Many know Floyd as one of the premier destinations for Appalachian arts of all varieties. However, Floyd is also known globally as the long-time home of County Sales. Since 1973, County Sales has been the world’s premier bluegrass and old-time music record store and distributor. Multiple generations of musicians and music enthusiasts would eagerly await their County Sales mailer to check out the latest in traditional music albums. They would also plan their pilgrimage to Talley’s Alley in downtown Floyd to scour the musical goldmine located under the old Pix theater.
County Sales is now located at 117 South Locust Street, on the town’s main thoroughfare, diagonally from The Floyd Country Store. From this location, County Sales continues to serve not only the local community, but also far beyond as the world’s premier bluegrass and old-time music record store.
County Sales was initially opened in 1965 as the distribution arm of County Records, a storied record label formed by Dave Freeman in New York City. Freeman, like so many urban youths during the American folk music revival, was enthralled with the traditional and rural music styles captured on 78 RPM records from the pre-World War II period. To share his passion for these old discs, especially those of early string-band music, Dave began compiling and releasing long-play albums of those old 78 RPM recordings. Freeman noted during his travels through the mountain south in search of music and music-makers that bands seemed to have their own endemic sound in nearly every different county. Hence the name of his fledgling label, County Records.
In the 1960’s, County Records also began releasing new recordings by a range of bluegrass, gospel, and old-time artists such as E.C. Ball, The Shenandoah Cutups, Larry Richardson, Curly Seckler, Tommy Jarrell, and many more.
In 1973, at the encouragement of Floyd County resident and long-time postal worker, Maurice Slusher, Dave Freeman moved operations for County Records, as well as his family, to downtown Floyd, Virginia. Only a stone’s throw from the county’s one stop-light, County Sales found a home and forged a legacy.
For forty-five years, ‘the basement’ on Talley’s Alley was a destination for traditional music enthusiasts the world over. Generations of musicians and collectors alike knew County Sales as the place to have their music available for sale and the place to find old songs and new sounds alike.
In 2018, due to the ever-growing digital era of music-sharing, the decision was made to shutter the doors of County Sales. In 2019, however, Dylan Locke, owner of the Floyd Country Store, saw the value in continuing this long-time staple of the town. Along with friends and other supporters, Locke reopened County Sales under new ownership in its current location on Locust Street.
For many independent artists and bands today, it is difficult and very expensive to distribute their albums beyond their home communities and live performances. County Sales, however, has been shipping Appalachia’s music around the globe for over fifty years. With that long history and loyal customer base, County Sales works to serve both independent artists and labels as a key resource for sharing the music with a wider audience. Traditional music masters like Jeff Little, Larry Sigmon, Bruce Molsky, Sammy Shelor, Ronnie Reno, and many more rely on County Sales as a key outlet for sharing their releases with the world.
As the world moves further into the digital era, County Sales works hard to help those preserving and passing on traditional music to connect international listeners and learners to their art. County Sales also faithfully serves the often-forgotten demographic of people who do not have technological access to digital music streaming. For many older or geographically isolated people, ordering a physical CD is still a necessity if they want to enjoy new and classic recordings alike. For many, physical CDs are also the preferred method of learning music. Having an album of any kind in-hand allows the listener to take in the full project as the artist intended, with images, graphics, and the full palette of an album’s outlay.
With an album in-hand, listeners get the full liner notes where the artist shares the history and their personal connection to the songs. It’s like the conversation and personal connection someone would have with the artist when purchasing their music in person.
The resurgence in the popularity of vinyl, long-play albums, or LPs, has County Sales working to connect folks to both new and old stock, previously loved and newly issued, or repressed vinyl albums of bluegrass and old-time music. County Sales also specializes in processing record collections of traditional music for countless more people to enjoy. Folks coming to visit County Sales will also find a hearty selection of traditional-music related books, DVDs, cassette tapes, and 78 RPM records. Now, as part of the 501c3 non-profit Handmade Music, County Sales is working to help traditional artists share their music abroad. They also help to preserve, provide, and reissue classic cuts and unreleased material.
For decades, Floyd has been a key musical destination in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. On warm Friday nights, both music-makers and music-lovers gather on the streets of downtown Floyd to share and learn about Appalachia’s musical traditions. Founded in 2016, the Handmade Music School specializes in passing on Appalachia’s traditional music through in-person and virtual instruction for all ages. County Sales now serves as the archive from which students and enthusiasts alike can dive deep into their styles and instruments. They are the vessel through which music that hasn’t been heard publicly in years can be shared.
