Grundy, Virginia: The Appalachian Town That Picked Up and Moved

[@katydidnt3228]

Y'all wondered why Buchanan General Hospital was so far out of town? Well, the earlier hospital was in town. Grundy Hospital was on the site where the current Comfort Inn sits. On the other hand, the site where the "new" hospital sits was where the carnival came in the summertime - as it was the biggest piece of flat land around.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

I was born in the old Grundy Hospital. I remember being a really young kid, around 3 or 4, and the carnival coming to the site where Buchanan General sits now.

[@anaventura844]

Hello, I actually grew up in Mountain Mission School, located in Grundy! I remember going to Food City, Italian Village, and the movies wee HUGE deals. I also recall Main St being a cute, cozy, and picturesque town.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

I grew up in Grundy. Main St really was a warm, picturesque little town before they tore down all the buildings. I watched a lot of movies at the Grundy Community Center, lol. I got to see my first theatrical movie at the old Lynnwood Theater with the cute little ticket booth that sat beside Italian Village. It was The Karate Kid pt. 2. I think that theater closed about a year after that.

[@lumberhack2002]

My step-daughter Aymi Dickens also grew up in Mountain Mission School. Her mother got divorced from her father and my step-daughters grand father took her away from my wife and placed her in the school. After I married my wife we went to Grundy and retrieved her.

[@Any-Okra]

A few of my cousins were at Mount mission.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

The building across from the post office use to be a video store. It started out as Primetime Video, then it became Movie Gallery. Spent a lot of time there. At 9:40 into the video there use to be a building on the left called The Record Shop. Discovered the music that molded me there. A lot of wonderful memories in my old hometown.

[@realappalachia]

Grundy is one of a kind, a lot of great folks from there

[@ojmcclanahan689]

@@realappalachia Absolutely. I was born and raised in Grundy. Moved to Tazewell about 13 years ago.

[@dlmullins9054]

Thank you guys for doing this video. I lived in Big Rock, but my best memories are all of us kids jumping in the car and Mommy and Daddy would take us to Grundy maybe once a month. We would get to buy a little toy at one of the stores and then watch a movie at one of the three movie theaters in Grundy. When they put in a pool around 1960, my cousin Richard Mullins and i picked blackberries , and Mommy let us pick two bushels of green beans and then we sold them to the company store. We had enough to give Mommy fifty cents for gas and pay our way to go swimming in the new pool and we even had enough to buy a moon pie and coke. I am old as you might have guessed, but i will always be able to relive that day and it was one of the best i have.

[@realappalachia]

That was a great comment, really painted the picture of those days. Thanks so much for posting your memories.

[@heatherfulmore3412]

@@realappalachia, thanks

[@heatherfulmore3412]

@@realappalachia the scenery I'd nice.

[@heatherfulmore3412]

@@realappalachia the scenery is beautiful.

[@heatherfulmore3412]

I can see that most of the houses are up in the hills.

[@harrydeel1116]

You guys did a good video of Grundy, Va. I enjoyed seeing my hometown or what is left of it. An interesting thing that Grundy has in common with Honolulu is the Walmart. We cruised to Hawaii in 2010 and we were advised by the ships' director to buy our souvenirs of Honolulu at Walmart which is built essentially the same as the one in Grundy. Wal-Mart had a huge influence on the Hawaiian economy. At that time milk was selling for $3/gal. Before Wal-Mart it sold for $8/gal.

[@imveryhungry112]

You went from grundy to Hawaii? Lol me too 😂 grew up in grundy then joined military and lived in Honolulu! Both places are cool!

[@nancymiller7294]

You two are such a great couple to listen to .I am from WV , born in Logan and my Parents moved to Beckley when I was maybe 3 years old. I have been in Alabama since 1983 and I still miss those Mountains and scenery of WV, most of all I miss the people. Thanks to your videos , I can still see my home State.

[@realappalachia]

Thank you, Nancy

[@rebeccaizzmee2134]

Blessings

[@lynnlester8643]

Great video! I grew up in Buchanan County and was in the '77 flood. :( I remember the day of the shooting too. The Pharmacy school is actually in Oakwood not Grundy. Thanks for all the information during the video too. loved it.

