Patrick County, Virginia It’s more than a place to live… it’s a way of life.
Proudly serving Patrick County for over 30 years
We are a farm winery producing Italianstyle wines from local grapes. Stop by for great wine, tastings, panini, cheese and charcuterie boards. Live music and pizzas from our woodfired oven on select dates. Check our website and social media! www.VillaAppalaccia.com 540-593-3100 • 752 Rock Castle Gorge Rd, Floyd, VA
Fall 2026 / Vol. 5, No. 2 The Patrick County Magazine is published in partnership by the Patrick County Tourism Office and the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.
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visitpatrickcounty.org
patrickchamber.com For advertising information: Patrick County Chamber 410 Patrick Ave., Suite A Stuart, VA 24171 276-694-6012 For additional copies of the magazine, contact: Patrick County Tourism 126 N. Main St. Stuart, VA 24171 276-693-2005 Chamber Director: Rebecca Adcock Chamber Assistant: Sharon Williams Director of Economic Development and Tourism: James Houchins Tourism Marketing Manager: Grace Cooper Tourism Administrative Assistant: Sue Kolljeski Creative Director: David Stanley Photographer: Kim Rakes Design: SilverLining Design Contributors: Kevin Hubbard, Kristin Hylton, Erica Stacy, Beverly Belcher Woody, Aaron Zimmer Copy Editor: Emma Rose Note: Please know that changes occur with attractions and businesses before Tourism or the Chamber are notified. We make every attempt to present accurate information, but contact businesses or attractions directly before making plans to visit. The Cover: The sunflower maze at Doe Run Farm celebrates 20 years this fall.
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Table of Contents 11 Tourism Wins 3 Awards
The Southwest Virginia Tourism industry gathered on August 4 and Patrick County Tourism came home with three awards
Patrick County Beat the Odds and Reopened 20 How its Hospital
Stuart Community Hospital re-opens to serve the rural community
30 The Hospitals Built by Patrick County
A story written by many determined residents of the region
the Community: The Legacy of Gordon Trent 38 “Fore” Golf Course Making a quality golf experience accessible to all
48 Where the Trail Leads
Take another look at the Mayo River Rail Trail
60 Creating Connection on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Foundation that protects and maintains this incredible road
Departments 5 Welcome 8 Find Yourself Here
12 Attractions Map
16 Events
Calendar
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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THE HONEY POT on Main
106 N MAIN ST, STUART, VA 24171 PHONE: (276)693-6019
Christian Bookstore Florist Gift Shop “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103 Let us take care of your floral needs. 4
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Updates from Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce Greetings again, our faithful readers. We have another exciting issue for you. Our team has shown up and shown out in this print. If you all are not aware, previous issues of this magazine won awards at the Friends of Southwest Virginia’s Tourism Summit. They have put their heart and soul into bringing our readers articles that are entertaining and inform you about our lovely county. If you are a visitor reading this, you will find the paths that forged us into the community we are; if you are a resident, this is our history and our present way of life. We hope these stories and events, past and present, keep you excited and wanting more. So, as you turn the page, relax and immerse yourself in another great read. Stroll through the present and the past, read of times that have gone by, and discover what is now and present. As we have stated many times, we want you to come, get lost, and find yourself here. Patrick County is one of the great rural communities that is still growing and evolving. You are part of that journey, and with that, I say welcome, y’all - you’re here!!! Be blessed, James Houchins Director of Economic Development and Tourism
Greeting readers, once again, it is time for another issue of Patrick County Magazine! Since you last turned through our pages, the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, SilverLining Design, and Patrick County Tourism have once again been recognized with the “Best Visitor Magazine” award at Friends of Southwest Virginia’s Tourism Awards. This marks four consecutive years receiving this honor! As always, I am incredibly proud of the work and dedication that go into creating this magazine and showcasing all that Patrick County has to offer to both our residents and visitors. This issue has something for everyone. We begin by celebrating fall and the harvest season with the Puckett family and their sunflower farm, a family tradition that has continued for 20 years. We also feature two great articles highlighting the hospitals that have served Patrick County. We are especially excited that our community hospital was able to reopen in January following an almost nine-year closure. It is an invaluable community asset—one that we are grateful to have back and certainly do not take for granted. Our historical hospital article takes a look back at the variety of hospitals that have served our rural community throughout the years. Fall is the perfect time to get outside, and our remaining articles offer plenty of reasons to do just that. Enjoy a round of golf at Gordon Trent Golf Course, explore the new enhancements along the Mayo River Rail Trail, or experience the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Treasure that runs right through Patrick County. Fall is also a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the many events happening throughout our community. Be sure to check out the event map, make your plans, and create your own Patrick County adventure. Thank you for continuing to read, explore, and support the people, places, and stories that make Patrick County special. We hope you enjoy this issue! Rebecca Adcock Chamber of Commerce Director patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Disc Golf at DeHart Park
Wa l l a c e L e g a l P L LC
Anna Wallace, Attorney at Law Proudly serving the citizens of Patrick County! Property & Real Estate Wills & Estates Voted Best Disc Golf Course in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine!
Divorce & Family Misc. civil matters
212 Wood Brothers Dr., Stuart, VA Come play the 9-hole course around DeHart Park in Stuart. Disc rentals are available in the Patrick County Parks & Recreation office.
Contact : (276) 693-0803 or info@wallacelegalva.com
co.patrick.va.us/205/Parks-Recreation
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Find yourself here
Where We Put Down Roots By Erica Stacy
For Buddy and Jeanie Puckett, 20 years of sunflowers have grown into a family tradition and a way to share the place they call home. Buddy Puckett has lived in Patrick County all his life. He grew up in Ararat and graduated from Patrick County High School. “I grew up in a time that nobody said, ‘If you are going to make a living you will have to leave Patrick County,’” he said. “I never considered living anywhere else.” For Buddy, home can be found in the details. “There is nothing better than looking out the kitchen window at the mountains in winter with snow coming over them or watching a summer storm pass by. There’s driving down a two-lane road with no lines, meeting a neighbor, and exchanging the Patrick County wave. “This is what Patrick County–what home–is to me,” he said. Jeanie Puckett grew up in nearby Cana, Virginia. She relocated to Patrick County after marrying Buddy. The couple made the Doe Run section of Ararat home. From this special location, they grew a farming operation and raised four children. Their children–Zachery, Lakin, Isaiah, and Jeremiah–attended Blue Ridge Elementary School and Patrick County High School and helped on the farm. Now grown, they’re an integral part of Doe Run Farm, which includes the Puckett’s growing agritourism venture. And they’ve cultivated another generation.
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Today, four grandchildren get to experience life on the farm, too. The agritourism business started with a field of pumpkins and a field trip inquiry from a local school, which the Pucketts declined. But the idea stuck with Buddy. After reading an article in Progressive Farmer magazine about corn mazes, they decided to give one a try. The Pucketts operated a corn maze for several years before turning to sunflowers. Now, the Sunflower Maze is celebrating its twentieth year. “There’s nothing like seeing the look on people’s faces when they come out of a field of sunflowers,” Buddy said. “I hope people feel uplifted when they leave. That’s the gift of the sunflowers.” Creating the opportunities that result in that feeling takes plenty of work. The challenges begin just weeks after the seeds go into the ground, when crows arrive looking for a meal. Then come the deer, who may spend weeks eating young plants day and night. In the weeks leading up to the bloom, displays, inflatables, and other supplies are pulled from storage and set up, all while the family manages the day-to-day responsibilities of a full-time farm.
Each year, the Pucketts choose a new theme for the maze. Buddy and Jeanie draw the design and their oldest son, a land surveyor, maps it onto the field and mows the design into the plants using a zero-turn mower. “Then the field becomes a beautiful piece of artwork,” Jeanie says. Visitors can walk through the six-acre maze, take a hayride while enjoying views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and participate in activities including jump pads, double slides, swings, corn hole, and an apple launcher. The Puckett’s even draft a trivia game to help guide visitors through the maze. There are pumpkins, straw, corn stalks, mums, and apples for sale, along with local apple pies, homemade jellies, apple butter, snacks, and drinks. But what matters most to the Pucketts isn’t what visitors take home. It’s what they experience on the farm. “I love watching the people’s expressions as they come out of the maze,” Jeanie says. “They are happy and smiling.” For Jeanie, a field of sunflowers offers something increasingly precious: a chance to slow down. “Walking through a field of sunflowers brings peace, hope, happiness and is a definite stress relief,” she says. Over the past 20 years, generations of families have made memories on the Puckett’s farm. Schoolchildren who once visited the maze now return as adults with children of their own. They recognize themselves in the photo books the Pucketts keep on display. Those connections have become some of Jeanie’s favorite memories. “The part I love the most of this journey is all the people that we have met and made lifelong friends,” she said. For first-time visitors to the area, they recommend Kibler
Valley, where the Dan River and Blue Ridge Mountains offer a glimpse of what makes the county special. But for Buddy and Jeanie, the best view may be closer to home. “I love Patrick County because this is where God planted us,” Jeanie says. “We give Him thanks for all the opportunities He entrusted to us.” The Pucketts have cultivated something that can’t be measured in acres: hard work, a family, lifelong friends. They have put down roots and helped something beautiful grow. Kind of like sunflowers. “Find Yourself Here” is a guest column from someone who is either from the county or has moved to the county about why they love it here. If you are interested in writing a column in a subsequent issue or know someone we should highlight, please contact us at director@patrickchamber.com.