As it takes the first steps of its next fifty-year journey in serving and preserving traditional music, County Sales is excited to announce new initiatives as a 501c3 non-profit. A series of new recordings from local music masters will be launched during 2023. There will also be reissues, like the classic 1973 County Records album, “Kenny Baker Country”, which has been long out of print. This album is an invaluable document of one of the fiddle’s key masters, and it will be available on vinyl through County Sales this year.
Just as County Records began doing more than half a century ago, along with serving largely as a distribution arm for musicians and music lovers, they are working to continue documenting and making music available that would otherwise go unheard.
To celebrate its fiftieth anniversary as a staple of both the Floyd and traditional music communities, County Sales will hold a fiftieth anniversary celebration August 4 through August 6 of 2023. The half-century bash will continue throughout the weekend, including, among other things, listening sessions, live performances, artist meet-and-greets, in-store and online discounts, refreshments, and jam sessions. County Music invites everyone to mark their calendars and to join them for a weekend filled with good friends and great music!
Through public friendship and support, County Sales plans to serve Floyd and far-beyond for decades to come! As a 501c3 non-profit they are now accepting tax-deductible donations of all kinds to help support not only County Sales, but also Handmade Music School. If anyone has an instrument they’d like to pass on to other musicians, they are encouraged to consider donating to Handmade Music School. Likewise, they encourage anyone with a collection of traditional music on 45, 78, or 33 1⁄3 RMP LPs they wish to rehome to consider donating to County Sales, where it is sure to find its way into the hands of those who would appreciate it most.
Finally, for anyone looking for a worthy cause to support that will ensure the longevity of the region’s cultural heritage, County Sales encourages dropping by and visiting the location in Floyd, or visiting online at www.CountySales.com.
Dylan Locke • County Sales • www.CountySales.com
540-745-2001 • Info@CountySales.com
Chris and Aaron were introduced by mutual friends because they both had an interest in rock climbing. When Chris was offered the position of Lead High Ropes Instructor at Appleridge, he couldn’t think of anyone better to bring onto the team than Aaron. Working as a team in this capacity deepened their friendship.
Brittany and Aaron married in the Summer of 2018. That same Summer, the three friends revisited the idea of creating a business based around exposing others to the joys of spending time in nature. Wanting to share their idea, the founders approached their friend, Daniel Sowers, of On the Water. After hearing what they had in mind, he offered to sell them a shuttle bus he’d been using for river trips. It was with this first step that the idea for Buffalo Mountain Adventures was solidified.
In 2019, after purchasing a fleet of standup paddleboards, rock climbing gear, and a second bus, Buffalo Mountain Adventures began offering customized, guided trips. Though Floyd may not yet be as well known for its outdoor recreation as other surrounding areas, it does offer some quality experiences in various activities, such as paddling, rock climbing, mountain biking, scenic hikes, historical sites, and more. The BMA trio knew that Floyd was already attracting overnight visitors for the music and art scenes, and they hoped to provide the missing element of outdoor experiences. Since establishing BMA, Floyd has seen the development of a zipline, a disc golf course, and a skate park located in Dugspur!
Brittany also owns and operates Driftwood Catering with her husband, Aaron. For several years, Driftwood has been preparing meals for private parties and farm dinners with their wood-fired cook trailer, equipped with a wood-fired brick oven and an Argentinian-style wood-fired grill. When they decided to expand the adventure business, they realized it would make sense to expand the food business as well. So, they purchased a food truck so they could offer mobile vending on a year-round basis.
The Driftwood food truck parks outside of the BMA adventure store during the week, and travels on the weekends to local festivals and breweries. Driftwood Catering provides meals for both the adventure trips, as well as full-service catering for weddings, special events, and more. The businesses are unique in their ability to offer package deals for weddings and group retreats by offering catering, shuttle, and group adventure services.
