Spivey's Corner, NC

Spivey's Corner, North Carolina
Population: 468
Small Town Treasure: Hollerin' Festival

     Sometimes, people do things that don't make sense, but that doesn't mean they're wrong to do them. Take the folks in the tiny town of Spivey's Corner, North Carolina for instance. Every year, they host the Hollerin' Festival, in which participants compete in.... well, hollerin'. There are several different contests you could enter if you're lucky enough to make it to the festival. They have contests for juniors, women, and men alike. Whoever can produce the loudest, most distinct holler gains the title of Spivey Corner Hollerer!
     It may be tempting for some to dismiss the festival as mindless small town folks screamin and shoutin. But the festival attracts international attention and is fun for all those involved. The lesson we can take away from this small town treasure is to sit back and realize that not everything has to make sense; you don't have to have a reason for everything. Sometimes it's good to just let loose and do some hollerin' for no reason, simply because you can. Why, you ask? ...Why not?

Telluride, CO

Telluride, Colorado
Population: 2,400
Small Town Treasure: Telluride Bluegrass Festival

     Nothing shouts small town Americana like bluegrass music. Bluegrass originated from the small town banjo players of America. With its unique sound and story-telling lyrics, Bluegrass tells the story of America from the eyes of the small town folks that play it.
     Telluride, Colorado hosts the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival every summer, coinciding with the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). The event lasts for four days in which thousands of bluegrass fans converge on the small Rocky Mountain town to enjoy the american history and folklore that permeates from the sounds of Bluegrass.
     Telluride Bluegrass Festival is considered one of the biggest bluegrass festivals in the country. The most well-known Bluegrass artists from across the country play for the massive outdoor crowd while new and upcoming bluegrass musicians have the opportunity to share their music as well.
     Sitting in a natural valley surrounded by the Rocky Mountains while listening to that unique folk music style is truly a rewarding experience. There are few things that can compare to real musicians, singing real lyrics about life, all the while nestled in a natural stadium of sorts. Telluride Bluegrass festival is a meeting ground for those who find happiness in simplicity. People who can appreciate the grass their sitting on; people who can appreciate the meaning behind the words of bluegrass artists; people who don't need anything but good music and fresh air. Those are the kind of people that go to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, making the crowd just another positive aspect of this small town treasure.

Fayetteville, WV

Fayetteville, West Virginia

Population: 2,677

Small Town Treasure: Bridge Day

     876 feet. That's how high above the water the world's largest arch bridge stands. The New River Gorge Bridge is also the second highest bridge in the entire country. At over 70 ft. wide and over a mile long, it's incredible that it even holds itself up. The bridge was built as a replacement bridge to cross the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It just so happens that the bridge was built in Fayetteville, voted "coolest small town" in 2008. The surrounding mountains are covered with massive black walnut trees, creating breathtaking views from all angles.

     Even without the bridge, Fayetteville has alot to offer such as the historic site of one of the civil war's largest battles. As seems to be the case with most, if not all, of West Virginia, the people alone make the town worth visiting. There is no one more selfless and genuinely kind than a born-and-raised-West-Virginian. I don't know if it's something in the water or if coal miners just know how to raise good kids, but I would visit Fayetteville again just to drink some sweet tea and have a conversation with some of the older folks.

     Back to the point, The New River Gorge Bridge is ridicul

ously tall and whenever you have a structure that's ridiculously tall, there's always those crazy people who want to jump off of it; hence, "Bridge Day". Every year, thousands of people flock to Fayetteville to witness the largest gathering of base jumpers in the world. All day, these thrill-seekers throw themselves over the side of the bridge and plummet towards the New River Gorge at lightning speed. After releasing their shoots, they soak in the breathtaking views surrounding them before landing in a parking lot almost 900 ft below.

     The New River Gorge Bridge has become a symbol of the State of West Virginia. Bridge Day is the biggest event of the year and attracts visitors from around the globe. You couldn't ask for a better base jumping location, especially during the peak of foliage when the rolling Appalachian Mountains glow red and yellow.I could go on and on about West Virginia and how it's one of the greatest states in the country because you don't have to go searching for that small-town vibe, it's everywhere. Bridge day and the town of Fayetteville itself are just 2 more reasons why they call it Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.