Visit the 20th Anniversary of the Doe Run Farm Sunflower Maze: Sept. 26 – Nov. 1. To learn more, look for Doerunfarmvirginia on Facebook.
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Bringing Your Designs To Life Screen Printing Business Cards Brochures Stickers/Decals Banners/Signs Posters/Flyers Promotional Items
102 W. Blue Ridge St., Suite A • PO Box 85 • Stuart, VA • 276-693-9025 • richcreek.com
25th Annual
Apple Dumpling Festival Saturday, October 17, 2026 Downtown Stuart • 10am - 4pm
For more info, contact the Town of Stuart Office at 276-694-3811
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
TOURISM WINS 3 AWARDS! Patrick County Tourism attended the Celebrate Tourism Summit and Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards on August 4th, 2026. This summit brought together tourism professionals from across the region in Wytheville, VA. With a variety of speakers, the summit provided updates and other information that help those who work in the tourism industry thrive. The highlight of the day was the Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards hosted by the Friends of Southwest Virginia. This awards ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of Southwest Virginia’s Destination Marketing Organizations, volunteers, and community leaders. Patrick County is proud to announce that our office received three awards in this year’s ceremony.
Best Rack Card or Brochure - Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
In 2025, Patrick County Tourism decided to create a brochure geared specifically towards our youngest visitors. The Patrick County Kids Activity Guide gives our young visitors a hands-on way to learn more about our county and the many activities and attractions that they can enjoy. This guide features a large, easy-to-read map, a Patrick County-themed word search, a coloring page, and a list of attractions and events for families.
Best Magazine - Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
For the fourth year in a row, the Patrick County Magazine brought home the award for Best Magazine! This year, our office nominated the Spring 2025 edition, which celebrates our county’s community events, high school athletic achievements, and unique history. This issue also features an update on the Highway 58 construction and a guide to our county’s many LOVEworks.
Best Print Ad - Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
In the 2025 NASCAR Pole Position Magazine for the Martinsville race, Patrick County Tourism ran a full page ad to market the county and its fun driving opportunities to NASCAR enthusiasts and Martinsville Raceway fans. The ad features a headline about our curvy roads over an aerial view of twisting Route 8 roadway along with a photo of NASCAR Hall of Fame members Wood Brothers race shop.
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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County & Attractions Map
VISITOR CENTERS AND VISITOR INFORMATION Patrick County Visitors Center 126 N. Main Street, Stuart, VA 276-693-2005 www.visitpatrickcounty.org
Meadows of Dan Visitors Center - MP 177.7 2577 J.E.B. Stuart Highway Meadows of Dan, VA 276-694-6012 www.patrickchamber.com
PATRICK COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
410 Patrick Ave., Suite A, Stuart, VA 276-694-6012 www.patrickchamber.com
ARARAT INFORMATION KIOSK Laurel Hill J.E.B. Stuart’s Birthplace 1091 Ararat Highway Ararat, VA
ATTRACTIONS
1 Angel Overlook 2 Bluemont Presbyterian Church (Rock Church) 3 Buffalo Mountain Ziplines (Floyd County) 4 Chateau Morrisette Winery (Floyd County) 5 Cockram Mill Complex 6 Deer Run Campground 7 Doe Run Farm 8 Dominion Valley Park 9 Fairy Stone State Park 10 Fred Clifton Park 11 Gordon Trent Golf Course 12 Groundhog Mountain Overlook 13 The Hollow History Center 14 Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge 15 Laurel Hill J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace 16 Letcher’s Gravesite 17 Lover’s Leap Scenic Overlook 18 Mabry Mill (Floyd County) 19 Mayberry Presbyterian Church (Rock Church)
20 Mayberry Trading Post 21 Meadows of Dan Visitors Center 22 Nancy’s Candy Company 23 The Oaks RV Resort 24 Patrick County Chamber of Commerce 25 Patrick County Historical Museum/Library 26 Patrick County Tourism Visitors Center 27 Philpott Lake 28 Primland Resort 29 Reynolds Homestead 30 Rocky Knob Recreation Area 31 Slate Mountain Presbyterian Church (Rock Church - Floyd County) 32 Tin Pen Alley 33 Villa Appalaccia Winery 34 Virginia Motorsports Museum 35 Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 36 Wood Brothers Racing Museum
COUNTY PARKS P1 Dan River Park P2 DeHart Park P3 Fred Clifton Park P4 I.C. DeHart Park P5 Mountain Top Park P6 Patrick Springs Park
LOVE SIGNS
L1 Stuart, overlooking DeHart Park L2 I.C. DeHart Park L3 Meadows of Dan Visitors Center L4 Nancy’s Candy Company
Trail H.A.N.D.S. Sculptures
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
L5 Uptown Suites of Stuart L6 Willis Gap Community Center L7 Wayside Park L8 Front Porch Fest site (during events)
TRAILS T1
Dan River Park Trail
T2
Fairy Stone State Park
T3
Hidden Roads Trail
T4
I.C. DeHart Trails
T5
Laurel Hill Trails
T6
Mayo River Rail Trail
40
a r k way
622
T7
Mountain Top Park Trail
T8
Reynolds Homestead
T9
Rock Castle Gorge
ge P e Rid Blu
3
T9 30
40 8
33
4
6
L2 T4 P4
Woolwine
31
T10 Trails of Rotary T11 Round Meadow Creek Trail
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ay rk w
Blue
Ridg
20
P5
eP
57
57
5
22 L4
T11a
27 822
8
21 L3 T3
9 T2
618
708
14
346
P3 10
T7
19
17
23 8 626
680
w ay
28 2 B
771
ge P a r k lu e Ri d
614
32
631
631
610
12
677
8
643
1 631
L6 35
677
7
13
675
773
16 15
P6
Critz
680
L7
773 8
680
Claudville 614
626
682
P1 T1
Ararat
672
T8
631
644
614
29
36 P2 34 L1 25 T10 26 24 T6 L5
L8
648
671
Stuart
653
11
103 661
103
8
653
T5 8
631
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
amil ef
ns
pr
d u c ti
o
on
y
STUART SPOOKTACULAR o
OCTOBER 31, 2026 5:30pm-8pm
ON MAIN STREET In STUART Presented by One Family Productions in partnership with
k county c i r t pa
& Graonnd i
I ll u m i n a t
The Christmas TraditionS continue with One Family Productions this December! grand illumination Friday, December 4
www.onefamilyproductions.org
54th annual parade Saturday, December 5
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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It’s happening in Patrick County OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
JANUARY
Fri
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
Fri
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
1
Doe Run Sunflower Maze Wed - Fri 1pm- 7 pm, Sat 10am - 8pm
1
First Day Hike Fairy Stone State Park
Sat
Music at the Villa Villa Appalaccia
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Holiday Arts & Craft Fair Reynolds Homestead 10am-3pm
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Patrick County Music Association 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building
Sun
Reynolds Homestead Home Tours Every Sunday from 1pm - 4pm
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Patrick County Music Association 6pm at Patrick County High School
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Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
1-31
Doe Run Sunflower Maze Ararat - Open seven days a week
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Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
1-31
Rock Spring Art Show on exhibit Reynolds Homestead
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Holiday Market at Fairy Stone State Park 10am-2pm
3
Fairy Stone 5K Fairy Stone State Park
28
3-4
JEB Stuart Civil War Encampment Laurel Hill, Ararat
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10
October Fest Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department
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Apple Dumpling 5K Downtown Stuart at 8am
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Fri.