[@heatherfulmore3412]

I would like to see those mountains.

[@robertm731]

Sweet couple. I grew up in Bluefield Va. and used to hear about Grundy all the time. Unfortunately mostly when they'd beat us in high school football games. I've been in North Carolina now since 1973 when I moved to the Charlotte area. I was almost in tears watching those mountains pop up around there. That was what I missed most when I left at 17 to make my way in the world and now you've nudged me to make a trip up there to visit again. Keep up the video visits of the area and give me some more push

[@GypsyMedicSTT]

I'm watching this right now from the ONLY hotel in Grundy! What a drive and the IVY is EVERYWHERE! I'll have to take a little walk today before heading west.

[@GypsyMedicSTT]

P.S. I'm here in the summer and it really is beautiful, despite vacant and abandoned buildings, but the greenery and mountains with mist on top this morning is just gorgeous.

[@reidx512]

My name is Reid, and I just love you two..... such warm spirits....thank you and Merry Christmas.

[@richardthompson9836]

I was born in Richlands in 1948. We moved to FL in 1954. I remember when I was a child, and before we moved, asking my father "where's mommy"? Every time, and on numerous occasions, he would say "she's gone to Grundy to see the flea circus". You can just imagine in my little mind visualizing little fleas performing. That still brings a smile to my face. 🤣 Thank you for these wonderful visits.

[@briannam6019]

Love this. My grandfather owned the fence company on 460 that used to be by Save A Lot. Rainbow was great, and I remember that lady who made the coconut pies!!!

[@realappalachia]

Awesome, thanks for commenting with your memories. I remember the fence company. I can almost taste one of the coconut pies now lol

[@anna7118]

My great grandpa moved from Grundy to the west coast when he was a boy (early 1900s). Thank you for showing this town.

[@realappalachia]

glad you enjoyed it, Anna

[@BethMcHenry-w9e]

Love watching you guys

[@annettefabiano3578]

I'm a big fan of Walmart, and I've heard about the triple decker in Grundy. Pretty exciting to get to see it up close. Thanks.

[@realappalachia]

It’s a most interesting place for sure

[@EricFannin]

miss that place i was born there in 1973

[@ojmcclanahan689]

I was born there 10 years later in 83. Old Grundy Hospital.

[@ungh7820]

Been gone in the army for almost a year now, and loved seeing my name still spray painted on the road to the highschool!

[@realappalachia]

that is great, thank you for your service!

[@debbieepperly3821]

Well, I've been somewhere I've never been before & seen something I've never seen. Grundy & a 3 story Walmart! Don't think I could handle a 3-story Walmart! I have trouble in a one-story! That cart thing was awesome looking...never seen anything like that before! This was a beautiful ride & loved the scenery! Haven't been able to sleep, so it was nice to have 2 videos of y'alls to watch. Pizza looked great too! Thank y'all for taking us to some unique places! Stay safe and God bless! 🤗

[@realappalachia]

Thanks for riding along with us, Debbie

[@brian9735]

Law School grad - thanks for the video and memories. Lived beside Pizza Hut one year, above Grundy Insurance before it was tore down, and then in Cow Town. Grundy has some great people who take pride in their corner of the world.

[@realappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed the video and your stay in the town, thank you for commenting.

[@judypierce7028]

WOW! Glad I finally caught up with you folks! You are really up in the mountains in Grundty as it is very much like WV. Great history! I really enjoyed this video. Lot of history. As I recall, the two years I lived in VA (Galax) there were some rumors that Grundy was a coal mining town and that the mines had shut down. I don't know how true that happened to be at the time. Grundy has a unique setting. Remember to stay off thirdary roads!! Ha! Keep up your great work!

[@dianap5159]

Thank you so much for this video. It makes me so, so homesick. My mom moved us to Ohio when I was 8 years old and we've been here ever since. I'm retired now and want to move back to SW Virginia so badly. I was born in Grundy--at the old hospital that used to be located on Riverside Dr. The site now has a Comfort Inn. Keep the videos coming. I just love them--even if they make me incredibly homesick and bring tears to my eyes. Safe travels and God Bless!

