Trips to Wytheville

sarahwilk24
Sep 24, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Aug 10

Skeeter's World Famous Hot Dogs

100 pieces | LEGO: 42633 (retired)

Assembled by Kristy Williams, July 2025

Interaction Rating: 5 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged)

September 22-24, 2023

To kick off their vacation to see their friends, Nena and Ryan, in Chattanooga, Sarah and Hunter road-tripped to Wytheville (where Sarah's maternal grandmother grew up) to camp for a couple of nights at a KOA. While setting up camp, Hunter quickly earned a reputation in the camp store for how many times he had to go in there looking for something else they forgot. They were helped by a sweet neighborhood cat named Kevin, who even let Hunter hold him and was around for much of the weekend (his usual hangout was inside the camp store). Hunter relished his fire time, and Sarah enjoyed her reading time. It rained much of the next day, so they watched a movie inside the tent and then ventured out to the downtown area of Wytheville. Hunter barely managed to get a world-famous "skeeter dog" from Skeeter's, which was only open for a few more minutes by the time they arrived. They browsed some of the shops that were open before returning to the campsite. It dried out enough for another fire. Kevin the cat helped them break down camp the next day, enjoying a baloney snack they gave him. They hit the road to continue their vacation in Chattanooga.

Hungry Mother

475 pieces | LEGO: 31137

Assembled by Sarah Wilkinson, March 2025

Interaction Rating: 5 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged)

May 7, 2024

Leading up to Sarah's sister, Emma's, graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University, the couple took a trip to Wytheville, Virginia, with Sarah's mom, Bonnie, and her brother, Seth, who was visiting from Arizona. Bonnie's Uncle Jack (her mom's brother) and Aunt Belle live in Wytheville, and their Cousin Sarah is in the process of taking ownership of the family farm. Their visit overlapped with one of her visits. They were all able to converge at Hungry Mother State Park for a picnic lunch on some covered tables by Hungry Mother Lake. It was Hunter's first time meeting Jack and Belle, who are in their late 70s/early 80s. Jack is the family historian, and Belle is a mixed-media artist. While they were catching up, two dogs that had gotten loose from their leashes ran up to them at their picnic area, followed shortly by two people chasing after them. The people chasing the dogs were not the dogs' owners, who couldn't be found. Animal Control was on the way. Hunter jumped up and tried to lure the dogs with crackers, which got the attention of one of them, who they caught. The other one got spooked and ran across the park. The group went back to enjoying their picnic, and it wasn't until later, after saying goodbye to Cousin Sarah, Jack, and Belle and walking through the park, that they found the same two people still looking for the dog. As they continued walking, the couple spotted the dog crossing a bridge to a small island in the middle of the lake, so they pursued it and ended up chasing the dog around a small pavilion until it became too scared and started swimming out into the lake. Animal Control finally arrived and took over the situation. Hunter recalls seeing the dog later, still wet from its swim, walking by himself, carrying his own leash next to the Animal Control worker, happy as could be.

The Log House

596 pieces | Givenni: G3203

Assembled by Hunter Williams, December 2024

Interaction Rating: 3 / 5 (interaction with the set is okay, but only with help from an adult)

May 7, 2024

After Hungry Mother, they visited Wyrick Springs, a natural spring where Sarah's mother played in the stream as a girl. The water is still clean enough these days to drink from. For dinner that evening, Sarah, Hunter, Bonnie, and Seth joined Cousin Sarah at one of Wytheville's most historic and revered restaurants, The Log House. It was built in 1776 and later transformed into a restaurant and shop. It was closed for a while in 2021 due to a fire that caused devastating damage, but was reopened by the time they visited in 2024. They enjoyed browsing the gift shop while waiting for their table. It was a unique mix of home decor, art, and toys. Seth and Hunter had fun trying on helmets with Greek and Prussian historical origins. They enjoyed southern fare at dinner, with baked potatoes for Sarah. Hunter was able to get to know Cousin Sarah and Seth a little better, since he doesn't often see them. It was a lovely time.

Big Walker Mountain

1,426 pieces | Funwhole: F9022

Assembled by Mike Alfare, January 2025

Interaction Rating: 3 / 5 (interaction with the set is okay, but only with help from an adult)

May 8, 2024

The next day, they drove to Big Walker Lookout Tower, the tallest point on the Big Walker Mountain National Scenic Byway. The tower is located next to the Big Walker Country Store, which they browsed before purchasing tickets and climbing the 100-foot tower. Hunter was not a fan of the tower, as it swayed in the wind the higher they rose, and he hates heights. Knowing the tower was 75 years old while also spotting the occasional broken or missing screw on the structure did not help, but he made it to the top. They could see mountainous green countryside stretching in every direction. Hunter stayed up long enough to be in some family photos and then descended a little to wait for Sarah (who is not afraid of heights and generally is thrilled by them). At the bottom, they crossed the swinging bridge that extends from the base of the lookout tower, which Hunter didn't mind because it was much closer to the ground. Later, they took a driving tour of Jack and Belle's family farm, which Cousin Sarah is in the process of transforming into an active farm with agricultural and animal husbandry operations.

Photos, taken mainly by Hunter (obviously) from their camping trip with Kevin the cat.

Photos from Wyrick Springs and Hungry Mother State Park. Bottom photo from left to right: Sarah, Bonnie, Cousin Sarah, Belle, Jack, Seth. Hunter was taking the photo.

Hunter trying on a Greek helmet, and Seth trying on a "picklehaube," a helmet that originated in Russia that German and Prussian soldiers wore during the 1800s-1900s at the Log House's bizarre and fun gift shop. Photos of the Log House, including the fire damage.