Stuart Farmers’ Market (last day is Oct. 30) 8am - Noon every Friday
Fri
FEBRUARY Fri
Meadows of Dan Christmas Parade 3pm
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
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Very Merry Sunset Market Meadows of Dan
Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
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Patrick County Music Association 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building
DECEMBER Fri
Apple Dumpling Festival Downtown Stuart from 10am - 4pm
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
4
18 & 25
Pancake Days Meadows of Dan Community Center
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MARCH Fri
Grand Illumination on Main Street Uptown Stuart from 6pm - 9pm
Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 5:30pm every Friday
27
5
Patrick County Music Association 6pm at Patrick County High School
Mistletoe Market Stuart Farmers’ Market from 10am - 1pm
Patrick County Music Association 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building
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5
27
Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
Patrick County Christmas Parade Stuart 2pm
Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
11-23
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Stuart Spooktacular Uptown Stuart from 5:30pm - 8pm
DeHart Park Festival of Lights DeHart Park in Stuart
12-13
31
Sunset Market Trick or Treat Meadows of Dan
Festival of Trees Fairy Stone State Park
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Patrick County Music Association 6pm at Patrick County High School
13
Victorian Christmas Open House Reynolds Homestead 1pm-4pm
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Willis Gap Golden Oldies Rock & Roll Open Jam 5:30pm at Willis Gap Community Center
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Stuart, VA
We care about you and your health. Meadows of Dan, VA
Homemade Country Cooking Monday - Saturday 8am-8pm Sunday 11am-3pm
We accept patients who live in Virginia and do not have any medical insurance. We can help with sick visits, testing, vaccines, chronic healthcare visits, specialty referrals, laboratory, and prescription services. We are open to see patients every Tuesday and Wednesday.
835 Woodland Drive • Suite 101 • Stuart, VA • 276-694-3410
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org 18 OF "SIGN QUALITY” SINCE 1970
WE OFFER FREE ESTIMATES!
Grow Your Business.
Strengthen Your Community. Join the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce and connect with a network dedicated to supporting local businesses. The Patrick County Chamber of Commerce connects businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to create opportunities for growth and success. Membership benefits include, business promotion & marketing support, networking & community connections, event participation & sponsorship opportunities, advocacy for local business interests, and access to resources and professional development
410 Patrick Ave., Suite A, Stuart, VA 24171 276-694-6012 • patrickchamber.com
Supporting Business • Connecting Community • Shaping the Future
A CUSTOMER-CENTERED SERVICE CENTER
We offer state inspections, a wide variety of vehicle/truck repairs including brakes, starters, batteries, front end alignments, and we sell all types of tires. Call us for all of your vehicular needs.
276-694-7417 1329 Scenic Dr. Stuart, VA
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Patrick County How
Beat the Odds And
REOPENED ITS HOSPITAL
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Sixty-two years after first opening, and nine years since closing down in 2017, Patrick County’s hospital reopened its doors at the beginning of 2026. The reopening was attended by dozens of people, including elected officials and local residents with deep memories of the facility from its decades of operation. “What a joyful day this is,” said Dr. Beau Braden, founder and CEO of Braden Health, at the ceremony on January fifth. “This project is a testament to what happens when faith, grit, and community come together. We didn’t arrive here by accident; we arrived here by providence, hard work, determination, perseverance. Make no mistake: it was a fight to get here, but here we are.” Braden Health specializes in reviving rural hospitals in Tennessee. The newly christened Stuart Community Hospital is the for-profit company’s first facility in Virginia.
The reopening of Patrick County’s hospital flies in the face of national healthcare trends. According to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, with more than 150 shutting their doors since 2010. Numerous hospitals across Appalachia have closed during that time. So how did Stuart Community Hospital escape the fate of so many other rural facilities? Kyle Kopec, chief compliance officer for Braden Health, says it boils down to good management. “A lot of hospitals have had poor management: bad payer contracts and hospitals were falling apart,” Kopec says. “We fix that, and build relations with medical staff and nurses.” Midway through its first year reopened, things are going “fantastic,” Kopec says.
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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A LEGACY OF RURAL HEALTHCARE The hospital first opened in December 1962 as R.J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital, with the support of a protracted community campaign to raise money to replace the previous, two-story Stuart Hospital. At its opening, six patients were transported by ambulance from the old to the new facility. The hospital changed ownership and names over the decades. By the 2010s, it was known as Pioneer Community Hospital and was operated by Pioneer Health Services. That company filed for bankruptcy in March 2016 and, in September the following year, abruptly announced it would close the hospital’s doors after news outlets reported that it was diverting patients away from its emergency room. In a statement released at the time, the hospital administrator said: “As most of you know, Pioneer Community Hospital
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
of Patrick County filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection on March 30, 2016 due to financial hardships. Since that time, we have worked diligently to structure a sale of the hospital to maintain viable operations. Unfortunately, our best efforts were unsuccessful and we have no choice but to close the hospital at this time.” The news shocked the Patrick County community, even though it knew about Pioneer’s financial troubles. Steve Allen, then-coordinator of Patrick County Emergency Services, told WDBJ7 he thought a sale was in the works. Instead, the hospital remained closed for the better part of a decade.
Hubbard 1 Productions
A DAUNTING CHALLENGE
During the closure, multiple companies attempted to revive the hospital, making promises that turned out to be empty. Reopening a hospital is a complicated enterprise. To make matters worse, Pioneer’s bankruptcy left a large lien on the facility that became a stumbling block for other investors. In 2022, then-freshman Virginia Delegate Wren Williams of Patrick County filed and won approval for legislation to direct the Virginia Department of Health to look into the idea of reopening the hospital, either at the original site or another location. Williams’ bill restored the site’s certificate of public need instead of forcing a potential operator to navigate the onerous process of obtaining a new one. Even so, anyone looking to reopen the hospital faced daunting challenges. Rural hospitals have been squeezed this century. They serve populations that tend to be on the decline as deaths outnumber births. Patrick County’s population crested in 2000 with 19,407 people, according to the U.S. Census. That number fell to 17,608 by 2020. The University of Virgina’s Weldon Cooper Center projects it will continue to decline, reaching 16,179 by 2030. The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform projected that up to 800 more rural hospitals could close in coming years, in part due to pending restrictions on Medicaid that may push profit margins even lower. Braden Health puts that number closer to 500 hospitals—still more than twice as many as have closed since 2005, in what some observers have termed a rural health care crisis. In this challenging climate, healthcare providers have trouble making a viable profit and retaining personnel. Pioneer Community Hospital frequently ran with much higher expenses than revenue, and faced millions in long-term debt. The state of the facility doesn’t help. A closed hospital doesn’t just sit in the status quo. The longer it’s closed, the more work needs to be done to bring it back up to code. This is where Braden Health enters the picture.
was wildly successful. We took it over and made it profitable within a couple of months.” Kopec says the secret to Braden Health’s success is, “good management.” The company manages everything internally instead of relying on contractors and other operators. “Bad management comes down to a lot of things,” Kopec says. “It doesn’t mean managers are bad at running it, but hospitals are incredibly complex. They’re often run by county governments or folks that don’t necessarily have the skillset to run them or follow all of the federal rules or negotiate payer contracts.” Braden Health took a more aggressive approach to its contracts with insurers. It also worked to secure buy-in from medical staff and to win support from the community. “Rural hospitals should be simpler to run,” Kopec says. “We fix them and build relations with the medical staff and nurses.” Braden Health now owns and operates six hospitals in Tennessee. Kopec says the company became aware of Patrick County hospital’s troubles through Del. Williams and pastor Andy Nickleston of Mayo Mountain Church. Kopec and others reached out to Foresight Health, but their calls were never returned. Foresight had purchased the hospital in 2022 for $2.1 million, and promised to reopen it as a critical access hospital. But in 2024, its CEO was indicted on federal charges of scheming to embezzle more than $15 million from a hospital in Chicago. Foresight’s plans for Patrick County never came to fruition.
A MISSION TO REVITALIZE RURAL HOSPITALS
The organization first took shape in southwest Florida, where Beau Braden had opened a medical clinic. He recognized the need for a hospital to serve his rural community in Ava Maria, and proposed a 25-bed facility, but the effort was blocked by a larger hospital nearly an hour away that argued the facility would damage its business. Braden partnered with Kyle Kopec and Joseph Rivera to form Braden Health to help rural hospitals reopen. Although they’d been prevented from opening the hospital in Florida, they saw opportunity elsewhere in the Southeast. In 2020, they purchased Henderson County Community Hospital in Lexington, Tennessee. “The Henderson County Community Hospital was going to close,” says Kopec. “It was losing millions. But we found our model
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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THE WORK BEGINS
In late 2024, the 63,000-square-foot hospital and surrounding acreage went up for auction on a commercial real estate site. It was valued at $3.6 million. The bidding started at $599,000, and Braden Health eventually bought it for about that much. Kopec says the hospital was in bad shape when Braden Health acquired it. “The hospital was neglected,” Kopec says. “We’re not quite sure who was supposed to be operating or rebuilding it, but they had done no work whatsoever. It was abandoned. There was a lot of mold, that sort of thing. In the South, anytime you turn off the HVAC, mold starts growing immediately.” In a strange twist, roses planted in the courtyard had gone wild, finding their way into the hospital through a doorway and growing down the hallway. Kopec says working through these sorts of issues is a “labor of love” for Braden Health. “We look at [it] as a fun problem to solve,” Kopec says, “because we know that when we solve it, we’re going to help many
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
people. There are a lot of regulatory steps with the department of health. We did that by rebuilding the hospital from the inside out.” Braden Health had learned from previous hospital projects across Tennessee. “We’ve had a lot of experience opening hospitals,” Kopec says. “Stuart Community Hospital wasn’t as challenging as some of them. We already have a blueprint on how to rebuild these. We just deployed that here as well. Construction went quickly.” Mold and asbestos in the building were the biggest problems that Braden Health encountered at the Patrick County hospital. The Environmental Protection Agency had issued a permit to Pioneer for asbestos abatement, and Foresight later had reported both asbestos and lead-based paint were present. But Kopec says Braden Health has been doing this long enough to know what to expect. “We hit it so hard on the front end that we get it fixed correctly, and go from there,” he says.
THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE
Now, several months in, the reopened Stuart Community Hospital is humming right along. “The hospital’s got a full-service emergency department, full-service inpatient services,” Kopec says. The hospital can also do x-rays, labs, computed tomography (CT) scans, and ultrasounds. It doesn’t have a dedicated birthing unit, but the emergency department has completed a few deliveries of babies. Kopec says the plan is to continue expanding services, but he says the hospital is going to focus largely on fundamentals and getting the basics right. “We wanted to make sure we start everything up correctively and have everything done in-network,” Kopec says. “We will expand eventually to offer outpatient services too.”
Braden Health wants to build on the connections it has made to Patrick County and its people. A hospital, after all, is a fundamental cornerstone of any community: a place where people are born, and die, and deal with some of the most challenging moments in between. “We’re going to try to continue to be pillars of the community,” Kopec says. “We’ve worked hard to get the community’s trust back, and we want to make sure it’s something we keep. We were super-excited to reopen the hospital and to be members of the community. We just hope to be the best hospital we can be.”
Photos on this page are courtesy of Stuart Community Hospital
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The Hospitals Built by Patrick County By Beverly Belcher Woody
For nearly 150 years, the people of Patrick County have refused to let their neighbors go without quality healthcare. Through fires, financial hardships, changing medical technology, and the passing of generations, physicians, nurses, civic leaders, factory workers, schoolchildren, and the citizenry have worked together to ensure that medical care remained close to home. The story of Stuart Community Hospital is about more than a building. It’s the story of an institution intertwined with the lives of nearly everyone who calls the region home, including
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
myself and my family. The first chapter begins more than a century and a half ago, with a handful of determined physicians whose vision forever changed healthcare in Patrick County. The history of hospitals in Patrick County can be traced to 1875, when Dr. Richard S. Martin, then president of the Virginia Medical Association, established the Mother’s Home in Stuart. Later joined by Dr. G. W. McNeil and his son, Dr. Moir Martin, the physicians operated what was considered a well-equipped medical institution for its day. For approximate-
St. Martin’s Hospital, where Blue Ridge Therapy Connection now stands
ly forty years, Mother’s Home faithfully served the people of Patrick County before tragedy struck. In 1915, the hospital was destroyed by fire. For many communities, such a devastating loss might have marked the end of local hospital care. For Patrick County, however, it marked the beginning of another chapter. Refusing to allow the community to go without essential medical services, local physicians reopened a hospital in the former Martin home. As patient needs increased, the facility expanded, requiring additional physicians and trained nurses. During this period, Dr. George Divers joined the staff, along with a young physician whose name would become forever intertwined with healthcare in Patrick County—Dr. Waller Curtis Akers. By approximately 1921, Drs. Divers and Akers constructed St. Martin’s Hospital on the original site of Mother’s Home, where the Blue Ridge Nursing Center would later stand. Modern in both construction and equipment and staffed by capable medical professionals, the hospital quickly earned a reputation as
one of the finest medical facilities west of Richmond. Sadly, Dr. Divers did not live to enjoy the long-term success of the institution he helped create. After the death of his colleague, Dr. Akers purchased the William Wallace Moir home on Blue Ridge Street and transformed it into what became known as Stuart Hospital. When Stuart Hospital officially opened in 1925, it was modest. The spacious living spaces of the old Moir home were divided into smaller patient rooms, creating accommodations for seven or eight patients. Demand for medical care quickly exceeded the hospital’s capacity. Within only two years, Dr. Akers added a two-story wing to the building. Just two years later, another two-story addition followed, increasing the hospital’s capacity to twenty-two beds. Under Dr. Akers’ leadership, Stuart Hospital steadily earned a reputation for excellence. By the 1950s, it was recognized as one of the most modern hospitals in this part of Virginia. Its operating room was considered among the finest in the region, and physicians performed both major and minor surgical procedures there. The hospital was thoughtfully arranged to provide efficient patient care. The first floor contained the superintendent’s office, physicians’ offices, waiting room, nurses’ quarters, kitchen, and several patient rooms. Upstairs were the operating room, sterilizing room, x-ray department, wards, and most of the hospital’s patient beds. Although many physicians might have been satisfied with what they had accomplished, Dr. Akers never stopped looking for ways to improve the care his patients received. He invested thousands of dollars in modernizing the hospital. A new electric oxygen tent removed dependence on the Volunteer Fire Department’s resuscitator. Plans were made to replace the aging steam sterilizer with a modern electric unit. Hallways and patient rooms were freshly painted and redecorated, outdated furniture was updated with modern hospital equipment, maternity ward floors were tiled, and the aging coal furnace gave way to a modern oil heating system. Dr. Akers estimated the cost of these improvements at between six and seven thousand dollars—a substantial investment at the time—but he believed Patrick County deserved medical care equal to that found in much larger communities. Although he suffered from a heart condition later in life, he continued seeing patients almost until his final day. According to the last census taken before his death, Dr. Akers was still working an astonishing eighty-nine hours each week. On February 27, 1959, Dr. Waller Curtis Akers passed away from a heart attack at his home in Stuart. He was seventy-five years old. At the time of his passing, Dr. Akers had devoted thirty-four years to directing Stuart Hospital. Following his death, Dr. William Nash Thompson Sr. and Dr. Edwin T. McNamee Jr. continued caring for patients by renting the hospital on a
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Built between 1885 and 1890, Dr. R.S. Martin the first hospital here and named it “Mother’s Home.” The building burned in 1914.
month-to-month basis while plans moved forward for a new medical facility. Although Dr. Waller Curtis Akers did not live to see Patrick County’s new hospital become a reality, the foundation he spent more than three decades building inspired an entire community to finish what he had begun. Another chapter was about to begin. By the late 1950s, it had become increasingly evident that Stuart Hospital, despite years of expansion and modernization, could no longer meet the growing medical needs of Patrick County. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, the citizens of Patrick County decided to do something remarkable. They would build a new hospital themselves. What followed became one of the greatest community achievements in Patrick County’s history. Factory workers, business owners, farmers, church members, schoolchildren, and entire families—everyone was asked to help, and they did. The campaign attracted national attention and demonstrated what could
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happen when an entire community united behind a common purpose. To celebrate the close of the campaign, a victory dinner was held at Fairy Stone State Park. It was an evening filled with gratitude, excitement, and tremendous community pride. Throughout the evening, the total amount raised remained a closely guarded secret. Committee chairmen stepped to the podium one by one, each announcing the results of months of hard work. The Initial Gifts Committee, chaired by Hugh A. White, reported $156,500. Judge John D. Hooker announced that the Industry and Foundations Committee had secured $110,494. Attorneys Lawrence Burton and Circuit Court Clerk D. G. Hanby, co-chairmen of the Special Gifts Committee, proudly reported contributions totaling $114,044. Then came the working men and women of Patrick County Hugh A. White, Jr. announced that employees of local industries
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
had pledged $129,981. Tom Alexander followed with $18,512 from business employees. The Reverend Grant Miller reported $13,733 donated by school employees. Fred Olinger announced $6,175 from civic clubs and community organizations. Finally, William C. Baughan and Charles Mills reported $87,190 collected through general solicitations. By the end of the evening, the grand total stood at an astonishing $636,629— more than 212 percent of its original goal of $300,000. It was a moment of celebration unlike any Patrick County had experienced. The Commonwealth’s Attorney Martin “Fill” Clark described the campaign as “the greatest achievement of our time.” Construction of the new thirty-seven-bed, $800,000 R. J. Reynolds–Patrick Memorial Hospital began in June 1961. Frith Construction Company of Collinsville served as contractor, while J. Coates Carter of Martinsville designed the new facility. Lester Lamb became the hospital’s first administrator.