[@realappalachia]

i am glad we can bring a little bit of home to you, God bless you too

[@imveryhungry112]

Why don't you move back? You can probably get real estate very cheap in grundy.

[@tomholschbach5966]

Have family there. Spent some hot summer days fishing. Those streams. I few uncles, and cousins that worked at Jewell Smokeless. Loved it down there. Tons and tons of 10 wheeled overloaded Mack coal trucks🇺🇸😎

[@billystacy8102]

proudly born and raised in grundy

[@johnjones-bv5df]

Enjoyed this immensely. I wish you would do a really deep dive into Pikeville Ky. I have always heard that Pikeville is considered to be the main financial, medical, and shopping venue of the WV and Ky Appalachian region. Keep em coming. Additionally, in 70s I went to Berea College with a guy named Joey O Quinn from Grundy. I think he is a well known bluegrass musician in the area. He really loved Grundy.

[@realappalachia]

we are definitely going to video Pikeville, just trying to figure out how to break it down there

[@SaraStiltner]

So crazy I stumbled upon this video. Joey is my uncle! He still plays Bluegrass music all the time and helps run the Big Stone Gap visitor center. Awesome to see this comment!

[@WiseChristian60]

Great video Shane and Melody, my memories of Grundy, Va are of going to church there a few times with friends when I was a newly saved young Christian in the 1970s. Those were good memories indeed. I grew up very close to Grundy, just across the Mountain as the crow flies in Elkhorn City which was right on the Breaks, Virginia border where the beautiful Breaks Interstate Park is and where I spent a lot of time in my youth. So I am very familiar w South East Virginia, including Grundy, Richlands, Harmon,Wise, Haysi, Bartlick, etc. If you haven’t already you should do a video on the Breaks Park and all the new adventures they have going on now. Such as white water rafting, Zip Lining etc that would be a great video. I would do one myself but I live in Lexington now for the past 35 years and I don’t get much opportunity to go back home as often as I would like to. Keep up the great work and thanks! 😅

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, very much appreciate the kind words. The Breaks is very much on our radar to hit up soon.

[@valeriehale3203]

Loved the video... I'm born and raised in grundy va and still live here...

[@ronleachsr]

2/9/03 I enjoyed your video I live in Jonesborough Ten uh see and amazed that Grundy has a TV station I pick up the signals from, therefore my curiosity to see the town. I am amazed at how clean the town is all the newer cars and trucks and businesses from such a tiny town. I missed a trip to visit your town and others on a trip when was attending ETSC(ETSU Johnson City tn.) in 1966 when there were coal mining jobs. I was in Grundy in the early 70s helping install siding on homes and its really different now. Keep the videos coming. Very interesting.

[@tribecca626]

One of my favorite cities 🏞️ Thanks for the video Shane and Melody .🤗

[@realappalachia]

so glad you enjoyed it, becca

[@tonimactavish9937]

What a beautiful part of our country.

[@lostonwallace1396]

I had a few brothers born at the hospital in Grundy. Me? I was born in Clintwood on a very cold, -10 degree day back in 1970. It was so cold, the ambulance couldn't get their own doors open, so my Mom was taken to Dr. Ratliff's office, and she had me there. Back then, Clintwood didn't have the hospital that it has now, so Grundy was one of the closest places to go if you lived on Cranesnest River.

[@chrishensley6745]

Thanks for sharing about Grundy.....just always there wrestling team here from Eliz. Tn.! Our Old football coach Dave Rider was from War W.V. I have never traveled up around there so this is interesting.

[@johnreed8336]

Thank you for the shared trip around Grundy . The both of you make a very good team . Long may it continue ! I have only been to the US on two occasions, both to Florida . As with most UK tourists the first port of call is always the nearest Walmart ! So it was good to see Grundy's Walmart. Very interesting to see the shopping cart ( shopping trolley - UK speak ) escalator . Never seen anything like that here in UK . As always somethings US does better & and somethings we do better . Looking forward to your next journey through Appalachia.

