Cruising Mt. Airy and Mt. Pilot

Cruising Mount Airy and Mount Pilot, NC

(Almost published several years back)

     “Welcome to America’s hometown,” the deejay announced to visitors on Mount Airy’s Main Street. Mount Airy, North Carolina,  the real town that inspired the fictitious town of  Mayberry on “The Andy Griffith Show,” was sponsoring its monthly “cruisin’,” with locals and visitors alike filling the street. 

 

 

     The warm, mild weather on this Saturday in June was perfect for cruising up and down the small town’s main tourist district, where vintage cars like red hot Chevy Camaros and blue and white Ford Fairlanes were on display. We also noticed a faded old black pickup truck, built like a weird hot rod, with no hood and black and gray rubber mice perched over the motor, for fun.

 

 

     But if you didn’t want to listen to music and ogle cars, you could peruse the Mayberry Consignments (now the Mayberry Market and Souvenirs) store and get a discounted Andy Griffith t shirt for 18 dollars. We also got to try the Walker’s Soda Fountain across the street, sit on an old fashioned stool you could spin around on, and order a cherry vanilla soda or a malted. (I am told it has since closed and may reopen as a bakery.)

 

 

     There was also music at the marquee lit Earl Theatre, with the Marshall Brothers the highlight of the evening. The theatre specializes in old timey-bluegrass tunes, from “Oh Lord, don’t leave me here,” to an a cappella melody. It made you think a bit of the Andy Griffith’s song on TV.

 

      The next day, after staying overnight at the Mayberry Motor Inn, which has Emmett’s pickup truck and  Aunt Bea’s room of Frances Bouvier memorabilia, we decided to try a little hiking, to the “Mount Pilot” mentioned many times on the TV show. But Mt. Pilot is a very small town, so we felt we should venture to the Mt. Pilot State Park instead.  Mt. Pilot is only 13 miles south of Mt. Airy, with a unique “knob” with vegetation on top, rising all the way up, like  “the Devil’s Tower” in Wyoming, 1400 feet above the valley floor. It is a slow, windy drive to the top parking lot and picnic area.

 

     This formation with almost white quartzite  was mapped out back in 1751 and became a state park in 1968. Hiking is not that easy for something with jutting cliffs and columns and many steps. The steps are different colors and can appear dark or  even a sparkly pink, with some metamorphic rock in them. It’s a short hike to the little Pinnacle overlook.

 

     Both Mt. Airy and Mt. Pilot provide unique perspectives on small town living and nature you can get close to, an interesting view of a more rural, small city landscape. We were glad to see what we could.