On Saturday, November 24, 1962, Patrick County celebrated another milestone when the hospital was formally dedicated. Governor Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., State Stuart Hospital, located where First Horizon Bank is now Senators William F. Stone and Landon The generosity that had built the Wyatt, Congressman William Tuck, and hospital in 1962 continued to strengthen Delegate Robert L. Clark joined local it for years to come. citizens for the ceremony. Perhaps no story better illustrates the Frank Netherland provided the music spirit of that campaign than one shared by on the organ, Margaret Witt sang “The my former Stuart Elementary School art Star-Spangled Banner,” the Reverend teacher, Jimi Mitchell. Robert J. Mann delivered the invocation, Before his passing earlier this year, and the Reverend W. R. Livermon offered Mr. Mitchell recently told me that when the benediction. he was a student in Mrs. Mott Martin’s Governor Harrison praised Patrick seventh-grade class, students collected County for accomplishing something pennies, nickels, and dimes to help build extraordinary. the hospital. Some even skipped lunch He observed that the major share and gave their lunch and ice cream money of funding had come not from outside sources but from “the inspired citizenry of to the campaign. He proudly recalled, “If an indiPatrick County.” vidual or group donated $100 or more, He continued, “The truly great thing their names were included in the gold about the successful effort by a communibook that stayed in the lobby. Our sevty to create its own improvements is that enth-grade homeroom, encouraged by it tends to feed upon itself and generates Mrs. Martin, set a goal to do this—and still more advancements.” did it! We felt very possessive of that His words proved prophetic. Only place!” Joanne Shirley remembers similar four years later, the hospital again needed sacrifices. to grow.
She recalled that employees at United Elastic, Pannill’s, and other local industries voluntarily authorized weekly payroll deductions to support construction of the new hospital. Considering that the federal minimum wage in 1962 was only $1.15 per hour, those donations represented genuine sacrifice. The new hospital did not belong to one physician. It did not belong to one family. It belonged to Patrick County. And for generations, it stood as a living reminder of what people can accomplish when they believe in one another. By 1966, an expansion increased the hospital’s capacity to fifty-nine beds and added a new coronary care unit. Patrick County native Nancy Susan Reynolds, daughter of tobacco magnate R. J. Reynolds, contributed $120,000 toward the project, bringing total contributions from the Reynolds family to $315,000. Although the R. J. Reynolds–Patrick Memorial Hospital belonged to the people of Patrick County, for many families, it also became part of their own family history. Mine included.
R. J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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The Bronze Book of Memory, listing the many people who sacrificed and donated parts of their paychecks to build the R.J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital.
I was born there in April 1965. Whenever we drove past the hospital, my daddy would smile and point toward one particular tree. “There is the tree I almost ran into when you were born,” he would say. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you and almost walked right into it. Look how you and that tree have grown!” More than twenty years later, history repeated. In 1986, my son was born at the same hospital. By an amazing coincidence, I was placed in Room 17—the very room where my mother had delivered me twenty-one years earlier. The hospital became woven into the story of my own family. For many years, my grandmother lovingly prepared meals in the hospital kitchen. It was there that I sat beside my grandfather as he received the devastating news that he had cancer. It was there that my great-grandfather spent the final hours of his life before passing away one July night in 1976. Like so many Patrick County families, some of our happiest moments—and some of our saddest—took place within those walls. For generations, R. J. Reynolds–Patrick Memorial Hospital quietly witnessed the entire circle of life. Then, one day, the hallways grew silent. The doors closed. Patient rooms that
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once echoed with newborn cries, the voices of anxious families, and the squeaking shoes of dedicated nurses stood empty. For many residents of Patrick County, driving past the vacant hospital became a painful reminder of what had been lost. It was difficult to imagine that the building, created through the sacrifices of thousands of citizens, might never again fulfill its original purpose. But Patrick County has never been a community that gives up easily. One more new chapter was about to begin. In 2024, Braden Health, a Tennessee-based healthcare company, purchased the former R. J. Reynolds–Patrick Memorial Hospital property at auction. According to Kyle Kopec, the company’s co-founder and chief compliance officer, it took approximately one year and $15 million to renovate and restore the hospital. Then, on January 5, 2026, something happened that many people had prayed for but feared they might never witness. The hospital reopened. Standing before physicians, nurses, emergency personnel, community leaders, and grateful citizens, Kyle Kopec made the announcement that Patrick County had waited years to hear. “This is Stuart Community Hospital in Stuart, Virginia. Effective immediately, Jan. 5, 2026, Stuart Community Hospital is fully open and operational. Emergen-
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
cy department and inpatient services restored. We are now accepting and receiving patients. Units may now begin transporting patients to this hospital... Stuart Community Hospital all clear.” With those words, emergency and inpatient services officially returned to Patrick County. The building had a new owner. It had a new name. It had modern equipment and newly renovated rooms. But its purpose remained exactly the same as it had been when Dr. Richard Martin opened Mother’s Home nearly a century and a half earlier—to care for the people of Patrick County. As I reflect upon this remarkable journey, I cannot help but think about all those who made this day possible. Together, they built far more than a hospital. They built a legacy. Today, Stuart Community Hospital stands as a testament to nearly 150 years of faith, sacrifice, generosity, and perseverance. Hospitals may change names. Buildings may be renovated. Generations may come and go. But one thing has never changed. The people of Patrick County have always believed their neighbors deserve compassionate healthcare close to home. And today, it lives once again within the walls of Stuart Community Hospital. Another chapter has begun.
WHERE HISTORY COMES ALIVE
The Patrick County Historical Museum features innumerable items from the past, such as Native American artifacts, farming tools, weapons, fairy stones, military displays, clothing and textiles, photos, extensive genealogical records, and more.
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FORE THE COMMUNITY
The Legacy of Gordon Trent Golf Course By Kristin Hylton
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Under a cloudless sky, with early autumn insects in the trees and cars on the nearby highway humming in tandem, the greens of Gordon Trent Golf Course surround a spring-fed lake and a historic, log-built farmhouse. The trim on the house gleams white in the sunlight and the expansive porch welcomes each visitor to the course. The house was converted to a clubhouse in 1961, when the country course was built, and has served as the gathering point for six decades of players. The screen door on the old farmhouse slaps shut, and a quick exchange is made between pro and customer. PGA professional and general manager Dewey Hinnant greets golfers with warmth and familiarity. A gentle presence who has an obvious rapport with new and familiar faces, Hinnant never seems to talk too much, but always says exactly enough. His demeanor reflects the character and heritage of Gordon Trent Golf Course—unassuming, approachable, and genuine. That spirit of quiet, welcoming stewardship runs through the club’s history, which stretches back over six decades to its early days as a family and community effort. The “Time Out for Sports” section of The Enterprise on September 15, 1960, details an interest meeting attended by forty-five citizens to plan the golf course, which was initially intended to operate “as a private country club as opposed to a public golf course.” Fonrose and Floyd Trent had acquired the land, which was known locally as the Susie Penn Place, in 1959.
