whole family.. a week long festival with food, entertainment (great for families) contests and show. Then the carnival comes to town.. not like the carnivals we had in Texas.. this one is an entire weekend with some really great rides for both adults and kids. The Heritage Festival is coming up (YAY) and that is a whole week of apple butter making, blacksmithin, weaving.. if they did it back in the “old days” they are going to teach us how to do it during the festival. Everyone dresses in period costumes and are so sweet and considerate. In fact, they had the whole “may-pole” at the festival in May. There is an Indian Village and Museum that has the All Nations Gathering and Pow-Wow.. yep, full head dress dancing contests, rituals, great authentic food.. lots of fun!
Another perk.. the recreation dept.. WOW! It’s the greatest place for families in Southwest Virginia. 6 lane Olympic swimming pool, waterpark with a slide and fountains for the kids, therapy pool, hot tub, basketball courts, racquet ball court, climbing wall, teen center with all the different video games, tvs, computers, air hokey, table tennis, teen fun nights, movie night, weight room, volley ball, team sports like soccer, swim team, softball, tball, baseball, indoor walking track, yoga, dance classes AND child care! All very reasonably priced for families with daily passes for $6.00 WalMart is here, Lowe’s, Movie Theater, Library (awesome library), Goodys, Old Navy, StarBucks, GameStop, Food City, Food Lion, a golf course, every kind of eatery you can imagine including some AWESOME local flavors like The Log House, Snow House Café and Skeeter Dogs as well as nationwide franchises like Rudy Tuesday, Applebees, Cracker Barrel and Shoney’s. The Kimono Japanese Restaurant with Hibachi Grill and Sushi Bar is wonderful. 1500 Hotel Accommodations are available for visiting family members.
Wytheville is known as “The Crossroads of America” because of its intersection of I81 and I77. Fuel prices stay well below the national average, its down to 3.33 today and diesel is under $4! The key point to its locality is.. not only are you an hour away from the rich offerings of Roanoke, you are also an hour away from Bristol Tennessee in the other direction, an hour south puts you in North Carolina with all of its historical offerings and an hour north you are in West Virginia where bluegrass festivals RULE ! So Wytheville is a centralized locations to many cultures, opportunities and family fun!
Grahamfest is coming up Labor Day weekend.. lots of fun for the whole family, I will be giving the Ghost Mansion Tours in full period costume.. yay! Lots of great music, food and fun, including air jumps for the kids and their very own stage! (three music stages with Confederate RailRoad making an appearance as well as many others) Its a little pricey but is worth it!
Visit Wytheville! Visit Wytheville! has a list of events and a little more about the attractions and offerings of the town
**out of breath but excited about Wytheville**
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Info on Ft Chiswell, VA