Since its inception at the 4041 Riner Road location in nearby Riner, Buffalo & More has been a huge hit with locals and visitors, alike! Thanks to a dedication to quality and locally sourced foods, Hale and George have been very successful, and customers have been very happy with the scrumptious menu items that can’t be found anywhere else in the area. In addition to the smoked brisket, buffalo burgers, hot dogs, chili, steaks, and roasts made from fresh bison meat, Buffalo & More serves regionally sourced chicken, shrimp from the North Carolina coast, and a mouth-watering assortment of desserts made by Hale’s mother, Reba.
For her ultimate vision of Buffalo & More, Hale had had her eye on the building across the street for several years. It was cleaner, larger, and nicer than 4041. It also had space for a retail area. When the 4040 Riner Road building came up for sale in 2013, the business partners purchased it outright. Details, difficulties, and delays, however, prevented them from moving to the new building.
Connie Hale tells us that owning the building, instead of leasing, is a great improvement for the position of Buffalo & More as a business. After a flurry of hard work and help from the community, the 4040 Riner Road location for Buffalo & More opened on January 4 of 2023! Both Hale and George are happy to be at the new location and are thrilled at how beautiful it is.
In addition to the restaurant, Hale and George did indeed create a retail space where customers can find swag items like water bottles and T-Shirts. The retail space also features cutting boards and other locally made items.
All in all, Buffalo & More had a great fourteen years at the original location, and a successful move to a new location. Going forward, both Connie Hale and Carla George are eager to see where the opportunities for growth will take them.
It was during one of his stays that Mike met Nancy Galli, from Meadows of Dan. In 1987, Nancy had started Nancy’s Candy Factory, which makes, packages, and distributes candies all across the United States! (left: Nancy Galli and Mike Floyd)
They hired course designer, Scott Snow from Bailey, Colorado, and began creating Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf Course. The first item on the agenda was to use the topography to the best advantage of the course. Once the design was laid out, the hard work began. Mike, Nancy, and other family members did much of the work, thinning and trimming trees, moving rocks and boulders, erecting baskets, mowing, laying mulch and gravel, and building bridges and fairways. Under the direction of Scott Snow, it took about a year to convert the original, nine-basket family fun area into a professional, thirty-six basket disc-golf course!
In June of 2022, Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf launched with a Grand Opening Tournament, held June 11 and June 12. One-hundred and twenty-four players signed up. While twenty professionals played for a monetary purse, the amateurs played for prizes and bragging rights. Players not only came from the surrounding community, but also from Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, and Maryland! The course received many accolades from the players, and the tournament was professionally filmed by ACE Run Productions. Footage can be viewed at Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf, or from Ace Run Productions.
Wanting to make Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf a destination, they also started adding rental cabins to the property while building the course. As a separate business called Cabins off the Parkway, five cabins are currently available, each featuring stunning views of the mountains and property where guests can watch all the wildlife, as well as some really amazing sunsets!
In addition to the beautiful one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom cabins, Mike and Nancy have also acquired a vintage street trolley from Gatlinburg that will be converted into a ‘unique stay’, ready for rental in Summer of 2023.
Not only does Floyd County have a new disc golf course, but is a course sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). Wanting to encourage the sport of Disc Golf, Mike and Nancy have an ambitious schedule for 2023, which includes several professional tournaments with players coming from all over the country.
The Jubilee Tournament will take place June 3 – 4, and the Blue Ridge Heritage Tournament will take place September 23 – 24. On August 12, however, there will be a special tournament, for women only, open to players of all levels. Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf will host ‘Throw Pink’ in support of breast cancer awareness and research.
Mike and Nancy want the course used and enjoyed by the community. Going forward, they are hoping to bring disc golf to the surrounding school systems. They also encourage more organizations and nonprofits to consider holding events at Buffalo Mountain Disc Golf for worthy causes.
The grand idea was to take his custom picture framing business from a studio in Check and combine it with some beautiful art from local Southwest Virginia artists in a downtown environment. On May 5 of 2018, with the help of a lot of people, Ron and Lenny opened the doors to The Maggie Gallery and Custom Framing. The Maggie was, in Ron’s opinion, “the perfect showroom to present the labors of the local artists. The atmosphere was bright and clean, and soft music played as customers viewed and purchased the art.”
“We miss the artists,” says Ron. “All of them had something beautiful to contribute to The Maggie. One of our highest priorities was putting them first and presenting their works in the best possible way.”
