Burke's Garden Virginia: Home of Appalachia Backcountry Amish & John Wayne

[@MountainRoots]

What about Burke's Garden?! Love hearing from y'all in the comments- where should we go next?

[@jeffbooks3253]

How about following the New River either in the upper reaches in NC or through Narrows int WV?

[@MountainRoots]

@@jeffbooks3253 plan on it, great suggestion!

[@robertbaldwin298]

When I was in the military, I would stray off the interstate just to drive through the beautiful farm country of Hillsville on my way home to Ohio I wish I had known of Burks Garden back then.

[@MountainRoots]

@@robertbaldwin298 Hillsville is quite beautiful as well!

[@thomasdausch8557]

I have been following you for awhile,, love the videos, keep up the great work,, i did subscribe,btw, i plan on spending some time in summer of 2023 in the virginia and wv area drive safe sir,, happy travels

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

What a beautiful area! I live in the middle of Michigan. Until recently, we did not live in the country, but always wanted to. We now have an Amish community near us, and this fall, a young Amish family bought the field behind our house from a nearby farmer. It's been fascinating to watch them building a house with attached barn. The man came to our house and introduced himself, and just before Christmas, he and his family delivered a present to us. His wife and baby were in the wagon in the drive, and his other two young children were with him on the back porch. We are looking forward to getting to know them. 😊 Beautiful video!

[@sharonharrison3611]

I'm also native American and German heritage. I was born in Tazewell but I grew up in Beltsville Maryland.

[@CountryProudAmerican]

Growing up in this area Burkes Garden has long been a popular site to visit camp or just spend the day hiking. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy.

[@charlesmiddleton3247]

Young man, you were brought to this earth to provide such a rewarding experience to others!! You have found your calling to humankind and are doing a wonderful job to all that follow you. Blessings and kindness are with you and forever! Thanks so much...

[@MountainRoots]

Very humbling & kind words, thank you! 😊

[@opathe2nd973]

I'm originally from Ohio near Old Order Amish. A friend had a farm in Amish country and we spent tons of time with them. My daughter was able to make many Amish friends and was allowed to see their church and school. You do such good work with this series, and now that I live in VA, I will go their and soak up memories you have stirred up. Thanks!!!

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome! Love the memories 😊

[@brendaz9222]

What lucky people to live in such a Beautiful place!!

[@smilingbob6708]

I live in NC but when I was a kid my aunt and uncle were the live in caretakers of Burkes garden. I got to spend a week there every summer. I always loved this place.

[@nancyharman4795]

I was born in Tazewell, but my family moved away when I was three years old. I'd heard of Burke's Garden all my life, and apparently went there once, when I was so young I scarcely remember the harrowing drive over the mountain! Then, in the summer of 2022, my cousin Jim Harman -- a long-time resident of Burke's Garden -- died, and I drove to his Celebration of Life service at the elementary school. The area was beautiful in real life, but I swear your video brought such incredible depth to my own experience! I appreciate the time and effort that you put into making this visual record -- thank you so much! I've gained an even fuller understanding of why Jim so loved living there. 😺💕🐾

[@dixiedeffendall8652]

This is my part of Virginia. Every time I cross the mountain to see my family I have the overwhelming sensation that my lifes electric plug has been plugged in tight. I'm super charged. As I watched your beautiful video, I named whose house, etc. as you passed by. The bulk of my immediate family lives there and thrives. I love it and all the people for sure. It is absolutely "God's Thumbprint"! Great job.....thankyou !

[@appalachianstacker3876]

Ms. Harman I was a good friend of your Cousin Jim. I moved to the Garden the summer of 97 and meet JIm soon after. He was quite the character. Became good friends. He was a fixture in this valley. He was a constant in my life and I do miss him very much. He was one of those type of people you could carry a conversation with for hours. He told me a lot of good stories of his life in the valley.

