Fall Foliage Driving Tour
Craig County
The Craig County Driving Tour begins in New Castle.
Recommended route:
At Exit 141 on Interstate 81 near Salem, follow Route 311 for 19.2 miles to New Castle. Begin the tour
by turning west onto Route 42 in New Castle.
- On the right corner of Rt. 42 and Rt. 311 is the first of several beautiful
old Victorian houses leading out of New Castle. This house was built by Senator
George W. Layman in the late 1890’s. Next to it is the New Castle Methodist
Church. Across the street, behind the Craig Automotive garage on the left
corner of Rt. 42 and Rt. 311, is the oldest home in New Castle. It was Union
General David Hunter’s headquarters when his army of 21,000 camped
in New Castle June 22-23, 1864. On the right just before starting up the
mountain is a lovely Victorian, locally called “the castle”.
- Two miles up the mountain on the left is the “Lookout” presenting
a majestic view of New Castle and four mountain ranges beyond.
- Rt. 42 continues to climb through a gap between Johns Creek Mountain (where
you are now) and Sinking Creek Mountain to the left. Meadow Creek Falls,
also called by its older name of Buttermilk Falls, (cannot be seen from the
road at the present but an overlook is planned), tumbles nearly 1,000 feet
down to Craig Creek on the southern edge of New Castle.
- Next is Route 624 on the right. Keep going on Rt. 42 about 5 miles from
New Castle to the community of “Looney”, so called for the earliest
settlers and the post office stores, tan yard, blacksmith shop and harness
maker, school and church.
- Turn right there just before the Chestnut Grove Church (1877), onto Route
645. On the right is the old Looney School (1883 – 1946), restored
by the Sam Lowrey family. A tenth of a mile from Rt. 42 on the left is “Mag’s" (Abbott)
store.
- Turn right onto Route 623 and go 1.1 miles to Route 624.
Turn left on Rt. 624. In about 3 miles is the continental divide where all
waters flowing west run into the Gulf of Mexico and all running east flow
to the Atlantic Ocean. Here, Sinking Creek runs west and Meadow Creek runs
east. On up Rt. 624 about another 2 miles on the left is Mount Carmel Church,
built by the Caldwell family in 1899. One tenth of a mile beyond on the
right is a big tan house with brown shutters situated against Johns Creek
Mountain. This was the home of William “Ad” Caldwell who walked
28 miles from here over the mountain to Blacksburg to enroll as the first
student of Virginia Tech, October 1, 1872. His brother “Mick” enrolled
as the second student. About three-tenths of a mile on the left is Rt.
625 which leads 2.3 miles back to Rt. 42. At the stop sign, look to the
left to find William Addison Caldwell Historical Marker at a two story
brick colonial called the "old Wiley" home.
- Turn right onto Rt. 42. A short drive brings the tour past a U.S. Forest
Service road on the left called “Hall Road” which crosses Sinking
Creek Mountain to Route 621 on Upper Craig Creek. Next is Sinking Creek Store
on the left. About 2 miles beyond on the right are the twin churches, Bethel
Christian (1912) and Bethel Methodist (1870).
- Turn right at the churches onto Rt. 626, which meanders about a mile and
a half over Sinking Creek back to Rt. 624. (This point where the tour turns
back onto RT. 624 is not quite 3 miles beyond Rt. 625 where the tour cuts
back onto Rt. 42.) About 1.5 miles farther west on Rt. 624 is the nearly
100-year-old Trout School on the left. The fields surrounding it served as
a fairgrounds in the early 1900’s. On the right is the old Trout home
with beautiful maples along the lane. Three tenths of a mile further is the
Woodall Blueberry farm. Six tenths further, Rt. 624 ends at Rt. 42.
- A left turn onto Rt. 42 leads past the old Maywood school 2.5 miles back
to the twin churches. Turn right onto Rt. 42 for three miles through Simmonsville
which was a very prosperous spot with a store, post office, millinery and
blacksmith shop, tan bark house, school, and Gravel Hill Church (1835). Next
on the right is the Simmonsville Fire Department.
- Nine-tenths of a mile further is Route 658 which turns right through Happy
Hollow, over Johns Creek side. Coming out of the trees near the bottom of
the mountain is a majestic view of land that was cleared by what was the
Tri-State Lumber Company. At the bottom of the mountain Rt. 658 runs into
Route 632.
- Turn right onto Rt. 632 and drive less than a mile to “Maggie”,
so named after the postmistress, Maggie Tingler. A left turn onto Rt. 658
takes you to the Johns Creek Fire Department and the Forks of Johns Creek
Church is located on the right. Staying on Rt. 632, follow Maggie's 9.6 miles
of twisting road along beautiful Johns Creek. Rt. 632 and Rt. 658 intersect
again.
- Turn right onto Rt. 658 and travel 4.7 miles to Rt. 311 at the foot of
Potts Mountain. Turn right onto Rt. 311 and travel 5 miles over Peter’s
Hill and end your tour at the starting point in New Castle.