[@realappalachia]

thanks so much for watching and the comment, love hearing from folks in the UK, hope to visit someday

[@BirdGardenChannel]

Glad I discovered you guys - great channel and I really enjoyed this video! Grundy is home to a beautiful neotropical migrant bird in the summer, Cerulean Warbler 👍

[@realappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much

[@zachthornton7930]

I love the old swinging bridges. My great uncle still has one on his property in clincho Virginia

[@plumcrazypurple318]

I drive through clinchco every time I go home to southeast Kentucky. Is there more town than just the stuff right on 83?

[@bruinsfan8278]

You guys are Awesome! I love riding around with you two and seeing the Appalachia sights and listening to your accents, reminds me of my relatives from Front Royal VA! Thanks for the Cool Video :-)

[@realappalachia]

Thank you so much 😃

[@sandy89107]

I like how you showed your dinner...looked yummy. I would like to see you both eat everywhere you go, kind of like a review and ideas where to go 😋

[@realappalachia]

we are gonna try to do more of it, not every town has a good selection but Grundy is blessed

[@beachbum9869]

Great video, as always. I think that blue roofed station was originally a Pure Gas station. You can still see a few around. Also, I loved to wrestle. Did it for 6 years. The roll you spoke of is the Granby Roll. Originated from Granby High School located in Norfolk VA. Grubby and Granby get confused at times. Seen it before. You said that Grunby had moved......I had a similar experience. I went home one time and my parents had moved.....😂😂😂😂😂 Have fun, stay safe and stay healthy!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much

[@sgtdonaldduck]

Great Video guys. I live in Richlands and my family is from grundy and all the history was listed was great and did not miss a beat everything my dad has told me about the history of grundy you mentioned. As we was watching the video my dad would add on different detail and facts to coincide along with your trip. My dad's family were one of the victims of the great flood that devastated the community their when he was a young boy. You did an extraordinary job and showed me thing I didn't know about Grundy.

[@realappalachia]

That's awesome, really glad you enjoyed watching it

[@kenyapate9480]

Im from Roanoke!! Had a boss who lived in grundy.he used to be the manager of sbarros pizza at valley view mall! I love yalls videos!!!

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, I've eaten at the sbarro's at valley view before, cool

[@ronbass8136]

You guys are the best. Never seen a Wal-Mart like that

[@garymcelhaney1560]

Another great video y’all I’m a truck driver for Walmart and I’ve made deliveries there many times it’s a cool looking store

[@realappalachia]

That's awesome, thank you

[@moparedtn]

I used to share old stories about travelling to such towns as Grundy with you in "olden video days" of your previous channel, Shane - including the recollection that I never, not once, was in Grundy on a sunny day. Joke being that they had to pump sunshine in that holler... My work took me to that town several times a year, from the little college there to the Food City to nursing facilities (TONS of copperheads killed at those places - maintenance guys at each often kept them in big barrels!). Those wondering how the area looks as good as it does may not know that Grundy in specific and the region in general has benefitted from several $Billions of federal and state funds, grants, etc. Given the population (which you two mention), per capita government spending has been astonishing, honestly...politics, I suspect. By the way, the best food I ever had was at the old railroad motel & restaurant just outside of town, where the railroad kept that facility for travelling crews. Awesome breakfasts at that joint! Anyways, always appreciate another virtual visit to the old haunt. Y'all be safe out there. - Ed on the Ridge

[@realappalachia]

Sounds like I missed out on the Railroad restaurant. Yes, I worked in Grundy for about a year and I dont remember ever seeing the sunshine lol

[@moparedtn]

@@realappalachia I'd bet that hotel and restaurant has been long repurposed - or gone altogether. As little of the original place that still exists, by the time they get done spending, I won't recognize much of any of it. Progress? I guess... *shrugs*

[@johnwilkinson6067]

beautiful country there and once again i simply love your southern accent good work guys

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, John

[@jeffraines414]

Accent? What accent? Lol.... 😋

[@keithtimmons378]

We especially enjoyed this video. Grundy looks like a nice little town. That Wal mart buggy escalator was cool.