[@austinpatrick2682]

Awesome video! I'm from a couple counties over but I've worked in Burke's garden a lot over the last couple years. On a humid day the bowl of the mountains is wide enough that the opposite ridge from you is always blue. That's how massive this bowl is. I subscribe more so to the theory it was once a mountain that collapsed in on itself. Thinking along those lines and comparing the footprint of the ring as well as the shear slope of it on all sides and then comparing that to other massive mountains nearby like Whitetop mountain or Mount Rogers it seems it could've easily been the biggest mountain in the entire Appalachian range. Not only that, I wonder if it could've held a candle to the Rocky Mountains, or even the Himalayas. For sure, when visiting this place your heart just sort of slows down a couple paces, your senses perk up and you take it all in differently than anywhere else. My first time visiting I knew nothing of the place. But I could feel immediately how special it was. It's unmistakable. From the geology, to the history, to the culture, it just demands a feeling of awe when you arrive for the first time. Another interesting thing I've learned because of how the land lays is that Burke's garden is in an entirely different watershed from most of the land outside the ridge. On the inside the rain sheds to the New river, on most of the outside, the rain sheds to the Holston river. Burke's Garden is near the line I've drawn on the map vertically through Rural Retreat that I've personally dubbed "the great divide of Virginia", as all the water to the east (more locally the New river watershed)eventually finds the ocean, all the water to the west (mostly Holston river watershed) eventually finds the Mississippi and thus the Gulf of Mexico. Burke's garden is one of my favorite places to visit in my slice of the planet. For any locals that haven't visited, you just have to. It's a popular place for bikers and you can also rent bicycles at Mattie's place. Put it on your short list of places to visit, you won't regret it.

[@browningbelgium2326]

I was watching this video and asking myself why I never knew this place existed. You found a treasure tucked away for us to see. What a beautiful place. It seems almost cut off from the rest of the world, peaceful, and innocently protected from the ways of the world. It's like a place of rest for the weary that soothes the soul and lets you regain what's important that the world stole somehow. Thank you so much for taking us with you. Awesome!!

[@williamratcliffe7833]

I attended a “Blessing of the Bikes” at Burke’s Garden a few years ago…..Beautiful country.

[@MountainRoots]

Indeed it is, thanks for watching!

[@Susan.I]

I’d love to attend a service at the Lutheran Church.

[@erikpeterson25]

Thanks for this .....drove through Burkes Garden some years after seeing the valley ringed all around by mountains from the ridge above in 1995 on a 2000 plus mile hike on the Appalachain Trail....beautiful place 👍

[@corneliuswowbagger]

I am a geologist trained, among other areas, in Appalachian structural geology. I am also a fifth generation Virginian/West Virginian descendant of early settlers so regional history is important. A five times great uncle served in the Virginia assembly before the Revolution and his father was the first High Sheriff of Ohio County at Black’s Cabin, now West Liberty. Most of my career has played out in West Virginia having among other work created some of the latest bedrock maps of the New River Gorge. Ever since the first satellite images of the region Burke’s Garden stands out like the proverbial sore thumb. I have puzzled over it more than once and even traced the route in, but have never been there. This is an excellent introduction to both history and geology. The carbonate bedrock and the breached anticlinal dome structure would have been my initial working hypothesis if I had made it to Burke’s Garden in the past. Great video!

[@Joseph-lr3lt]

SIR: words can NOT express my deepest, greatest, sincere thanks for Your, knowledge, wisdom, & insight, of America's most MIS-understood ; culture , heritage,& traditional geography/ people. May The Lord , Thy God keep, & bless You.

[@MountainRoots]

That means a lot, thank you for commenting!

[@JeffinBville]

I last took that drive over the mountain and into Burke's Garden some 45 years ago.

[@ogamhunter]

Love the Drone shots, place sure brings back old memories! God Bless you! (Glen). SW.WV.

[@MountainRoots]

Love hearing that, thanks for the comment!

[@glennrubel4326]

Thanks for showcasing this beautiful area. I always wanted to explore this area, now more than ever.

[@MountainRoots]

It's stunning in all seasons! Thanks for watching 😊

[@bradjohnson6811]

James Burke (1698-1783) was my 7th Great Grandfather!! I'm really hoping to visit all the way from Kansas and thank you for sharing your journey!

[@jameswadlow549]

I've watched a number of your videos and enjoy them quite a bit. This one is especially good. This is one place I need to visit. Something about it really struck me. Anyway keep them coming. I'm looking forward to seeing some more. Thanks!

[@Tecumseh-rx5rn]

The Draper story is chronicled in a book called Follow The River by James Alexander Thom. The Thomas Ingles ordeal is chronicled in a book called That Dark and Bloody River by Allan W. Eckert.

