I was born in Norton Va, way back in 1966,and I lived in Big Stone Gap up until I turned 19..I then moved to Charleston,SC were I have lived the last 30 plus years.I Just wanted to thank you for bringing Appalachia to life, and sharing it's beauty with those that have never experienced it..I was literally in tears watching my hometown because I have not been there in 20 years..After my father passed I stopped visiting however, my heart is attached to that beautiful valley and one day in the near future I will take my son to visit..I told my husband about your channel,and I said finally someone pronounced Appalachia the correct way ☺️..I can relate to so many things like the coal mines because my uncle's, and grandfather were also hard working miners..One thing that I miss about living in mountains is the snow..I know people will think that's crazy but I loved it as a child and I would love to experience another White Christmas..I could go on and on but I will stop now..Thank you again,and have a blessed day..
Thanks so much for the kind words, Judy, your comment made our day. We love reading the great memories of the area. We will always pronounce Appalachia correctly lol
Thank you so much for this video Shane. I was almost in tears watching it as I spent so many happy days with my grandmother who lived there. My mother grew up in Big Stone and my father grew up in Appalachia and Stonega. I always loved that little town and God willing one day I might live there. I refer to Big Stone as a modern day Mayberry which I am sure you two would agree. Anyway thank you again as I know I will watch this video many times
Thank you for these videos. You drove by my father’s cemetery, my aunt put Elizabeth Taylor to sleep for her chicken bone removal. It’s like stepping back in time in the most lively way:)
Lived there, worked there (Lonesome Pine Hospital 1973-1980), played there and left a part of my soul there. One of my sons lives there now. So many stories...
Thank you for sharing. Big Stone Gap is where my grandparents and many aunts and an uncle were born and raised before moving up to Indiana in 1944. My wife and I lived in Bristol, VA for about two years while I called on KVAT. We were able to make couple trips out to Big Stone Gap and Norton a couple times and have made one trip since being back up north. Unfortunately, the older generation is passing on, so gathering info on our family is tough. We are enjoying your channel.
Patrick Wilson is from Florida. The Tampa Bay area. His dad was a news caster and he and Patrick's mom used to sing locally. Lots of Hymns, old songs, etc.👍💕I thought they had Virginia roots.💕
Hello Shane and Melody! I live in Richmond. I used to motorcycle tour in southwest VA, eastern WV, eastern KY, east TN, and western NC. I’ve ridden extensively in most of the places you highlight. I sold all of my motorcycle stuff in Jan ‘22. I loved touring this region. It is so beautiful and so relaxing. Now I just watch your videos to continue to “tour” this region. This is definitely God’s country. Shane, I also would watch your videos (pre-Melody) looking for new towns to ride through. I’m a hobby junkie and touring this region was my all-time favorite hobby. The cool thing about your videos is that it gives me a way to continue to “tour” this region. Shane I have no idea how you ever had the idea to turn this into a TH-cam channel, but I’m thankful you did.
Loved the addition of a camera person. It gave the video a different look. I myself loved it and look forward to your videos. Thank you to you both!!!!
Very peaceful and beautiful town. You can tell everyone who lives there takes pride in that city. So many important people came from there. Merry Christmas you two.
Town is ate up with meth heads bad cops will turn a blind eye to it cause the courts it's an open door but they'll waste no time pulling you over for loud exhaust on sports car or window tent
Thanks for the great work u 2 put into the vedios. Every time I see Melody and u come on, ALL I can do is smile😃😁 and u have an angel there😇 Merry Christmas🎄🙏for u 2 as travel
Steve Earle wrote a song called Hillbilly Highway…I love Adrianna Trigiani books! Shane, you are such a gentleman. When y’all were walking down the sidewalk, you let Melody walk on the inside, just like a true Southern Gentleman! Melody is just precious! Thank you for showing us around your part of Appalachia! Merry Christmas y’all! 🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻
Merry Christmas, Mia, we appreciate you and your kind words. We were very happy to have Adriana Trigiani comment on our Facebook account when we shared this video there, we are both big fans of her work.
What a beautiful little town♥ Of all the Christmas trees, I liked the Pepsi one :-) RIP to the officer who lost his life, so sad, praying for his family.
Dwight Yoakum's family went north on Route 23 as many did. Dwight graduated from High School in Columbus, OH. The United Mine Workers was formed in Columbus, OH in 1890 after organizing in Southern Ohio mines.