[@realappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it, it was a fun town to check out for us

[@DecepticonSkyy]

Good chunk of my family hails from Grundy, VA. Sadly, I don't believe I have any relatives left who still actually live there, but I'd love to go back someday to revisit some places. It was also pretty depressing to watch the town/community whittle away as the years went and businesses followed. I'm sure Ratliff is still a quite well known name in those parts to this day. Love the video!

[@realappalachia]

Thank you!

[@plumcrazypurple318]

There is still an Italian Village in Richlands-but Gino has a food truck at the Anchorage Circle. The food is just as excellent as the IV in Grundy!

[@ojmcclanahan689]

Gino's food truck is outstanding! I use to love watching him make pizzas at the Italian Village in Claypool Hill when I was a kid. He tossed the dough up in the air and I just thought that was the coolest thing in the world, lol. I grew up on Slate Creek, so I was super excited when Grundy got an Italian Village.

[@plumcrazypurple318]

@@ojmcclanahan689 Hale Creek here!

[@ojmcclanahan689]

@@plumcrazypurple318 Hell yeah! ❤ I grew in a place called Hurley Bottom on Slate Creek. About halfway between Grundy High School and JM Bevins Elementary.

[@robinhaupt9119]

Thanks Melody and Shane for the great tour. That Walmart cart thing was so cool! It's beautiful in Grundy.

[@realappalachia]

yes, we loved the shopping cart escalator too, it was something totally new to us

[@mikeanderson7165]

Well I love watching y’all driving an talking ❤️

[@realappalachia]

thank ya so much, Mike

[@kindnessmakesmesmile6583]

I agree!!! These two should be on television and have their own show!!!!

[@karenrollf5302]

Oh my word!!! My home! It sure has grown up…too much. When y’all were at Vancent, you were at the bottom of Deskins mountain, my dads home place( my maiden name is Deskins). We also owned Deskins supermarket & the Deskins’s apartments at the foot of the mountain. I’ve never seen a vertical Wal Mart before but Grundy has one! Only because they couldn’t blast the mountain anymore so they were kinda forced to build up. Watching your video brought a tear to my eyes. I miss Grundy, the mountain, Richlands, Vancent & my kin folk that is still very deeply rooted there. Gods country…..

[@jamierife7789]

This courthouse was completed in 1906 and then rebuilt after it was gutted in a big fire in 1915. The old town itself was torn down twenty years ago so that it could be "saved," as a result of decisions made in light of the devastating 1977 flood. In its place, an entire mountain was moved and a new town was built across the Levisa River, with the notorious "bridge to no where," centered on the world's only two-story Walmart with parking garage and escalators. Price tag: $200+ million.

[@michaelgarrity6090]

It seems like the population is bigger than just a thousand if I heard you right. It seems like a nice area. Enjoyed the tour.

[@buzsalmon]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! I like all of them but there was a good flow to this and I enjoyed the interaction between you two! Melody needs to be getting the coffee!

[@realappalachia]

she needs about 4 or 5 a day lol

[@buzsalmon]

@@realappalachia me too!

[@buzsalmon]

All of the Gundy tapes taken as a whole! I'll say it again....Good Job!

[@buzsalmon]

Did you two get married ?? You seem to be more relaxed and happy these days!!

[@buzsalmon]

@@realappalachia GOOD STUFF!!

[@joejago5231]

Dang the pizza looked good ,the whole video awesome thanks for the ride along

[@realappalachia]

the pizza was sooooo good, thanks for riding with us

[@marciabarton8150]

Great video. Enjoyed that. If I lived there, I would want to live up the hill somewhere away from the river. Very cool Walmart.

[@realappalachia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@talldude5841]

You both are so much fun to listen to. Most of my friends and family refuse to shop at Walmart. We shop at at local owned business instead. Just sayin. Love your shows.