[@Dj-ws9rj]

I always heard growing up Burke's garden called God's thumbprint! in sw va not far from there, beautiful area!!

[@susananderson5681]

What is that beautiful fiddle music near the end? So pretty...!

[@hotrod8809]

The Harman's were all over that area many, many years ago, probably still a bunch of them there, and now I know why they settled there. Hopefully one day I'll get to meet my kinfolk from that side of the state line

[@karenbrewer5864]

We have been there several times and it is a beautiful place especially in the Fall. You mentioned the cattle there, one of our trips was to buy a bull for our farm. His name is “Burkie”. It’s worth the trip.

[@georgenetroe2670]

This was absolutely your finest. Hollywood needs to watch your work. I don't know but this seems so perfect. Absolutely love it. You got fans waiting for the next one. What better than waiting for a bigfoot sighting. Waiting for Josh in his next Appalachia mountain series. Thank you GEORGE NETROE CHURCH VIEW VA

[@MountainRoots]

You're very kind, thank you so much!

[@loistabormerkey4145]

My parents lived in Burkes Garden. We would visit 1-2 times every year. It is a beautiful place.

[@williamjones9614]

I Guess because I grew up in Tazewell and to me Burkes Garden is common place, but your video I think does justice very well. It really is a great country setting, and I've met many tourists who were fascinated with it. To bad the Inn is closed down.

[@rainerluthershelley5131]

Thank you.

[@bessiemann7468]

Burke's Garden is beautiful I always heard it of God's thumb print

[@angelokomis1604]

Hi Josh I'm from Johannesburg, South Africa . Never subscribed to any channel except yours which I came upon yesterday. Really world class series, wish that you go from strength to strength. Lots of blessings my friend

[@MountainRoots]

Wow, thank you I really appreciate that! South Africa holds a special place in my heart as I have dear dear friends from there 😊

[@TheHallmarkQuartet]

I just came upon your videos today. I really enjoyed it! I will definitely look forward to seeing more! I'm live in Ironton, Ohio.

[@tonjaprice9]

This is one of the prettiest places I've every been!

[@Kegga_6]

Maddies place is great always like to get a burger and some farmers cheese when I go. Fall festival is nice too, the Amish bring out their homemade ice cream maker along with other baked and canned goods.

[@sandydeel400]

I absolutely loved this video. The way you present your videos makes me feel like I am right there along side you. Burke's Garden is such a beautiful place. It looks so clean, rich and fertile. Thanks for sharing such amazing history on this beautiful place. You do such a great job in your presentations of your work. Keep them coming.

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for the kind words, appreciate your support!

[@DJR100]

Interesting video. I live in east TN. There are some Burkes here that are related to the namesake of this valley. They spoke of visiting it periodically.

[@MrKurMudgen]

Beautiful country-

[@MountainRoots]

Absolutely!

[@stephenwhittier6439]

👍 thanks again

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@raymonddoyle8095]

My grandfather used to love to fish there and took me fishing there my first time

[@krispedersen2335]

Love the wood thrush in the opening overhead scene! My favorite birdsong.

[@MountainRoots]

You noticed! 😊

[@alysonrdiaz]

This video was so so good!!! You have such a talent, from the story telling to the visuals. I just get more impressed with you with each video you drop! I always look forward to your next video🤎

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for the feedback & encouraging words! Appreciate you watching 😊

[@lisacaulder514]

This place looks like Heaven to me. His bank Mike & I live in Brevard NC near Asheville. Planning to come up sometime this month and look around. Thanks. Will look at your series.

[@PatBackPatBack-x4n]

I have been trying to figure out your accent without success. I was born and raised in Eastern KY just over the hill from Pound, VA. Been thru lots of VA, but did not know of Burkes Garden, except as John Wayne's birthplace. Really enjoy your videos.

[@lanceroselle3644]

John Wayne is from Winterset, Iowa. He just happened to have an invested interest in that area, just as he did in Texas too. Enjoyed the backwoods hollow tour.

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you liked it!

[@bradlane3662]

Absolutely great video Josh! I never tire of the beauty of Burke's Garden. I was born in the wrong century for sure. I feel the connection to old Appalachia to my very soul! 20,000 subscribers. You are on your way! Thanks for another gem.

[@MountainRoots]

You and me both! Thanks for joining the journey!!

