The summit picnic area is also accessible by vehicle if time or fitness levels do not align with hiking the Grindstone. Beyond the Guidebook: Mount Airy, the Real-Life Mayberry. The trail surface is natural so rocks and roots can cause uneven footing in some spots. Distance between Mount Airy, NC and Pilot Mountain, NC 52 N. to Business 52.Directions. Why the discrepancy? Mount Airy North Carolina is home to Andy Griffith and the Mayberry-themed dominates the list of things to do. For 50 cents, visitors could take the scenic two-mile drive to Little Pinnacles Peak. (Betty Lynn who played Thelma Lou retired to Mount Airy.). Pilot Mountain has over 40 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous. The campground does allow RVs but does not have hookups or a dump station. Aunt Bee logged more Mayberry years (ten) than any other character. Pilot from The Andy Griffith show. It might sound odd, but the tangy and crunch combo is addictive. (1968-1971), Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television film titled Return to Mayberry. Miles: 1.5 miles one way Difficulty: moderate Location: Visitor Center or Pinnacle Hotel (GPS coordinates in the directions section) Surface Type: natural with water crossings Blaze Trail Markers: white triangles. I cannot offer a better description than the multiple highly satisfied customers. This quaint North Carolina town was Andy Griffiths childhood home and the inspiration for Mayberry in the beloved 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. After studying art and design, Gertrude returned to Mount Airy and worked as an interior designer in addition to running the family business. Pilot Mountain State Park - Tripadvisor Visitors shouldn't miss walking the quaint downtown and snapping a few pictures of the Mayberry sites. Check out How to Spend a Perfect Day in Mayberry for ideas of things to do in Mount Airy. Keep in mind both of these places arent real but they are based on real locations. The Visitor Center is located on Main Street and it is open 7 days a week. Follow Main Street until you see the Big Granite Building located beside Barneys Restaurant. Visitors are welcome to visit the active granite quarry. . The brothers married sisters and had 22 children in total. Seeing Otis, the towns drunk, picture in one of the jail cells made me smile. I wish I could whistle it but its much more difficult than it seems. Pilot Mountain State Park is made up of 3,703 acres of land, with an elevation of 2420 feet. The cherry cola is delicious and reminds me of a cherry Coke. Mayberry also has a number of unique landmarks, including Floyds Barbershop, Wallys filling station, and Morellis ice cream parlor. Miles: 12.6 miles one way in Pilot Mountain State Park Difficulty: strenuous Location: Bean Shoals Access (GPS coordinates in directions section) Surface Type: natural surfaces, railroad crossing, water crossings Blaze Trail Markers: white circles. Today, the town of Mayberry is a popular tourist destination. Hikers can take the Grindstone trail to the mountain base and explore the area but you cannot access the top of the mountain. A few of the most popular are:-The Pilot House: This is a historic house that was built in 1853. If you arent planning to walk across the entire state but want a challenging hike at Pilot Mountain, check out the segment of the Mountains to Sea trail within the park. Today, the town pays homage to its television counterpart in many ways, but it is more than just Mayberry. The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is located in a restored downtown mercantile. For one thing, there are so many similarities. Tourists are also welcome for photos. If you want a little more walking, Wallys Service Center is less than half a mile from downtown. The population of Mayberry is a friendly and welcoming community that is always ready to help out a neighbor in need. The Best Things To Do In Mount Airy - TravelAwaits Admission is $6 plus tax to the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Pilot Mountain Visitor Center is open from 9 am to 5 pm in the winter (October until February) and 8 am to 4 pm in the summer. Once completed the trail will run 1,400 miles from the breathtaking mountains to the magical coast. Visitors to Pilot Mountain State Park will want to know a few things before they go. Youll instantly recognize the gas station and garage made famous by Jim Naborss bumbling character, Gomer Pyle. The Parkway speed limit is 45 mph and there are scenic overlooks every few miles. The entire park is closed on Christmas Day. The Bryson Inn is not a luxury choice but is adequate for most visitors. Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain are 15 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop . The Mountain to Sea trail will eventually traverse the entire state of North Carolina. But Grindstone will take you as far as possible. Andy Griffith attended elementary school at Rockford Street Elementary School and first performed on-stage at this school. So, if youre driving at a reasonable speed, it would probably take you about 45 minutes to make the trip. It then loops around the Big Pinnacle before ending up at the same trail for the return trip. The Grindstone Trail provides hiking access to the summit of Pilot Mountain via three approaches, Ledge Spring, Grindstone or Jomeokee. We love supporting local and unique businesses in our travels. The 2022 Summer Art Series show schedule is available here. A few years ago, correct blue and gold Mayberry sleeve patches were available at The Last Precinct, a police museum in Eureka Springs, AR. The vertical walls consist of bare rock and the rounded top is covered by vegetation. Mount Airy North Carolina is best known as the real-life home of Andy Griffith. He wanted to make sure that Mayberry felt like a truly unique place, unlike any other town on television. The paths on the islands do not have any trail blaze markers so prepare for an adventure. Visitors can also go to the Bunker twins graves at the White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery in Mount Airy. Owners are warm and welcoming! Other place names used in the show refer to actual places in North Carolina, such as Raleighwhich was also often called "Capital City" Siler City, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Stokes County, Elm City and Charlotte. Pilot Mountain is real but Mount Pilot is not. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Admission is $8 for the 2.5-hour show or free with Surry Arts Council season pass. Mayberry, the idyllic hometown made famous on The Andy Griffith Show, has long been considered a fictional place, but the real Mayberry does exist. Remember to stay on the trail. Construction was never completed but the remains are still visible today. Mount Pilot is a 15-minute drive from Mayberry. A history of the quarry is also on permanent exhibit at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Mayberry, the fictional town in North Carolina, was the location of the Andy Griffith show. Campsites are closed seasonally. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Pilot Mountain is one of 42 North Carolina state park sites. The groupings are Mayberry and Andy Griffith Related, History, Art, and Outdoor. In the song called "Grandpa's Interview" on the Neil Young album Greendale: "Shows with love and affection, Like mama used to say, A little Mayberry livin', Can go a long way.". The family-friendlyfestival, hosted by the Surry Arts Council, features a parade, golf tournament, Andy Griffith trivia contests, screenings of show episodes, live entertainment and more. Downtown Mount Airy is a great place to visit. While Andy Griffith always claimed Mayberry wasn't exactly based on the town he grew up in, Mount Airy, NC, the facts seem to tell a different story. The trail to Little Pinnacle Overlook is primarily natural surfaces including uneven stone stairs. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. The town was named after a nearby mountain, Pilot Mountain. It offers everything you need from a place to stay in Mount Airy at a great price. But in the world of The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry is much further away from Mount Pilot. There are many attractions in Mount Pilot, NC. Follow Renfro Street and take a left onto Independence Blvd. Youll need a car to visit Pilot Mountain. We personally like apartments and have had great luck using booking.com to avoid all of the silly AirBnB fees. However, a valid NC fishing license is required. Gas Cost. Crossing an active railroad track is necessary at the beginning of the trail. The islands in the Yadkin River in Pilot Mountain State Park are 15 acres and 45 acres in size. The trail surface is natural with rocks, roots and water crossings. Pilot Mountain Hiking Trails: Everything You Need to Know, 15 Unique Things to Do in Nederland: Our Favorite Colorado Hippie Town, Complete Guide to the Tobacco Heritage Trail: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit this Virginia Rail Trail, Top 12 Things to Do in Winslow Arizona: Cheap or Free Route 66 Attractions, What Everyone Wants to Know about Full Time RV Living: Top 23 Questions We Get Asked. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? Once you turn onto Independence take the next left onto Main Street. The real Mayberry - Review of Pilot Mountain State Park - Tripadvisor 89 Exit. Mayberry originated in an episode of The Danny Thomas Show and was the setting for The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD, and the 1986 reunion film Return to Mayberry. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. They were made by a guy who can duplicate any patch or badge. At birth, they were joined at the chest by a small band of cartilage. Its been in business since 1923. While visiting Mount Airy, a great outdoor thing to do is to explore nearby Pilot Mountain State Park. Get driving directions . Another episode has Barney Fife referring to Sheriff Taylor and himself as "the law west of Mount Pilot". 