This was awesome guys! Loved seeing all the pretty things Big Stone Gap has to offer. Y'all don't know it, but once again y'all helped me thru another nerve-wracking painful night! Hugs & blessings from VA! Y'all stay safe! 🙏🎄🎅
What a great video,I'm enjoying these so much, old guy in Maine originally from Alexandria, these videos make me want to move to southwest Virginia! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT Christmas.
I love to ride along on your Appalachian Sojourns. It was a beautiful day. Stone Gap looks to be pretty prosperous. I hope you'all have a Merry Christmas. Don't catch the 'rona. It's getting kinda bad out there.
Good Video I found it interesting that on the History Channel’s TV Show, “The Men Who Built America” It has a scene where J.P. Morgan was shown in his office and there was a newspaper lying on his desk, and in big bold print it read, “Big Stone Gap Va.” I don’t know the connection but Westmoreland Coal Company had a mine with the same name as JP Morgan’s middle name, which I don’t know how spell. BTY Marry Christmas!!
Talking about Elizabeth Taylor and the chicken bone... I don't know who she is other than some actor, but I used to work for a guy from Wise named R.O. Goad. He raised miniature horses down in Whitesburg, TN where I'm from. And in his horse barn, he had a signed picture of her, and it was thanking him for being the one who threw her in the car and drove her to the hospital when she choked! lol
Robert Hill- I never did ask him or Ruth where Ossie came from! He and George L were both good guys. George L would come down to run the farm whenever R.O. had to go out of town. They always treated me like family. I miss them all!
@@roberthill1400 yes it is! I've not heard from any of them since R.O. died many years ago. I assume Dana, Tank, and Robbie probably still live up that way.
What a beautiful little town, and the scenery is just stunning. I can’t imagine having that scenery out your window 💕 I see you showed a wee little clip of the restaurant food. How was it , and what did you get ?
A few years ago so graciously took a friend to Washington DC for a funeral and on the way back to my former hometown Big Stone Gap stopped in the visitor center to see if they had the restroom and ended up in handcuffs thanks for the police chief and there was a mediately let go for no reason got to love small-town crooks
Hello Shane & Melody, First of all I enjoy your videos and I'm also a subscriber to your channel. I have a small suggestion, would you please consider listing in your title exactly what state you are. When you mention a county like the fair you attended, I had no idea if you were in Va, W. Va or Tennessee. Please don't take this as criticism, it just would be nice to know what state you are reporting from. Thank you for your time. Also how about a story about you and Melody ??
thanks for the suggestons. Melody and I are planning to do a couple of videos from our hometowns in the next year to give more of a look at our backgrounds and upbringing. It is more complicated than it might seem because it is pretty personal plus the pressure of doing justice by our hometowns.
I worked in the Lonesome Pine Hospital in the late 80s and the OR nurses told me that Liz Taylor's physical appearance at the time left much to be desired. She had many highs and lows in her tumultuos life. RIP
05:14 The Cemetery on the left is the only time I have seen the graveyard where my Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Great-Great-Grandparents some Great-Aunts & Great-Uncles, et all are buried in 30 years. My Grandfather was murdered there in his home on Stone Mountain in 1990. The whole thing was a huge mess because he was a building contractor and it took almost a week for the police to catch the 2 who did it and my family was completely unprepared for all that. As ya'll probably know families either come together in situations like that or fight...mine came together and then went to WW3 against each other. One of the only things I got to do was pick out his gravestone and what was on it. He had just been visiting me in Florida the month before his murder and I "was his favorite Grandkid" (I believe that in this case but he was a BSer). Although all of his 5 children all stood around looking mean and rolling their eyes when he came to Florida for his 70th Birthday, I got him to do one of his famous family tricks and stand on his head for his 70th Birthday. I was able to incorporate a man standing on his head, one of his favorite phrases "Sh*t Happens" and some other eccentricities of his onto that gravestone. It's kind of hidden but easy to see if you're looking. 😂 My family doesn't want to go there anymore after we all went to the trial of the men that murdered him, his 2nd Wife Evelyn died and then my Great-grandmother died. So I haven't been in those parts in 30 years now. Wow, time flies but Big Stone Gap stays the same.❤
Beautiful Town, except for the Five Gee Tower.seems they are popping up like mushrooms all over the united States. Regardless,another sunny day for you two. Very nice indeed.🇺🇸👍
I was born in Norton Va, way back in 1966,and I lived in Big Stone Gap up until I turned 19..I then moved to Charleston,SC were I have lived the last 30 plus years.I Just wanted to thank you for bringing Appalachia to life, and sharing it's beauty with those that have never experienced it..I was literally in tears watching my hometown because I have not been there in 20 years..After my father passed I stopped visiting however, my heart is attached to that beautiful valley and one day in the near future I will take my son to visit..I told my husband about your channel,and I said finally someone pronounced Appalachia the correct way ☺️..I can relate to so many things like the coal mines because my uncle's, and grandfather were also hard working miners..One thing that I miss about living in mountains is the snow..I know people will think that's crazy but I loved it as a child and I would love to experience another White Christmas..I could go on and on but I will stop now..Thank you again,and have a blessed day..