In August of 1960, the brothers opened Spoon Creek Driving Range on the property to raise funds while the new greens were built. Construction was started on the course in April 1961, including lakes that were fed by the spring on the property. The brothers decided to name their new course after their father, who never played golf but had instilled a strong sense of family and a love of Patrick County in the boys. The Trent brothers were raised in Patrick County, but Fonrose learned the game of golf while living in Washington, D.C. as an adult. He and Floyd, who was living and working in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, purchased the land adjacent to their father’s general store in Patrick County, according to a 2012 article in Virginia Golfer magazine. Their brother Charles was quoted in the article, saying, “Fonrose was just an average golfer. He wasn’t a super good golfer, but an average golfer who enjoyed the game so much.” Fonrose’s daughter Mary Trent Scott is now a majority owner of the course, and in that 2012 article reflected, “My dad…wanted the people in Patrick County to have some of the advantages he eventually had as a businessman.” Construction of Gordon Trent Golf Course was completed in August 1961, and
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the course opened in the fall, according to a promotional pamphlet created that year. Gene Hamm of Durham, NC, was contracted for the construction, and the pamphlet states: “Due to Mr. Hamm’s very fine job in preparing the soils and fertilizer…on October 6, we were able to open the course for play.” A June 1961 newsletter to prospective club members mentioned the extensive experience of greenskeeper Cicero Mabe, detailed progress on the course, and encouraged recipients to sign their green fees agreement as soon as possible. The creation of the promotional, public-facing pamphlet just months after that newsletter suggests that, at some point during construction, it was determined that Gordon Trent would better suit the community as a public course. Something changed in those few months, and although the paper trail doesn’t seem to explain what, it’s easy to imagine that opening a private club in a rural county with low population density might have been a difficult feat. Whether the shift was practical or philosophical is a small unanswered question in the history of the club. After July of 1961, it appears that greens fees and club memberships were no longer solicited, and the brothers set out to open their golf course to the public. The new goal
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
was so clear that it continues to guide the family in how the course is managed. It was so clear that the story relayed to Joe Avento in the 2012 Virginia Golfer article reiterates the desire of the founders and current owners to create a public country golf course. Gordon Trent Golf Course had its grand opening on April 28, 1962. Lawrence Burton, who had been among those forty-five citizens at the interest meeting a year earlier, hit the first ball that day, kicking off a “gala two days of exhibition golf, a clinic, and prizes,” Steve Williams wrote in Triad Golf Today in April 2006. Gordon was 84 when he cut the ribbon at the golf course that bears his name, just a few years younger than his granddaughter Mary Scott Trent is now. She became a shareholder in the course in the mid ‘90s, and has taken an active interest in its success since. Throughout the changes in family shareholders over the decades, the course has remained rooted in competition and community. In the fall of 1962, the first Gordon Trent Invitational tournament was held at the nine-hole course, and Martinsville resident Posey Isley walked away the winner. In the early ‘80s, under the management of Leon Martin, another nine holes were added. A 1999 Enterprise article
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son Charles F. Trent said, lists further updates. The “He has a great reputation course expanded by 700 throughout Patrick and Henry yards, three existing holes counties as an instructor, were redone and three tournament coordinator, and new holes added, and as a professional…Hinnant’s the former sixth hole was particular strength is a love for combined with another teaching and he has a special hole to make #7. New interest in juniors. He will cart paths, yard markers, F.M. Trent, Floyd Trent, and their father, Gordon Trent, on opening day be a wonderful asset to our and directional signage April 28, 1961. operations.” were added that spring Recently, when asked about the legacy and summer as well. or ‘Your dad taught me how to play the he is building and hopes to leave at Gordon Holding true to the vision Fonrose and game,’” Scott says. Trent, Hinnant was quick to talk about the Floyd Trent had for the course almost four He says Leon was a highly-skilled golfer importance of building youth interest in decades earlier, a 1999 news release from who could have gone far on the professional golf. Gordon Trent Golf Course boasted, “This “It’s important to introduce new genpublic golf course is looking more and more circuit, but he chose to be a club pro. His focus was always on building Gordon Trent erations to the sport,” he said from behind like a good buy for the experienced golfer Golf Course into the best it could be and the glass-fronted desk where he has been a and duffer alike.” an integral part of the daily life of so many steady presence for two decades. Over the past sixty years, the course Patrick County residents. Patrick County High School golf coach has been home to three PGA professionals. Current pro and general manager DewClaude Bingham, the pro at Mount Airy Phillip Steagall echoed the sentiment. “The ey Hinnant has been at Gordon Trent since Country Club, consulted on the construcfall of 2005. In an Enterprise article dated tion of Gordon Trent and served as the February 2006, course spokesman and club’s professional until Leon Martin joined Gordon’s youngest the team in 1964. Leon’s son, Scott, spoke of his father’s dedication to the course, saying, “I grew up on Gordon Trent Golf Course. My dad lived and breathed that course. He wanted to make it the best course around, and he was often out there from 6 a.m. to dark—in the summer that’s fifteen hours!” Scott remembers how particular his father was about the greens, confiding that greenskeepers and pros from much larger clubs and courses would visit Gordon Trent to learn Leon’s methodology for keeping the greens pristine. Leon Martin passed away unexpectedly in 2005 after more than forty years with Gordon Trent, during which time he continued to claim tournament prizes around the country, though his priority was always his home course. Scott Martin has continued to learn about the mark left by his father through his own involvement in the community. “I can’t begin to count the number of times people have asked, ‘Are you Leon’s boy? Your dad gave me my first clubs!’
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Dewey Hinnant, Golf Pro since 2005
school, the players, and all the coaches really appreciate the Trent family and what the club has done to help young players in our community. Without the opportunity to play at Gordon Trent, it would be really difficult to have a golf team locally.” Steagall said the high school has had a team since 1974. They have always had the opportunity to play walking rounds at no cost, which allows the team to practice Monday through Friday during the season. Many middle school and junior varsity matches and tournaments are hosted at Gordon Trent Golf Course. The history of youth players at the course is long. Steagall confirms that even before Patrick County High School had a team, players from Stuart High School and Hardin Reynolds Memorial School in Critz were playing at Gordon Trent. In the 2006 Triad Golf Today article, Mary Trent Scott reminisced, “My own children practically grew up at the golf course;
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they would spend part of their summer vacations with my parents learning golf and enjoying the country.” In addition to being the home of the high school golf team for many years, the course plays an important role in the surrounding community by hosting fundraising tournaments around the calendar. Dewey Hinnant estimates Gordon Trent hosts more than a dozen fundraisers each year. From charities and churches to recreational youth sports and young golfers on the tournament circuit, the club’s location and accessibility make it an ideal venue for local fundraising efforts. Scott Martin eagerly described a tournament hosted around 2002 for autism awareness: “People came out in droves to support it. They traveled from all over—we couldn’t even park everyone at the club.” Martin is still supporting events and tournaments at Gordon Trent. “It’s a community venue that allows people to get together and enjoy golf and also support the causes that are important to them.”
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Melanie Gilbert, assistant program manager at Virginia Tech’s Reynolds Homestead, just a few miles from the club, says that the annual golf tournament held at Gordon Trent is essential to fund the programming the Homestead is able to offer the community. “We partner with a variety of local and regional sponsors for cash donations and raffle prizes, and we plan a lot of ‘extra’ advantages the teams can buy, like mulligans and string to move closer to the hole,” Gilbert said. “Last year, we exceeded our fundraising goal with the golf tournament, and we look forward to planning the next one in spring of 2027.” The quiet rumble of the highway is a reminder of what has kept the course alive over the decades—community. Hinnant points out that while it’s not
a destination golf course, it is very easy to access from Stuart, Martinsville, and towns in North Carolina. “It’s a short course but it’s challenging, and people like that,” Hinnant says. He estimates that up to 90 percent of the clientele lives in Patrick or Henry counties. The course is just 10 miles from the county seat in Patrick and only 17 miles from the city of Martinsville. Fees have been kept as low as possible since the opening of the club. In 1962, a nine-hole round was $1.50. Now, it’s less than $30 to play eighteen holes during the week. Mary Trent Scott, speaking on behalf of the six shareholders in the family-owned course, cites her father’s desire to build a quality golf experience that was accessible to the everyday person, and that principle still guides the goals for Gordon Trent Golf Course. “Our family is very eager to keep it going,” Scott says. “None of us live here, but our roots are here, and we come back as often as we can. We want to keep it alive for the people around here and for ourselves.”
Mary Trent Scott, center, and her family
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patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
Where the
TrailLeads By Erica Stacy
On the Mayo River Rail Trail, the Patrick County community is celebrating what it has, investing in what it can become, and mapping a path forward together.
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Dr. Seuss reminded us that there are places to go and things to discover along the way. Patrick County has a path of its own—one that offers a little adventure, a little wonder, and plenty of places to go and things to discover. The Mayo River Rail Trail has become part of the journey for generations of residents and visitors alike. The smooth, paved path follows the historic corridor of the Danville and Western Railway, which once connected local logging and agricultural businesses to the wider world. Today, visitors can enjoy near-constant views of the river as they walk or bicycle along its 1.8-mile out-and-back length. This trail offers more than a way to move from one point to another. It is a place where families can spend an afternoon together, where runners and walkers get some exercise, where children can explore and where neighbors stop to talk. It is a place to breathe in fresh air, enjoy a little movement and let go of everyday stresses and frustrations. In recent years, it has become something even bigger: a place where Patrick County is reimagining its future. A few years ago, a group of dedicated local residents joined forces to make this special spot even better for the people who already enjoyed it and for those who had yet to discover it. James Houchins, the Economic Development & Tourism director, learned
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about a potential grant, so he reached out to colleagues to put together a team that crafted a tentative plan, traveled to Alabama to explore how others had used funding, refined the project, and came home with $5K in seed money. The team included Rebecca Adcock, chamber director; Sarah Wray, who at the time was the community engagement, partnership and program manager at the Reynolds Homestead; Bryce Simmons, town manager of Stuart; Travis Murphy, former director of Patrick County Parks and Recreation; Wayne Kirkpatrick, retired dairy farmer; James Houchins; Sissily Harrell, architect, and Lora Mahaffey, president of Bull Mountain Arts. “This project drew a dynamic cross section of collaborators,” Wray said. “I am a convener so my role has been that of a project manager.” In spring 2024, the group of local public officials and community leaders attended a multiday technical assistance workshop in Alabama to help devise their project plan. They applied for and eventually received seed funding through the Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative, a regional development program led by The Conservation Fund with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. The initiative helps communities develop sustainable tourism economies while protecting natural and cultural assets, providing technical assistance, workshops,
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
and seed grants to help turn ideas into action. It helps towns bordering public lands build sustainable tourism economies, protect natural assets, and revitalize local main streets. “We came in with ambitious ideas,” said Mahaffey. “From the beginning, we knew we wanted a water tower mural, but we also knew that the seed money wouldn’t be enough to move that idea across the finish line.” The initial grant may have been small, but it gave the community something valuable: a starting point. For a year, the planning team collaborated with a cross-sector group of county leaders, artists, naturalists, nonprofit partners, and volunteers to bring new recreational, cultural, and educational amenities to one of Stuart’s most cherished outdoor assets. The work was not simply about adding things to a trail. It was about thinking intentionally about what the trail could mean to the community and how an existing asset could help Patrick County tell its story to residents and visitors alike. “Over time, small, rural communities like ours have dealt with tremendous changes to our economy and way of life. Rather than focusing on what’s been lost or taken away, we need to realign the conversation around what we have and harness the potential for the future,” Wray said. “We’ve met monthly for more than a year, and although we don’t always agree on everything, we believe in our communi-
ty and our responsibility to move forward meaningfully. If not us, then who?” That question became a kind of guiding principle. Together, the collaborators strengthened the trail as a community gathering place and a catalyst for economic development, supporting local goals around heritage tourism, recreation, and downtown revitalization. And they did it by looking closely at what was already there.