The new owner of The Maggie, Brenda Hopkins, will change the name slightly, but according to Brenda, many of The Maggie’s features will remain. Meanwhile, the original Maggie Gallery and Custom Frame has now become Ron Campbell Art and Custom Framing, relocated to his studio at 104 Campbell Crossing in Check. There, the design room has been expanded, and upstairs now houses a gallery where Ron’s art will be on display. From time to time, furniture in the gallery will be pushed back to make room for work tables, turning the space into a classroom. Ron assures us that he will offer the same quality framing that he delivered in downtown Floyd. In addition, and at no charge, the new studio/gallery also comes with a beautiful, nine-mile ride through the country to get there!
One of the early pioneers of the music scene receiving recognition along the Crooked Road is Alfred Lee Reed; sometimes spelled Reid. Like his older sister, Alfred was born in Floyd County to parents Riley and Charlotte Akers Reed. Riley Reed was a farm laborer in the Alum Ridge area, but eventually moved the family to West Virginia in search of employment.
The Bristol Sessions served to help preserve the music of the mountains and make it available to other parts of the country. Peer recorded not only Blind Alfred, but also a number of other acts, including Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, who also made their first recordings at the 1927 Sessions.
Reed’s music was revived by an increased interest in the Appalachian sound, as well as by the covers recorded by Springsteen, Cooder, and groups like the New Lost City Ramblers. Some of the interest that generated impetus for The Crooked Road came from songs by musicians like Blind Alfred Reed. Reed was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2020, his song, “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?”, was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
One of those jobs was helping his mother, Juniper Healy. Juniper was the long-time owner of Seeds of Light, a bead and gift shop with locations in Blacksburg and Roanoke. Caleb grew up helping his mother in the shop, where her own handcrafted jewelry designs were featured. There, he found a love of creativity. In particular, Caleb was drawn to glasswork. “It’s a mysterious medium,” says Caleb, talking about the flow of the glass.
In the years following his apprenticeship, Caleb found his own artistic style by trial and error. After moving to Colorado in 2008, he had the opportunity to work with other glass artists and attend advanced classes where he was able to observe and learn new techniques.
As Caleb was more interested in the retail side of the craft business, a mutual and amicable decision was made for Caleb to continue at 115 Sweeney Street location under his own creation name, Liquid Fire Glass.
He captivates and delights admirers with his marble orbs and pendants that evoke fantasy space scenes, ethereal dreamscapes, and tree of life roots and branches. One pendant, called “Into the Deep Blue Sea”, is described as featuring peacock chameleon glass, a shark’s tooth from Venice Beach, Florida, two Arkansas quartz points, an abalone shell cab, sphere opal, and a copper infinity spiral. Once each work of house-made glass art is completed, Caleb uses a titanium pen to date the piece and to sign his middle name, Storm.
Caleb’s lampworked pieces are showcased at his Liquid Fire shop, formerly Blue Ridge Alchemy, which is a working studio and gallery that includes space for live glass blowing demonstrations and classes. Liquid Fire Glass features Caleb’s pendants, kaleidoscopes, ornaments, paper weights, pipes, marbles, perfume bottles, wine stoppers, and more. His copper electroformed light cover switches, oil lamps, and business card holders are displayed alongside handmade consigned works from other local artisans, making the shop a unique addition to the Floyd art scene and a must-see stop for finding one-of-kind special gifts.
Located at 115 Sweeney Street in Floyd, just behind DJ’s Drive-in off Route 221, Liquid Fire Glass is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 7:00pm, or by appointment. Along with creating work and tending shop, Caleb also vends at crafts shows and sells his glass works wholesale to shops.
The event will take place both indoors and outdoors at the Floyd Center for the Arts, located just outside downtown Floyd in an eighty-year-old dairy barn, a fitting setting for celebrating traditional arts. The festival will showcase traditional and contemporary expressions of traditional crafts, including basketmaking, quilting, spinning, weaving, instrument making, blacksmithing, woodworking, and more. Local bluegrass musicians and performers will provide an authentic Appalachian ambiance. The Living Traditions Festival will be a free event, with food vendors on site.
Those attending the Living traditions Festival will be invited to participate in the shared creative experience of a Community Art Quilt Project. Visitors will have an opportunity to create their own quilt squares that will be connected throughout the day. The resulting quilt will serve as a tangible expression of a traditional practice used to represent the beauty of diversity and community’s strength. “We want to create a commemorative festival quilt to showcase everybody’s creative side!” says Keela Dooley Marshall.