89. Pilot Mountain is less than half an hour from Winston-Salem. This meadow is a great location to enjoy wildflowers and wildlife. Little Pinnacle Overlook is one of three overlooks at the Upper Summit Parking area. How far is it from mayberry to mt pilot in the Andy Griffith show? It shares some segments with the Grindstone, Corridor and Mountain trails. If you are visiting Mount Airy NC to step back into the days of Mayberry and Andy Griffith, then youll want to stay more than one day. The iconic statue didnt disappoint. So whats stopping you from hitting a hiking trail this weekend at Pilot Mountain? Pilot Mountain Hiking Trails: Everything You Need to Know Directions | Mayberry, NC You can drive up to Pilot Mountain. Airy in Surry County. The TV Land Andy and Opie statue is located in front of the Andy Griffith Playhouse and Andy Griffith Museum. You can visit the TV Land statue of Andy and Opie in front of the Andy Griffith Museum for free. Quality Inn is also just 10 minutes away from the Mount Airy/Surry County Airport. The town of Mayberry was originally created as a fictional town for the show. The Fun Girls were from Mt. In episode 17 "Alcohol And Old Lace" while looking for moonshine stills, Barney suggests looking into Fancy Gap, Virginia, a town just across the state line from Mt. Nearby the actual town is Pilot Mount State Park which is known for its Big Pinnacle peak seen for several miles. This trail runs alongside water for most of its length. From I-74: Take Exit 101 to Mount Airy. It is believed to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Mount Pilot on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD. The best route to take when driving from Mayberry to Mount Pilot is to take the scenic route. Youll see vintage sheriff cars giving tours. If you are curious about the sweet shops, check out the Best Places to Eat in Mount Airy NC for more details. Visit Mayberry, N.C., from "The Andy Griffith Show" | Project 543 Many assume Mayberry was loosely based on Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina, but actually, Griffith has indicated that nearby Pilot Mountain, also in Surry County, North Carolina, inspired him in creating the town. Griffith, however, told Larry King in 2003 that Artie Stander is the person who thought of the name Mayberry; Stander was one of the show's creators and writers.[1]. The town of Pilot Mountain is home to Pilot Mountain State Park, which is a remnant of the ancient Sauratown Mountains. It has two separate units, the mountain and rivers sections. A 3.5 miles strenuous one-way hike on the Grindstone trail will get you to the top of Pilot Mountain. If youre like me, take a few minutes to snap some photos and feel like a kid watching the big machines working in the quarry. Follow Main Street until you see the Big Granite Building located beside Barneys Restaurant. In episode 44 "Sheriff Barney", the mayor of nearby Greendale relates that Mayberry County has had the lowest crime rate in the state for two years in a row under Sheriff Taylor. Mayberry is the fictional name of Mount Airy in the show. Scientists believe it was once submerged under an ancient ocean over a billion years ago. The wooded sites are located on the lower slopes of Pilot mountain. Mayberry is a small town in North Carolina that was the setting for the popular television show The Andy Griffith Show. Top 22 Things to do in Mount Airy (Mayberry) North Carolina in 2023: [Bonus] Itinerary A Perfect Day in Mayberry Sharing is caring! Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Pilot Mountain State Park offers over 40 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. What are the duties of a sanitary prefect in a school? This route will take you through the mountains and give you a chance to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the area. The most popular way to visit Pilot Mountain is by car. And after a day of hiking at Pilot Mountain, youll want to treat yourself. They likely associate Mount Airy with a small town they grew up watching on TV, Mayberry. Self-guided Tours from $27.00 per adult The area 1792 Pilot Knob Park Rd Pinnacle, NC, Pinnacle, NC 27043-9090 Best nearby Restaurants 13 within 3 miles EJ's Family Restaurant 10 2.2 mi$ Trails End Grill 9 2.3 miDiner Soups Aunt Beas 103 2.7 mi$ Quick Bites American Fast Food See all Attractions 4 within 6 miles JOLO Winery & Vineyards 828 The Mount Airy Visitors Center offers free maps for those whod like to explore by foot, and it's always fun to get recommendations from locals. $1 - $2. One of the stars of the show, Frances Bavier (who played Aunt Bee) retired to Siler City in real life. The Big Pinnacle is a protected bird sanctuary and shouldnt be accessed. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There are some steep slopes along the natural trail surface including rocks, roots and water crossings. 601. But they are still cool looking. Follow Pine to Renfro St., turn left. In episode 3 "The Guitar Player" played by James Best, who later played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard, Best's character Jim Lindsey buys his guitar picks in Winston-Salem, which is actually the nearest big city to Mount Airy (37 miles).