[@gregdelaney119]

So, after almost 65 years on the planet, I finally have an adequate visual representation of the adjective "bucolic". What a lovely and pastoral setting!

[@MountainRoots]

GREAT word for it!

[@catsmeow7839]

Very interesting as I too have Amish and Native A.

[@hikerx9366]

What a Utopia, a beautiful serene and natural landscape. I've watched videos of this place before and even walked the roads via Google Earth, but your journey and narration through Burkes Garden topped them all.

[@MountainRoots]

Whoa, thank you for the feedback!

[@clifftibbs7317]

love the videos thanks, my paw paw and granny were born and raised in burkes garden it is a beautiful place

[@wmcamember]

I was born there. My daddy was Bill Lambert. Marvin Meek married his cousin Ella. I love this place so much but rarely get to come to it. My name is Sally Lambert Turner. All my relatives are in the Lutheran Cemetery. This was an excellent video. When was it made?

[@MountainRoots]

Oct/Nov 2022

[@tommaddox6696]

Loved the tour especially the aerial views

[@MountainRoots]

So glad, thanks for watching!

[@karenwright8556]

Beautiful,just beautiful! Safe travels and God bless!

[@Gregulitus]

I am constantly amazed by the beauty you capture in these videos.

[@MountainRoots]

Truly, thank you for your comment.

[@dianerobertson4894]

Loved it. My friend and I may visit soon!

[@houstontxdave6876]

Wonderful episode on Burke's Garden, VA

[@terryrose6208]

The bird you heard at the beginning of the video is a Wood Thrush. My favorite of all birds.

[@MountainRoots]

You noticed!

[@terryrose6208]

@@MountainRoots It arrives about mid spring and migrates south very early fall. Some experts believe it is decreasing in numbers. By some standards not a pretty bird, but sings gloriously early morning and afternoon.

[@MountainRoots]

@@terryrose6208 Burke's Garden is a haven for rare/unusual birds- great place for bird watching!

[@terryrose6208]

@@MountainRoots Used to hunt at Burke's Garden many years ago. Yes, very beautiful area. I live about an hour from there in McDowell County West Virginia.

[@SallyMiller-ps4cn]

This was wonderful. Burke's Garden is beautiful. with a fascinating history.

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@echuck66]

Two things I remember about the Garden, that you didn’t cover, are the Hanes house and it’s history, and (perhaps a bit more obscure) the haunted stone house… great place.

[@MountainRoots]

More stories to tell! 😉

[@stefherman2375]

What a great video, unbelievable history

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching 😊

[@bobsemple2524]

You should consider visiting western maryland as it's one of the nicest places on earth i've ever lived or been as its also overlooked by most but is extremely beautiful

[@ilovebutterflies8181]

I have Fox ancestors who lived in Burke's Garden and are buried in the Lutheran cemetery there.

[@JacksonCreekOutdoors]

Great video. Excellent work

[@bevmaynard7700]

Very interesting,thanks for sharing

[@JessicaWilliams-bl1lz]

Thank you!

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@hellbilly6532]

Great episode

[@gingertom2768]

Very good video Thanks

[@jenniferryersejones9876]

Lovely! Thank you.

[@MountainRoots]

You're welcome!

[@demoisellesdoggroomingparl76]

Wow, this place is beautiful. I can’t believe I’ve never been there and it’s not far at all from me! Definitely going to check it out in person now after watching this!

[@MountainRoots]

Definitely need to!

[@cherylverhelst8245]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@almostthere6098]

Aww, I wanted to see the food/restaurant

[@briancorboy1042]

I love heading to burke's garden. Haven't been for a few years. Just subscribed to your channel and noticed you're in Newcastle. I'm in Pearisburg. Small world. Keep up the good work. I enjoy watching your videos.

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for watching!

[@billie-leelawhon3941]

Absolutely wonderful! Such a beautiful place that only God himself could create. More wonderful memories watching this. Thank you so much for the videos. God bless🙏 you and your family. Safe travels.❤️

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this episode and that it brings back such great memories 😊

[@dougwhiley4028]

West Virginia looks so similar to where I live in Tasmania, Australia.

[@MountainRoots]

This location is actually in Virginia, but very close to WV. I've heard others say this region reminds them of places in Australia & New Zealand though!

[@charlesanderson32]

My Girl Jamie Fugate was born and raised in Tazewell, Va.