River Rangers
The first enhancement to be installed was a Free Little Library, donated by Ann and Nelson McConnell. Building on that idea and grant funding from the Dan River Basin Association’s Eco Ambassador Grant, the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce created River Rangers. Launching in April 2025, the River Rangers program equips young explorers with a lending library of “ecology buckets.” These repurposed containers offer a variety of tools for studying stream health and learning about what lives in the waters along the trail. Three buckets were installed at the Mayo River Rail Trail kiosk and have been used throughout the year by local families. Additional buckets are available at the Patrick County Public Library and Fairy Stone State Park, with continued expansion planned. “This program empowers kids to play in the river and learn about the aquatic
macroinvertebrates that are indicators of water quality, thereby encouraging the next generation of citizen scientists and conservation advocates to work for better water quality for our communities,” said Adcock. “Water quality is vital to a healthy community not only for our local residents, but also as an economic driver through outdoor recreation and tourism.” The River Rangers program turns the river from something to look at into something to explore. For children, a walk along the trail can become a lesson in ecology, an afternoon of discovery, or the beginning of a lifelong connection to the natural world.
Bees and butterflies, oh my!
All along the trail, nature provided the artistic and educational foundation that inspired the team’s plan. Pollinators are integral to healthy gardens, landscapes, and woodlands. In partnership with the Virginia Master Naturalists, Patrick County established a native pollinator garden and monarch waystation along the trail. By creating space for native wildflowers and other pollinator favorites, the effort provides sustainable habitat and nourishment for birds and insects while giving visitors an opportunity to slow down and notice the smaller inhabitants of the landscape. A story in The Enterprise around the time of the ribbon-cutting for the trail quoted local officials, saying, “The thriving
garden now attracts butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects, supporting both habitat creation and environmental education.” The garden was prepared with mulch donated by the Town of Stuart and planted in spring with native species sourced locally and through the grant. Colorfully painted buckets hold weather-resistant cards identifying different pollinators found in the habitat, inviting anyone passing by to investigate the space and learn more as they stroll along the trail. The garden also features outdoor metal sculpture created locally to enrich the beauty of the environment. It is a small example of a larger idea running throughout the project: The trail can be a place not just to pass through nature, but to engage with it. But the planning committee didn’t stop there. They also moved to fill more buckets, this time with waters from the river.
Art along the way
The trail’s natural beauty also became the backdrop for public art. Two major artistic components of the Seed Grant project have been completed, beginning with a trail mural created through a Bull Mountain Arts-facilitated call for proposals. The selected designs rely on vivid imagery and local symbolism to bring those feelings to life, offering a creative welcome to trail visitors. Founded in 1998, Bull Mountain Arts supports community art and art education. patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Lora Mahaffey has served as the president of the nonprofit for seven years. “BMA’s purpose is to create a communication network that inspires and encourages artists and art enthusiasts from all fields,” said Mahaffey. “We promote economic growth through the lens of art and by optimizing area resources for creativity. We sponsor events that bring art into the community and expand educational and cultural opportunities for all ages. We strive to improve the quality of life in our region by leaning into what art offers that no other medium can.” “Stop and Smell the Flowers” by Lisa Garrett was installed on the rear side of the Bull Mountain Tower lookout kiosk, which was constructed by a local scout
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as part of an Eagle project. The mural features a family of bears frolicking among the wildflowers. The mural, according to officials, invites viewers to consider what being Appalachian or living in an Appalachian Gateway Community means. It is an artistic reflection of the culture and community spirit of Patrick County.
Lighting the way
Mahaffey also envisioned and implemented a way to gently light the trail for safe evening use without relying on harsh artificial light sources. She upcycled propane tanks — the kind typically mounted on heavy in-
Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
dustrial and agricultural equipment. Mahaffey created plasma-cut images featuring native flora and fauna, ranging from herons and fish to flowers, into the tanks, transforming them into sculptural solar-powered lamps. A total of eight light installations along the trail bring together the rich industrial rail history of the space with contemporary public art while improving visibility and safety during evening hours. The result is another layer of the trail’s story: old and new existing side by side, with the history of the railroad corridor incorporated into a space designed for the community’s future.
The biggest canvas of all
When the committee first came together, discussions often landed on the water tower situated directly on the trail site. “When we visited Alabama,” they reminded us of the value of focusing on projects that could be achieved with grant funds of no more than $5K,” said Adcock. “Some of those not-so-glamourous, but essential components like landscape clearance and erosion control needed to be top priorities.” But inevitably, conversations returned to the water tower. How inspiring would it be to have a beautiful, community-centered mural rising above the tree line, beckoning people to visit Patrick County? The answer came in an unexpected way.
A private benefactor, impressed by the commitment of the planning committee and the work they had been able to complete, offered to support their work by fully funding the water tower mural, which was finished in early August. Jon Murrill, who had earlier created a mural on local restaurant Pickle and Ash, was commissioned for the special project. His design taps into Patrick County’s geography at the headwaters of four major waterways and serves as a reminder of the natural wonders found all around the region. But the inspiration for the mural went beyond geography. Nearly a year before he painted the water tower, Murrill traveled to Stuart and met with a large group of community members, including artists from Bull Mountain Arts. They talked about public art and shared stories and ideas.
At the end of the meeting, Murrill asked everyone to share their ideas for a large mural near the river. Many of those suggestions eventually found their way into his designs and onto the water tower. “I always knew I wanted the painting to represent youth and nature so as I refined my renderings I kept going back to the idea of representing a child exploring and splashing in the river,” Murrill said. “That led to my eventual title, ‘Childlike Wonder.’” The mural is a fitting centerpiece for the trail because it asks visitors to do something the entire project encourages: look again. Look at the river. Look at the landscape. Look at the community. Look at a familiar place through the eyes of a child who is still capable of being surprised by it.
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Mapping what comes next
With Phase 1 complete, Patrick County is preparing for the next stage: exploring potential expansion of the Mayo River Rail Trail. A technical assistance grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry supported a partnership with Virginia Tech’s Community Design Assistance Center beginning in summer 2026. The planning process will feature community engagement and consider connections to additional parks, neighborhoods, and regional trail systems. The next phase will ask another set of questions: Where can the trail go? Who can it connect? And how can it become an even greater asset for the community? For the people who helped bring Phase 1 to life, those questions are part of the same journey that began with a small grant and a big idea. “Patrick County has always been a place where people show up,” said Wray. “It’s that quintessential small-town culture that stretches out a hand just at the time when someone needs it. That’s what our committee is doing. We’re working together to plan intentionally for the future. We think our community is worth that and so much more. We are honoring the culture of our community, that spirit of investing in each other and mapping our path together.” Perhaps that is what makes the Mayo River Rail Trail more than a place to walk or ride. It is a path through Patrick County’s history, a place to experience the natural beauty that surrounds it, a canvas for the community’s creativity and a starting point for imagining what comes next. The trail follows an old railway corridor, but the people walking it are not simply following a path someone else laid down. They are deciding where it leads.