Sandpoint, ID



Sandpoint, Idaho
Population: 8,370
Small Town Treasure Treasure: Lost in the 50's Weekend

     In my last blog post, I mentioned how the picturesque "American Dream" seemed more attainable over half a century ago than it is now. We can never go back to the past, but a small town tucked into the northern tip of the Idaho panhandle figured out a way to bring the past forward. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the "Lost in the 50's Weekend" in Sandpoint, Idaho. The small, northern town holds an annual 4-day weekend festival in which they simulate life in the 1950's. Folks drive around classic 1950's cars, radio stations play nothing but the greatest hits of the 1950's, and people dress to fit the era.
     The festival originally started as a small 1950's hot-rod show for locals. Overtime, the event grew into the biggest celebration of the year for the quiet town, attracting hot-rod enthusiasts from across the country. The event was featured in a popular hot-rod magazine for the first time this year, leading to the biggest turn-out ever. This is a perfect example of local legislators doing good for the community. The festival attracts fellow enthusiasts that provide an economic boost for the city while still having plenty to offer to the locals in the form of entertainment.

Dahlonega, GA



Dahlonega, Georgia

Population: 5,117

Small Town Treasure: Dahlonega General Store

     Back in the good 'ole days, when family-owned business were the backbone of small towns across America, folks would venture into town and shop at the local general store. General stores were a place where everybody knew everybody; while elderly gentlemen enjoyed a lighting of tobacco on the front porch, women inside sifted through colorful fabrics displayed on wooden racks, trying to envision the next dress that they would sew themselves. Fathers warned their sons not to get near the wooden bales filled with candy, but they never complained because they knew the elderly wife of the store owner would sneak them each a piece of hard candy if they were well-behaved. The General Store was the social hub of small towns; the place where locals dished out the latest gossip while loading their baskets with home-made jams and jellies.

     Then came Wal-Mart... As the tyrannical corporation spawned countless numbers of their venomous super-shopping centers in small towns across America, family-owned stores that had been a part of their communities for generations were suddenly being forced to shut down because they couldn't afford to compete with Wal-mart's low prices. And so, the era of the general store was no more...

     ...Unless you live in Dahlonega, Georgia. The Dahlonega General Store has changed very little since it was established as early as the city of Dahlonega itself. Dahlonega was founded in 1832 after settlers discovered gold in the area, leading to America's first major gold rush. Ever since, The Dahlonega General Store has been the heart of the close-knit community. The friendly, southern atmosphere of the store is enough to warrant a visit, but the store offers alot more than just a good vibe. Walking into the General Store is like stepping back in time 50,60,70 years; back when the American Dream was reality. The coffee is still locally grown and remains at 5 cents a cup. Homemade jams and jellies are still on the shelves, hard candy and soap are sold in giant wooden bales instead of individually wrapped. Out-of-town visitors find themselves wishing they were locals after realizing that a place like The Dahlonega General Store is a rare survivor of the take over by corporations, a little piece of the American Dream that remains alive in the small, northern Georgia town of Dahlonega. There's a reason Dahlonega's population has increased by 40% over the last decade, people who visit the rural town find themselves not ever wanting to leave. The Dahlonega General Store and the community that has grown around it gives merit to the American Dream, proving that happiness can still be found in simplicity.

Bryson City, NC

Bryson City, North Carolina
Population: 1,353
Small Town Treasure: The Great Smoky Mountain Train Museum and Scenic Railroad

          Hidden in the Smoky Mountains of extreme western North Carolina is the small town of Bryson City. Like many small towns, there's only a handful of traffic lights, and the small, family-owned shops that line the brick-paved main street remain closed for church on Sundays. If you were to pass through Bryson City and hear faint blast of a train horn reverberating through the surrounding mountains, you probably wouldn't think twice about it. After all, it's probably just another freight train transporting coal from the mines to the power plant. But there's a very good chance that the train horn you heard echoeing through the trees was that of The Great Smoky Mountain Engine rolling through the scenic valleys surrounding Bryson City. The Great Smoky Mountain Railway was assembled from the remnants of The Murphy Branch, a train route built in the late 1800's that eventually such down in 1948 after passenger traffic declined due to the increasing popularity of automobiles. Today, the railway offers 53 miles of breath-taking views of the American country side. The train departs daily from Bryson City and meanders through the Smoky Mountains, crossing over 25 bridges and carving through 2 mountain tunnels. The winding railway passes through miles of wilderness that remain untouched by civilization.
     The train ride alone is priceless, but perhaps the most fascinating aspect of The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad is the train museum that sits just a few feet off of the tracks in Bryson City. So, if you happen to miss the last train ride of the day, you can still marvel at the largest collection of Lionel model engines in the United States, consisting of over 7,000 model engines. The museum also houses one of the largeset and most intricate model layouts in the world (see picture). The collection of trains dates back to 1918 and contains some of the rarest model trains in existence. When you take into consideration the rural location and modest construction of the museum (see picture), the overwhelming collection seems even more impressive.
     The Great Smoky Mountain Museum and railway is a perfect example of one of America's hidden treasures. The landscapes of the railway and the collections in the museum offer visitors a rare look into the past of America and is simply a feel-good, small-town treasure waiting to be discovered on your next road trip.