Explore the Region

Primland sits at 3,000 feet in the heart of Patrick County, Virginia — one of the most unspoiled corners of the Blue Ridge. Arrive early. Stay longer. The mountain rewards it.

About these drive times: they are measured to and from the Meadows of Dan gate on US 58, not the Lodge itself. Primland is 12,000 acres and the private drive up to the Lodge is a real leg of the trip — add roughly 20 minutes to anything on this page if you are timing an arrival. Full distance table from the Lodge →

🏔 Scenic Drives & Natural Landmarks

Blue Ridge Parkway

America’s most scenic drive runs through Primland’s backyard. Milepost 177.7 is the Meadows of Dan exit — head north or south and stop at every overlook.

📷 Mabry Mill — Stop. Take the Photo. ~10 min · Blue Ridge Parkway MP 176.1

The most photographed location on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway — and it earns it. A working 1910 grist mill and blacksmith shop sitting at the edge of a millpond, surrounded by September color. Craft demonstrations on fall weekends. Built in 1910 by E.B. Mabry, who ran it for 35 years alongside his wife Mintie. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You will drive past it on your way to Primland. Stop. Take the photo. You will not regret it.

Rocky Knob — Rock Castle Gorge Trail ~15 min

4,000 acres of Blue Ridge wilderness. The Rock Castle Gorge Trail (10.4 miles) is one of the finest backcountry hikes in Virginia — a full-day loop through old-growth forest and a historic homestead hollow. Shorter options available for those with less time.

Lover’s Leap Overlook ~10 min

The best single view in Patrick County. Off Route 58 south of Meadows of Dan. Come for sunset in September — the light off the ridge is something.

Buffalo Mountain ~20 min

Virginia’s largest natural area preserve outside the Shenandoah. A 2.1-mile hike to one of the most dramatic summit views in the Blue Ridge. The mountaintop is a rare Blue Ridge bald — open meadow above the treeline with 360-degree views. Worth every step.

🍷 Wineries & Distilleries

Chateau Morrisette ~20 min · Floyd, VA

Virginia’s largest winery, 300 feet off the Parkway. Forty years of production, award-winning reds, a French-inspired restaurant, and tastings seven days a week. The flagship of the Virginia wine trail.

Villa Appalaccia ~25 min · Floyd, VA

A Tuscan-style winery perched on the Parkway at Milepost 170. Italian varietals grown on site, an open-air tasting room, and live music on summer Saturday afternoons. Worth the detour.

JOLO Winery & Vineyards ~30 min · Patrick Springs, VA

A family-owned winery in the heart of Patrick County with mountain vineyard views, an event pavilion, and a strong reputation for Bordeaux-style reds.

Shelton Vineyards ~45 min · Dobson, NC

One of the Southeast’s largest family-owned estate wineries. 200 acres of vines in the Yadkin Valley AVA. The tasting room and bistro are well worth the drive south.

5 Mile Mountain Distillery ~10 min · Meadows of Dan

Small-batch whiskey and moonshine made on open-flame copper stills from generations-old Blue Ridge recipes. The real thing.

🍽 Dining Beyond Primland

Olde Mill Golf Course & Club / Maples Restaurant ~20 min · Laurel Fork, VA

A full destination in its own right. The Olde Mill Golf Course is a traditional mountain layout with scenery that can hold its own against anything in the region. Inside the clubhouse, Maples Restaurant & Tavern is the best sit-down meal in the immediate area outside Primland itself — known for 21-day dry-aged Sterling Silver Angus beef, a serious wine list, and craft cocktails. Come for a round and stay for dinner.

Dogtown Roadhouse ~30 min · Floyd, VA

Wood-fired pizza, 14 rotating craft taps, and live music in a family-friendly mountain roadhouse. Floyd’s anchor dining spot — always good.

Chateau Morrisette Restaurant ~20 min · Floyd, VA

French-inspired cuisine inside the winery. Locally sourced ingredients, house wines by the glass, and a terrace with vineyard views. A proper lunch stop.

Papa’s ~5 min · Meadows of Dan

The local institution. Open seven days from early morning. Daily specials — spaghetti, barbecue, home cooking — and the kind of place where everyone knows each other. The real Meadows of Dan.

Nancy’s Candy Company ~5 min · Meadows of Dan

A Patrick County institution since 1987, when Nancy started making fudge in her kitchen and neighbors couldn’t get enough. Today it’s a 2,000 sq ft candy factory right off the Blue Ridge Parkway — 45+ flavors of fudge, 49 truffle varieties, 85 types of chocolate. Stop in on your way up or down the mountain. Take some home. nancyshomemadefudge.com · 2684 Jeb Stuart Hwy, Meadows of Dan

🏭 Nearby Towns

★ Floyd, Virginia ~30 min

One of the most genuinely interesting small towns in Virginia — and one of the most underrated in the country. Floyd is a small mountain town with a fiercely independent creative culture that has drawn artists, musicians, and back-to-the-landers for fifty years. The Floyd Country Store has hosted live old-time and bluegrass music every Friday night for decades — it’s a national landmark of American roots music, even if it doesn’t have a plaque. The Crooked Road heritage music trail runs through here. There are independent galleries, a serious coffee shop, a wood-fired pizza roadhouse (Dogtown), and a downtown that looks like it was designed by someone who actually cared. If you have a free afternoon before or after the event, Floyd is worth it.

Galax, VA ~30 min

Home of the Blue Ridge Music Center and the Old Fiddlers’ Convention — the oldest and largest old-time fiddler’s convention in the world. Antique shops, live traditional music, and a working small city in the heart of the heritage music region.

Mount Airy, NC — “Mayberry” ~40 min

Andy Griffith’s hometown. The inspiration for Mayberry. Snappy Lunch is still there. Main Street is walkable, charming, and full of shops. A surprisingly good half-day trip — especially if you have guests from out of state who’ve never been.

Stuart, VA ~30 min

The Patrick County seat. Birthplace of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. A working Virginia courthouse town with a good diner, antique shops, and a genuine sense of place.

🚘 Getting Here — Drive Times to Primland

Roanoke, VA~1 hr 15 min

Winston-Salem, NC~1 hr 30 min

Greensboro, NC~2 hrs

Charlotte, NC~2 hrs 30 min

Richmond, VA~3 hrs 30 min

Washington, DC~4 hrs 30 min

GPS is unreliable in the mountains. Follow highway signage from US-58 into Patrick County. Allow extra time — the last stretch is worth it.