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Q&A with Jon Murrill, mural artist Jon Murrill, who created the water tower art along the Mayo River Rail Trail, is an Appalachian muralist and storyteller. Jon, who earned a Master of Fine Arts from Radford University with a focus in painting and drawing, says that the inspiration for his murals comes from the people of Appalachia—their stories, their character, and their spirit. To follow his work or to learn more go to www.jonmurrill.com or reach out via instagram at @jonmurrill. 1. Where are you based? Do you have a studio? I am based out of Roanoke, Virginia and have called Southwest Virginia my home for most of my life. Since I became a full-time muralist, my studio has become the many walls and other spaces I get to paint murals on. 2. How did you get started in mural art? My background is actually in education. I taught art students for close to ten years before diving into murals. My first murals were primarily for restaurants and breweries around the greater Roanoke area. Once I tried my hand at public art, I couldn’t get enough. Fortunately, my early walls led to opportunities to work on even larger exterior projects after a few years. At that point, I decided to pursue murals fulltime, and now I paint year-round. 3. What is the process for creating such large public art? Every muralist I know has a different process. My process has been adapted to my overall philosophy as a muralist that once a wall is finished it is no longer my own, but becomes a part and belongs to that community. From the early stages of sketching a mural out to the process of installing it, I am always open to adapting the concept to what fits each space and community best. This flexibility allows me to guide the artwork toward the best possible result with as much understanding of the people in that area as possible. In terms of the physical process, I use spray cans and a variety of sprayers to
work from my larger sections down toward the finer details. Most of the time I am on a lift, which means I need to trust myself before coming down to see what it looks like from the ground. “Paint covers paint,” which I say to myself whenever I need to correct a line or repaint a section; however, sometimes those “mistakes” push me to adapt the concept into a more exciting piece of art. 4. What was the inspiration for the Stuart water tower? How did you arrive at the design? Almost a year ago, I traveled to Stuart and met with a large group of people from the community, including quite a few artists from Bull Mountain Arts. We chatted all things public art and enjoyed sharing stories about our experiences as artists. At the end of the meeting, I asked everyone to share their ideas for a large mural near the river. Many of their suggestions made it into my designs and then onto the water tower itself. I always knew I wanted the painting to represent youth and nature so as I refined my renderings, I kept going back to the idea of representing a child exploring and splashing in the river. That led to my eventual title, “Childlike Wonder.”
surprised with a piece of art so large they are a bit in awe. I want them to feel that “Childlike Wonder.” 7. What other communities include
your murals? Do you have a favorite? I have painted in many communities around Virginia, in different states, and even in other countries as far as Brazil. What I love most about my job is that public art is free for everyone. You don’t need an admission ticket to see it out on the street or along a trail. I can’t say I have a favorite community or mural that I have done, but I can say that I learn something new from each community and wall I paint. 8. Anything else that you’d like people to know about you/your work/this project? I’d like to thank everyone in Stuart that played a role in keeping me fed, offering me a place to stay, bringing water, sharing conversations, and showing their support throughout the process. Patrick County really is a place that feels like home, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.
5. How many hours did it take to complete the Stuart water tower mural? As for hours, I couldn’t say. I try not to count. I was in Stuart for the better part of two weeks, and despite some rain I really enjoyed painting beside the Mayo River and chatting with so many people on the trail. 6. You work with people from many communities. What stands out about Patrick County? I’ve found that Patrick County is full of artists. So many people shared their stories and different art forms with me along the way. I also noticed how the community is so grounded in a spirit for the outdoors. From young children to grandparents, it was great to see so many people on the trail walking, running, biking, and chatting with each other. My hope is that, as they turn the corner on the trail, they are
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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www.woodbrothersracing.com patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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Mistletoe Market Saturday, December 5, 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm
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Creating Connection on the
Blue Ridge
Parkway
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Patrick County Magazine / visitpatrickcounty.org
Ed and Lizzie Mabry
For so many of us in mountain towns, the Blue Ridge Parkway creates precious memories—leisurely drives, family picnics, and campouts with friends. It can feel as if this incredible journey has always been a part of our lives. But not that long ago, it was just an idea. Last year, the Blue Ridge Parkway marked 90 years since construction began at Cumberland Knob, just south of the Virginia state line. It was a grand concept and a monumental undertaking to build a 469-mile road stretching from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Construction lasted 52 years with a pause during World War II. The Parkway was conceived under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and completed under President Ronald Reagan. The final section of the Parkway at Grandfather Mountain was dedicated in 1987. In those initial days of planning the route, no one could predict that the rustic grist mill built by Ed and Lizzie Mabry near Meadows of Dan would become one of the most photographed destinations along the scenic route.
patrickchamber.com / Fall 2026
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n
Mabry Mill before the initial restoratio
In fact, the mill was almost lost forever in 1938. In the early years of Parkway construction, many buildings along the proposed route were either designated to be razed or saved. When it passed to the National Park Service, the mill landed firmly on the save list. Still, a miscommunication sent a state highway crew to the site to demolish the wood structure built around 1908. By sheer luck, Park Ranger Edwin “Mac” Dale spotted the team entering the mill and stopped the destruction before it could start, according to the book Ed and Lizzie: The Mabrys and Their Mill by Michael Ryan. After the narrow escape, the mill underwent a restoration by the National Park Service in 1942. Black and white photographs from the time capture workers crafting shakes and a new water wheel, including a 30-inch timber shaft. Workers also rebuilt the blacksmithing shop and, later, the two-story Matthews Cabin, circa 1869, was relocated to the site. Visitors exploring the new national park unit taking shape could learn about Appalachian history by watching demonstrations on sorghum making, blacksmithing, and other skills. Over the years, Mabry Mill and the site required additional care and maintenance. With the support of funding from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the water wheel and flume have been rebuilt and the pond dredged. In 2025, the mill’s shake roof was replaced. The project required extensive planning to ensure historical accuracy. The preparation and roof installation were undertaken by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center. The team installed hand-riven white oak shakes crafted by Cumberland Mountain Craftsman based in Harrogate, Tennessee. Additional shakes were used to replace the roof at nearby Puckett Cabin.
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“With every shingle nailed into place, Mabry Mill’s future became more secure,” said Kevin Brandt, former Vice President of Engagement for the Foundation. The rehabilitation allowed educational programs to continue inside the structure. It was made possible by donations to the Foundation and funding through the National Park Service. The Foundation’s past initiatives in Virginia also include the restoration of Polly Wood’s Ordinary, Sharp Top Mountain Shelter, and Johnson Farm structures at Peaks of Otter as well as Ramsey Cabin at Humpback Rocks, upgrades to the Abbott Lake Loop Trail to meet ADA accessibility standards, and musical programming at the Blue Ridge Music Center near Galax, Virginia. While the nonprofit is continuing its work to protect natural resources, preserve history and culture, enhance visitor amenities, and provide educational outreach within the National Park, it is also expanding its collaborations with the 29 counties that neighbor the Parkway through the Blue Ridge Rising initiative. With input gathered during three dozen local and regional listening sessions, the Blue Ridge Rising action plan was created to unite gateway communities in the implementation of travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation strategies that will have wide-ranging benefits in the Parkway corridor. The key themes of the action plan are marketing, visitor experiences, a unified regional voice, resource protection, workforce education, and capacity building.
It’s an effort that promises to introduce Parkway travelers to the wealth of experiences just beyond the park’s boundary. In Patrick County, that includes opportunities to experience the outdoors, music, art, and culture that enhance any journey along the scenic motor road.
RESTAURANT TO REOPEN!
Mabry Mill Restaurant is slated to reopen in 2027 and will provide food, beverage, and retail services in the restaurant and gift shop adjacent to the mill. The new operator is planning interior renovations in 2026 and is planning to open food and retail services to the public in the spring of next year.
HOW TO HELP
By purchasing Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate, you are showing your love for the national park and supporting projects and programs for all visitors. To learn more, visit GetThePlate.org. You can also make a donation at BRPFoundation.org.
Mabry Mill roof replacement
in 2025
RECOMMENDED READS
Want to know more about the Parkway and Mabry Mill? Check out these titles: • Ed and Lizzie: The Mabrys and Their Mill by Michael Ryan
• Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History by Dr. Anne Mitchell Whisnant
PARKWAY IMPACT
The Parkway is the most visited unit of the National Park System with more than 16.5 million visitors in 2025—more than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined. In 2024, visitors spent $1.5 billion and supported 15,700 jobs, creating a total annual economic output of $1.9 billion. Traffic jam in October 1963
James Houchins leading a panel at the 2025 Summit
Meadows of Dan overpass in 195
3
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Bluegrass & Gospel acoustic music Award-winning performers Doors open at 5:00 pm. Music at 6:00 pm
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OCTOBER 24, 2026 Twin Creek Stringband
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