The Barter Theatre
(%276-628-3991; http://www.
bartertheatre.com; 133 W
Main St; performances from
$20), across the street, is
the big man on Main St
in its historic red-brick
building. This regional
theater company puts on
its own productions of
brand-name plays.
Just outside of town is
a relic from a more recent
age, the MoonLite Drive-
In (%276-628-7881; http://www.
facebook.com/abingdonmoonlite;
17555 Lee Hwy; adult/child
$7/2; hdouble feature from
9pm). Bring some beers
or grab a Coke from the
concession stand and
settle in for a double
feature picture show. The
presence of local teenagers
smoking cigarettes and
having makeout sessions
in the back of their pickup
trucks is as American as
apple pie.54 p297
The Drive » Take I-81 south
from Abingdon for about 16
miles, then turn onto US 421
north/US 58 west. Follow the
road for about 20 miles to reach
Hiltons.a^ Hiltons
Another star attraction on
the Crooked Road is about
30 miles and a rural world
away from Abingdon in
the microscopic town of
Hiltons. Here at Clinch
Mountain, subject of
countless bluegrass and
country ballads, you will
find the Carter Family
Fold (%276-386-6054; http://www.
carterfamilyfold.org; 3449 A P
Carter Hwy; adult/child $8/1;
h7:30pm Sat), which has
live music every Saturday
night. At the time of
research, the Fold was
overseen by Janette
Carter, the youngest
daughter of AP and Sara
Carter, who, along with
sister-in-law Maybelle,formed the core Carter
group, a bedrock lineage
of American country
music (June Carter Cash
was Maybelle’s daughter).
The music starts at
7:30pm in the big wooden
music hall. In the summer
there is outdoor seating
too. The hall has replaced
the original locale, AP’s
store, which now houses
a museum dedicated to
Carter family history.
Also: there’s amateur clog
dancing!The Drive » Come back the
way you came on US 421/US
58 and drive about 20 miles to
reach the Tennessee border and
the town of Bristol.b Bristol
Vrrrrooom! In nearby
Bristol you can attend the
Bristol Motor Speedway
(%423-989-6933; http://www.
bristolmotorspeedway.com; 151
Speedway Blvd; hshowtimes
vary), which runs lots
of NASCAR events.
If they’re not racing,
you can still tour the
‘world’s fastest half-mile’
and check out the ‘The
Bristol Experience’ in the
adjacent museum.
Ready to head back
home? Pop on one of the
CDs you picked up along
the way and thrill to
old-time music one last
time as you ease back
to modern life, keeping
the wistful memories
of banjos and bluegrass
tucked safely inside your
heart so nobody don’t
break it again.Start: b Bristol
Across the Tennessee border, about two hours
southwest of Bristol, is the legendary Dolly Parton’s
personal theme park Dollywood (%865-428-9488;
http://www.dollywood.com; 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd; adult/child
$57/45; hApr-Dec). The Smoky Mountains come alive
with lots of music and roller coasters. Fans will enjoy
the daily Kinfolk Show starring Dolly’s relatives or
touring the two-story museum that houses her wigs,
costumes and awards. You can buy your own coat
of many colors in Dolly’s Closet. To take this detour,
take I-81 southbound for 75 miles, then take exit 407
and follow signs to Dollywood.DOLLYWOOD
DETOUR:
VIRGINIA.TRIPS24
(^) THE CROOKED ROAD