Virginia President's Tour - Home

Sunday October 21

We were up and on the road about 10 AM.  Driving south on I 81 is not particularly fascinating when you have traveled it as much as we have…but it was a pleasant day.  The kudsu had experienced some frost over the past two nights but still very little of any color on the trees.  We had thought we would drive down the Skyline Drive back to Roanoke but not worth doing with no color.  We will have to find another time for fall color this year!

It was nearing lunch time when we were approaching Wytheville.  There is a huge restored mansion at the intersection of I 81 and I 77 near Ft. Chiswell. We have discussed it numerous times as we come by.  It was built in 1840 by brothers Steven and Cloyd McGavock. Their family settled in the area in 1771 and the area was a stopping point on the Great Wilderness Road.  Ben had read about the family in his research on the Great Grants.  The home remained in the family until 1918 when it was sold.  Over the years we have been traveling I 81 it had fallen into disrepair.  About 10 years ago it was purchased by Chris Disibbio and has been restored.  It is open for tours and special events.  There is also a restaurant open on somewhat irregular hours.  By checking their web page it was open for lunch on Sundays 10-3.  So we were right on time!  

As we pulled in the parking lot we saw a tour bus and thought oh no – but when we went in the waitress offered to seat us in the bar upstairs.  Perfect – beautiful room and views.  We were served quickly too!  We had a chicken salad wrap (Jane) , a steak and cheese sandwich (Ben) , and we split a Signature Bread Pudding with Carmel Sauce.  Everything was good but that bread pudding was really excellent!  Plus we took home half of everything so have lunch for another day!

The Mansion at Fort Chiswell

Entrance From Rear

Ben at our table near the bar

Steak and Cheese Sandwich

Chicken Salad Wrap

After a nice lunch stop we continued on south arriving home middle of the afternoon. 

Over the past 2 months we have visited all the early presidential homes/museums/libraries with exception of the Adams – father John, and son John Quincy.  I will have to say regardless of party affiliation they were dedicated patriots who loved their country and wanted it to succeed. Their struggles were different than ours today; but they had them non-the-less.  Their farsighted planning certainly gave our country a good foundation that remarkably has survived many tests over the years.  Let’s hope it can survive all this crazy world is throwing at it today!  If we can learn from past history we just might make it.