[@thomasdausch8557]

All your videos are very good

[@MountainRoots]

Really appreciate that!

[@markakira8988]

Wow, the Ingles family could not catch a break. Our everyday problems are nothing compared to living in the past. My problem yesterday was my Amazon package was delayed. //The drone segments make this video far better than if it was just at ground level.

[@MountainRoots]

I'd day reality is a matter of perspective, thanks for watching!

[@MrG-ce6tb]

👍👍 great job. I. Live here in tazewell Virginia.

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@railstuff5433]

Thanks!

[@MountainRoots]

Really appreciate your support!!

[@truthseeker2222]

This place looks amazing. Great video!

[@MountainRoots]

It is, thanks for watching!

[@markweinstein-yn7le]

Fascinating series

[@johnd5244]

What a beautiful area so rich with history! Thanks for sharing Josh. 🙏🏻 Ps- kind of glad you ended it before we got to see probably some great food!😉

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for watching! Great place to grab a bite 😜

[@bradbeavers4379]

Great video! Im surprised you didn't include Sue Carr's ostriches or the camel farm and get a picture or two with Gus the camel haha

[@bettybarnett6994]

Beautiful❤️

[@reddsmorris7053]

I was there this summer and went up to Marries Place

[@redshorse]

Excellent ! Very watchable.

[@MountainRoots]

Awesome! Thank you 😊

[@sueyoung8697]

Beautiful land, I watched and have the movie about Mary Ingles, of course the movie is different then what u said about it, but I love history.

[@MountainRoots]

I plan on doing a future episode about her harrowing story.

[@jamesbower5995]

I grew up in Richlands, VA about 30 miles from Burkes Garden. Many people don’t know that there is a private airport in the valley VA07. My understanding is that it was originally built by the Hanes family when they owned a significant amount of land in the valley. Great video!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for the info, appreciate you watching too!

[@ilm-pd9hg]

It is a private runway on the Moore property; the brothers who built it were (are??) in the construction business and were from the Shenandoah Valley and in the 1970's they used to fly a two motor prop plane in occasionally. I grew up on a farm adjacent to that property (our farm has since been sold) and watched the plane land and take off then; their relatives may still use it.

[@Maria-yu1xq]

Beautiful and educational video. Thank you. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@MountainRoots]

Appreciate that, thank you for watching!

[@railstuff5433]

Excellent info and imagery!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you 😊

[@9MilNorm]

You know you’re of southern descent when you refer to your pawpaw.

[@ScannerJunkie]

Your soundtrack reminds me of Ken Burn' Civil war.

[@MountainRoots]

Interesting!

[@Fatboy.25]

Great videos. Keepem comin. My Hillbilly friend.

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoy them!!

[@KateCalifornia-r2q]

Amazing nature ❤

[@sandrahollie3458]

I'm from Mindev, WV. Coal mines poisoned the whole town. They've been fighting 30 years for the poison to be removed. Almost everyone in the town has cancer.

[@MountainRoots]

😔

[@vintagegq]

Hi - Love this channel. Can you do a visit to Chilhowie, VA & Marion, VA. Take hwy 16 south from Tazewell to I-81. My mother was born & raised in Chilhowie, descended from German Immigrants (Copenhaver) who settled there in 1632. My grandfather, John Mason, created Hungry Mother State Park. I would love for you to find more info about that for me. Also, can you do a presentation of the theatre in Marion that hosts local bluegrass bands & airs the concerts on TV? Your presentations make me want to move there. I currently live south of Ashville, N.C. Thanks.

[@MountainRoots]

That's some incredible family history! Marion is on the schedule, so keep an eye out in the coming weeks ahead. Thanks again for watching!

[@brookscarney]

Epic

[@boogiedaddy3434]

I grew up in Bluefield and I remember several years ago hearing (even in the newspaper) that the Amish families had left Burke's Garden. Did they not really leave? Did a new group move in?

[@MountainRoots]

Yes, they had moved out and about a generation later they now have a thriving community of a hundred or more persons there 😊

[@williamcollins2232]

God's Thumb Print And a mystery how it was made. GOOGLE..Arial Pictures..Wow!

[@MountainRoots]

Yes- wish I could've gotten higher to capture it all 😊

[@michaelgreen4183]

I'm fairly certain that we are cousins somewhere down the line. I had Harman ancestors who lived there in the 1700s.