Thanks so much for the kind words, Judy, your comment made our day. We love reading the great memories of the area. We will always pronounce Appalachia correctly lol
Thank you so much for this video Shane. I was almost in tears watching it as I spent so many happy days with my grandmother who lived there. My mother grew up in Big Stone and my father grew up in Appalachia and Stonega. I always loved that little town and God willing one day I might live there. I refer to Big Stone as a modern day Mayberry which I am sure you two would agree. Anyway thank you again as I know I will watch this video many times
Shane AND Melody
We are so glad you enjoyed it, I am glad it blessed you and we definitely agree it is a modern day Mayberry
My grandmother also lived there, miss it quite a bit
Thank you for these videos. You drove by my father’s cemetery, my aunt put Elizabeth Taylor to sleep for her chicken bone removal. It’s like stepping back in time in the most lively way:)
That is great to hear
My grandmother was working at the hospital when they brought Elizabeth Taylor in after her chicken bone accident..
#metoo
Lived there, worked there (Lonesome Pine Hospital 1973-1980), played there and left a part of my soul there. One of my sons lives there now. So many stories...
Thank you for sharing. Big Stone Gap is where my grandparents and many aunts and an uncle were born and raised before moving up to Indiana in 1944. My wife and I lived in Bristol, VA for about two years while I called on KVAT. We were able to make couple trips out to Big Stone Gap and Norton a couple times and have made one trip since being back up north. Unfortunately, the older generation is passing on, so gathering info on our family is tough. We are enjoying your channel.
I just moved here in April 2022 and still learning. I like it the people are very calm and respectful and helpful
Patrick Wilson is from Florida. The Tampa Bay area. His dad was a news caster and he and Patrick's mom used to sing locally. Lots of Hymns, old songs, etc.👍💕I thought they had Virginia roots.💕
Hello Shane and Melody! I live in Richmond. I used to motorcycle tour in southwest VA, eastern WV, eastern KY, east TN, and western NC. I’ve ridden extensively in most of the places you highlight. I sold all of my motorcycle stuff in Jan ‘22. I loved touring this region. It is so beautiful and so relaxing. Now I just watch your videos to continue to “tour” this region. This is definitely God’s country. Shane, I also would watch your videos (pre-Melody) looking for new towns to ride through. I’m a hobby junkie and touring this region was my all-time favorite hobby. The cool thing about your videos is that it gives me a way to continue to “tour” this region. Shane I have no idea how you ever had the idea to turn this into a TH-cam channel, but I’m thankful you did.
Beautiful scenery and town. 👍👏 I wouldnt mind living there.
Loved the addition of a camera person. It gave the video a different look. I myself loved it and look forward to your videos. Thank you to you both!!!!
Thanks so much 😊
I worked in Big Stone Gap for a few years. Beautiful little town.
Very peaceful and beautiful town. You can tell everyone who lives there takes pride in that city. So many important people came from there. Merry Christmas you two.
Merry Christmas to you too
Town is ate up with meth heads bad cops will turn a blind eye to it cause the courts it's an open door but they'll waste no time pulling you over for loud exhaust on sports car or window tent
Thanks for the great work u 2 put into the vedios. Every time I see Melody and u come on, ALL I can do is smile😃😁 and u have an angel there😇 Merry Christmas🎄🙏for u 2 as travel
Thank you so much 😀 Merry Christmas, Carl
Steve Earle wrote a song called Hillbilly Highway…I love Adrianna Trigiani books!
Shane, you are such a gentleman. When y’all were walking down the sidewalk, you let Melody walk on the inside, just like a true Southern Gentleman! Melody is just precious!
Thank you for showing us around your part of Appalachia!