Food can be enjoyed at tables outside in the Center’s new pollinator garden. For those who prefer to eat indoors, food can be enjoyed while listening to a variety of lectures, such as “Black Americans in Old Time Music, Then and Now”, “Quilt and Quilters of Floyd County”, and “Keepers of the Tradition”. Traditional arts, by their nature, are passed from generation to generation. For these arts to survive, it is essential to cultivate this passing on of skills from one generation to the next, with older adults an young people working together. (left: Old Dominion Blacksmithing Association at the Floyd Center for the Arts, Photo by Brandon Phillips)
Though they were both natives of South Roanoke, Scott and Lee were drawn to the scenic views and peaceful setting of Mt. Chestnut, which is just a ten-minute drive from the Bent Mountain community. In 2013, they finally left the city behind and relocated their family to the mountains. Two years after the move, they welcomed second son, Mason, born in 2015.
In more recent times, the Markhams began feeling the universe nudging them closer and closer to taking that leap to turn their family restaurant dream into a reality. They’d had their eye on spaces around Roanoke for as long as they could remember, taking note of special touches like outdoor dining areas and family-friendly atmospheres. They kept note of all the features they also hoped to have in their future eatery.
The Markhams immediately said yes to the amazing offer, and to prove the timing was right, another perfect opportunity presented itself almost immediately.
While participating in The Gauntlet, Scott and Lee were also spending a lot of time and effort on updating the existing space to make Treehouse Tavern their own. They put in new lighting and plants to make the space feel warmer and more inviting. They also did a lot of cleaning and repair.
homemade sauces. There would also be burgers, grilled on the flat-top and served on perfectly toasted buns. The Treehouse Tavern menu would also feature specialty sandwiches like the Cuban as well as a killer meatloaf sandwich. Finally, from the 700+ degree, wood-fired brick oven, there would be pizza made with traditional flavors, as well as pizza that would feature Vegan toppings or gluten-free crust.
Since opening, the menu has grown to include salads, chili, wings, and ribs from the smoker, as well as many other specials like shrimp over cheesy grits that could rival anything you’d find in Charleston! Appetizers like chili cheese or BBQ nachos, flatbread with homemade pimento cheese, and smoked salmon are also popular. They’ve also added plenty of sides, including cornbread that melts in your mouth, plus homemade brownies, and Hershey’s ice cream!
Since opening Treehouse Tavern in the old Bent Mountain Bistro building, the Markhams have come to realize that fate led them to the perfect location. They’ve been delighted to find that it’s a hub for all the wonderful people of Floyd, Back Creek, Cave Spring, and greater Roanoke. Of course, it’s also the perfect place to be, among the extremely welcoming, local folks of the close-knit Bent Mountain community.
Visitors to Treehouse Tavern can expect the warm feel of a community watering hole, complete with patrons of all ages. While guests enjoy appetizers or special drinks, children might wander past the patio to explore the back field.
With Scott hard at work in all aspects of the business, Lee and the kids can often be found helping in the front of house, keeping a close eye on details large and small. After all, this restaurant was their dream come true, and the whole Markham Family is in the effort together. Their lives are intricately connected to Treehouse Tavern, and they hope to welcome everyone to their family’s special spot!
In the spring of 2024, the Partnership for Floyd (PFF) will be celebrating 20 years of civic work in Floyd, and preparations are underway! The first step in these preparations will be to increase recognition of the organization. Most recognized for its development of Warren G. Lineberry Park, as well as the Park-to-Library and Dodd Creek Trails, the non-profit citizen group has also hosted Earth Day and Health Fair events, held fundraisers for its projects, and was influential in the revitalization of downtown Floyd through providing support for government grants and volunteer labor.
The late Sam Moore, who was the founding PFF Vice President, as well as a former employee of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), first brought up the idea of applying for a TEA-21 transportation enhancement grant through VDOT. This grant was approved and used to build sidewalks, including a pathway from the hotel to downtown Locust Street. These new walkways served to link up hotel patrons with downtown activities and businesses, including Floyd’s famous Friday Night Jamboree at The Floyd Country Store.
Martin recently recalled the work that the PFF has done over the years for “the good of many,” including when the group funded an educational and publicly-viewed water video that one of her interns created to raise awareness about the complexity and vulnerability of Floyd ground water.