[@realappalachia]

thanks so much, that was the first time i have been in a walmart since november. I am not a fan either

[@suzybailey-koubti8342]

I saw the store sign for Sayer Brothers. I worked for them in Logan, WV, as a buyer in the mid 1980’s. They had stores in VA and WV for years. Their father and uncles came from Damascus, Syria in the early 1920’s as peddlers in the coalfields. I remain a good friend to the daughter of Mr Sayer who lives in Charleston, WV.

[@realappalachia]

I remember the Sayer Brothers name but don't think I ever had a chance to go into one. Their famly must have had a fascinating backstory

[@tinaqueen7128]

thanks, I'm traveling to grundy in a few days, your Helpful🙂

[@realappalachia]

that is great, have a safe trip

[@joelchambers9505]

Great video on Grundy guys. I remember hearing about Grundy when I was a kid and we visited our relatives near and around Clintwood. The last time I went thru there from Michigan (2004), my brother and I were riding our motorcycles from "The Breaks" on our way to WV (to places I've seen you've been). I don't remember the Walmart back then. Until the next, you'all take care. Later.👍

[@realappalachia]

I think the Walmart was built a little bit after the last time you were through

[@thomastommy1192]

You guys should go to Daskins, Va and look around, lol. That's a Holler now. It's above Grundy heading towards Tazwell Virginia. It will be a memory you will never forget.

[@Lt_Tragg]

This area is so very interesting. Coal is key here. Look up the history of the now closed Grundy airport, and the nearby office center. And how the Feds shut it all down. Hat-tip to the coal companies for assisting in creating commerce and restoring the land for recreational use. Oh, the Elk Herd is NOT to be missed.

[@randykey5700]

Great video, I think that old service station that was on there at the first was a Pure Oil, the one to the right of the courthouse, keep up the great work, cool Walmart!

[@realappalachia]

ah yes, it was Pure Oil - not sure why that never comes back to me lol. Yes, the Walmart alone makes it worth the trip - a really fun experience, thanks!

[@kindnessmakesmesmile6583]

Really nice tour today!!! Love all your trips!!! I saw an interesting downtown pic there and I think I saw a Ben Franklin store! I remember the old Main streets of long ago and love seeing them. FABULOUS VIDEO, you guys!!!!!

[@realappalachia]

thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it

[@marciabarton8150]

I noticed the Ben Franklin store to. We had one in my hometown back in the day.

[@ting196]

Your commentary is the best part. Other notables of the area are the businessman 'Smiley' Ratliff, and the infamous Randy Newberry.

[@realappalachia]

Thanks so much, we mention Smiley Ratliff in our upcoming Hurley video

[@gregbutterfuss8590]

What a hilarious GLORIOUS video. Melody was on top of the comments today... "Don't you do me like that". "I might be a lil bit better at direction than you. That's horrible because I can get lost in a paper bag". "I ignore you half the time anyways so". And the winner is "I don't know how you can have dead space... You're just full of hot air all the time pumping out stuff". Sorry Shane maybe you should have got the pizza earlier. LOL Love you both, God bless!!!

[@realappalachia]

she is going to get put out on the side of the road one of these days lol

[@gregbutterfuss8590]

@@realappalachia you two are Glorious together. Btw I just finished watching "Believe", definitely worth the watch. Also, I do think there needs to be a 2 way camera on your drives.

[@philburnett50]

The blue roof station you showed, we got one just like it here in town it's called Texas Inn..Great hotdogs and Cheesey Western burgers ...

[@realappalachia]

that sounds great

[@kindnessmakesmesmile6583]

WOWWWW!!!! I love your funny conversations! Also, you have a different accent than we do in Oklahoma!!!!

[@realappalachia]

well, thank ya. I just got back from Oklahoma City and I know what you mean lol

[@realappalachia]

@@kindnessmakesmesmile6583 well, thank ya 😊

[@kindnessmakesmesmile6583]

@@realappalachia I bet Oklahoma City felt very flat lands after being in those mountains!!!!

[@realappalachia]

@@kindnessmakesmesmile6583 yes, that is exactly what I told my son, totally different than these mountains but still beautiful

[@marywagner5673]

Some great bluegrass music came out of Grundy Va!!

[@AshesDusttoDust]

Hey, someone from Grundy here! Grew up in the ol' town. Visiting the family, I didnt even knownthey closed down the huddle house next to the only inn ere' if yall havent been to el sombrero 10/10 would recommended. Right next to that walmart! But welcome to an old coal town.

[@realappalachia]

Very cool!

[@Julie-ms9ss]

Y.U.M. 🍕 🍕 🍕 Thank you for the drive through Grundy. You guys always give lots of interesting information on the places you visit. I’ve heard of that town before, but I’m not sure why. I’m not familiar with any of the famous people you mentioned. I don’t keep up with movies or tv shows. It’s always fun watching your videos. It’s sorta like I’m riding in your back seat. *** If I was in your back seat on this video, you could have let me hold the pizza. 😁. I’d save you each a piece.

[@realappalachia]

thanks for riding along just glad you weren't able to snatch any of the pizza 😉

[@Mercyme8934]

Thank you

[@Discovery_and_Change]

I received a letter saying to mail our vehicle's mileage information to an All State office in Grundy! Greetings from California.

[@realappalachia]

Dang that’s a long way away lol

[@rockycoyote]

That first gas station you pointed out may have been a Pure Oil Station that got its name when In 1920, Ohio Cities Gas Company's name changed to Pure Oil.

[@Coopdog-dp5eq]

That's what I was thinking. Plus the blue and white color combo.

[@realappalachia]

i do believe you are correct, it drives me crazy how i forget that every single time, thanks!

[@tribecca626]

Isn't there another styled gas station over in Welch ? I love them

[@realappalachia]

@@tribecca626 Welch has one the Mr. Shepherd used to run over on the end of town

[@bigjimslade6250]

I think one of the old photos from later in the video showed a Pure Oil sign on that same station

[@alfredreasor7288]

Nice video of Grundy today, but it was very different when I lived in Dante in the late 40's. What I remember was the Grundy Cattle Market !!! My Grandfather went there often and when I was just about 4 years old my Father let me go with Grandfather. He drove an old black pick-up truck that was almost completely shot. When we got to the Cattle Market, he took me inside to the auction pit and put me down and told me to wait for him. The auctioning went on for hours and I was very scared that I would be left there. Finally, he returned and picked me up and we left. Only years later, my Father told me he had concubines in all these cattle market towns and he had left me in the Cattle Market to go visit one of his local concubines in Grundy! This is a true story !

[@realappalachia]

love the story, sounds like a pretty wild cattle market

[@danielarmstrong9219]

I remember taking a curvy road through Vansant to get to Grundy. That was a long time ago.

[@realappalachia]

it is as curvy as ever lol

[@2771jojo]

I know the road, as my aunt lives in Vansant. There is a turn off by the post office to get to her place.

[@danielarmstrong9219]

@@2771jojo Oh okay. There was a 100 year flood on November 4 or 5th, 1985 in most of Virginia and West Virginia when Hurricane Juan stalled out over the region. Parts of Southwest Virginia didn’t see the flooding that the rest of the Commonwealth did.

[@Perfectly-Imperfect]

W0W...I got married the first time in Grundy, VA lol

[@diannakeen5535]

The Christian bookstore in Richlands was Fisherman's Net. I worked there 8 1/2 years! 😊

[@realappalachia]

BLESS YOU, I know that name as well as my own and it totally left my mind lol

[@jeremycox571]

Thought the 3 level Walmart was interesting just recently moved to Kentucky so always interested in seeing and hearing about this state

[@savagenomore]

I remember Grundy before the new road and Walmart, I have run commercial wholesale delivers in the Appalachian area for many years, I remember a lot of the places were only small two lane roads.

[@AnnC....]

The mountains are beautiful

[@tonydunfordtd]

I miss home so bad I live in Tennessee now lived here since others 12 but home is where I was born and raised and I was raised to true West Virginia and Mom and Dad thank God I'm a country boy

[@judypierce7028]

What a neat Walmart!!

[@glenbo2464]

Reminds me of the song "Sold" by John Michael Montgomery. lol Nothing compares to the peacefulness of the mountains. I live on the west coast and its so busy and over populated here.

[@realappalachia]

Melody sang that song off camera while going there, she doesn't like when i show her singing lol

[@angelasmith7719]

Well dang, now we have to go to Grundy to see the Walmart AND to have some of that pizza!! I agree with Melody, I gotta get that cart on the escalator!! 😂😂

[@realappalachia]

you wont regret it 😀

[@bradlane3662]

I live in Welch. Almost died of Covid in December of 2020 which permanently disabled me. Before that the last 34 years of my working life I delivered textile products in 6 counties in southern WV and Tazewell, Buchanan, and Russell counties in VA. This video brought a sentimental tear to my eyes. I delivered to Dotson's Drive In, the hospital, etc. Some mighty good people down there. Thanks so much for the video!

[@realappalachia]

Sorry to hear covid took you down so hard, thanks for the kind words

[@bradlane3662]

@@realappalachia Thanks so much!

[@heatherevans3064]

Yall need to do a video on A.Sugar Grove, VA. or B. Mouth of Wilson, Va.!!!

[@stevewebb1652]

Great video

[@realappalachia]

Thank ya, Steve

[@BChandlerBaxter]

I live in Marion (VA). Have you all done a video on Marion yet? If not you should!

[@realappalachia]

Not yet but we sure will! - Melody

[@mikedeskins3305]

My great grandfather John Witten Deskins came from Grundy, Buchanan Co. was superintendent of schools 1889 -1895, chairman of the Republican party 1897, served as deputy clerk for the circuit court in 1909 during the murder trial of Howard Little. Moved out to Washington State in the early '30's retired from the logging business around Lebam WA. John Witten's oldest brother Stephan Rush Deskins a confederate, a private in Capt. Jackson Horse Artillery Brigade, absent for muster and reported "missing since fight at Moorefield W. Va Aug 7th 1864" as reported on the Company Muster Rolls April 30th-Oct 31st 1864. My grandfather Arthur Nelson Deskins Sr. was born in Grundy Va. too 1888. Thanks for the tour of Grundy, and Buchanan Co. I often imagine what my ancestors home state and hills looked like, now I know. Michael J. Deskins WA. State

[@2771jojo]

There is video on Facebook about Grundy, and the flooding issues that lead to the Army Corp of Engineers going in making the necessary changes to eliveate the problems they had. I believe the video is called the Raising Grundy.

[@realappalachia]

we'll have to check that out, thanks for the heads up

[@2771jojo]

@@realappalachia The video is also on KZbin, and it's called: We remember Grundy. Maybe easier to find on there.

[@2771jojo]

Whenever I have been there in recent years, we always got our pizza at Bellicino's. And El Sombrero is great Mexican food.

[@realappalachia]

@@2771jojo I forgot they had a Bellacino's

[@clayman478]

I graduated with Jama Mays and had drama class with her. Nice girl

[@walterlangston4484]

they have been doing some deep cuts near Mullens for the new hiway

[@pji4994]

Been to Grundy. Remember a McDonalds on top of a hill. Mid-90’s.

[@mikeanderson7165]

The Walmart is really cool to👍🏻

[@realappalachia]

one of a kind

[@clayman478]

I was working at the Movie Gallery when that shooting happened. Students were running down the street

[@jjdillon2007]

I haven't seen a TCBY in ages, at least here in the Baltimore, MD area.

[@jessicarightmire5807]

I am from Grundy va and moving back that way

[@hillbillyheaven9508]

Shane when you were there in Grundy of you ever heard of Howard Lovell or Woody Lovell Howard was my Papa and was a coal mine foreman there from the 30s to the 60s Woody worked at the Hatfield funeral home, there sister married a Hatfield, my mama was a Blackburn from Pike county Kentucky both a buried in the Blackburn family cemetery

[@TimSmith-uc4pk]

Is Waltons Mnt. In Skylar Virginia? Sorry about the spell check.

[@audramatney1148]

My family was from grundy and moved to Richlands

[@jjdillon2007]

Coffee is life! I drink a pot a day! 😀😊