Merry Christmas y’all! 🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻
Merry Christmas, Mia, we appreciate you and your kind words. We were very happy to have Adriana Trigiani comment on our Facebook account when we shared this video there, we are both big fans of her work.
I love that ol’ Steve earl song too! Thanks you guys!
What a beautiful little town♥ Of all the Christmas trees, I liked the Pepsi one :-) RIP to the officer who lost his life, so sad, praying for his family.
You and Melody share a love for the Pepsi :). Yes, the loss of Officer Chandler was devastating to the town
Dwight Yoakum's family went north on Route 23 as many did. Dwight graduated from High School in Columbus, OH. The United Mine Workers was formed in Columbus, OH in 1890 after organizing in Southern Ohio mines.
Love him. Music & acting. He was so good in Ken Burn’s doc on Country Music.
I finally got the chance to see him a few years ago and he was fantastic
@@realappalachia Very lucky 🍀
Looks so pretty behind you. Museum is decorated so nice. 🎄
This was awesome guys! Loved seeing all the pretty things Big Stone Gap has to offer. Y'all don't know it, but once again y'all helped me thru another nerve-wracking painful night! Hugs & blessings from VA! Y'all stay safe! 🙏🎄🎅
I'm so sorry to hear you are still dealing with those pain issues, we are praying for you. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks again for a fabulous video! As always we enjoyed! Y’all have a Very Merry Christmas!
We wish you and Dena and your family the merriest of Christmases too
What a great video,I'm enjoying these so much, old guy in Maine originally from Alexandria, these videos make me want to move to southwest Virginia! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT Christmas.
Glad you like them! Merry Christmas to you too, Greg
I’ve had the pleasure of reading the book series by Adriana Trigiani and I’m thrilled to visit here with y’all.
That's fantastic, she really represents the area well. We were happy to find out she saw and liked our video.
I went to school with Adriana and her brothers and sisters..
Very beautiful area! I remember the jones brothers well.... great football players....
I love the way she talk
Y’all getting big time had your on Photographer🤩. Thank y’all for another great video
Our pleasure!
I live in a small town in NC with a population of 280 as of 2020. Yes, I said 280. All of these towns and gaps you show look like a step up for me.
Great videos I love them .
Thank you
From a person who's never been there, and unfortunately never will, thanks for these great videos, kids
Glad you enjoy them, Dave
Thumbs up cousin love to both God bless
God bless you too sir
I love the movie to I made have to watch it again. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
I love to ride along on your Appalachian Sojourns. It was a beautiful day. Stone Gap looks to be pretty prosperous. I hope you'all have a Merry Christmas. Don't catch the 'rona. It's getting kinda bad out there.
thanks so much. Merry Christmas to you too!
I never heard of this history of Big Stone Gap. Very interesting. Thanks for this video. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, James!
I love to visit places, but can't get out to do much of that any more. Going along with you a;ll really helps. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Ellen, thanks for riding along with us
Really cool video, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Dang, somehow I missed this. I love Big Stone Gap, y'all should come visit the Woodcarving show in the fall. 👍
Thank you for the video!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tour!! Merry Christmas Shane and Melody!
Merry Christmas, Brenda!
Another great video, thank you. Best wishes and Merry Xmas from upstate N.Y.!
Merry Christmas to you too, Sierra, thanks so much!
u was in jonesborough (my current town) now in my born and raised big stone! Still have my house there. awesome
So cool! We got you twice in a week lol
Good Video I found it interesting that on the History Channel’s TV Show, “The Men Who Built America” It has a scene where J.P. Morgan was shown in his office and there was a newspaper lying on his desk, and in big bold print it read, “Big Stone Gap Va.” I don’t know the connection but Westmoreland Coal Company had a mine with the same name as JP Morgan’s middle name, which I don’t know how spell. BTY Marry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you too, I didn't know about the J.P. Morgan info but that sounds awesome.
"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine": Can't hear this phrase without thinking of Laurel and Hardy in Way Out West!
The post office actually is a federal court upstairs.
Talking about Elizabeth Taylor and the chicken bone... I don't know who she is other than some actor, but I used to work for a guy from Wise named R.O. Goad. He raised miniature horses down in Whitesburg, TN where I'm from. And in his horse barn, he had a signed picture of her, and it was thanking him for being the one who threw her in the car and drove her to the hospital when she choked! lol
Now THAT is an awesome comment - from what I remember from the time, she was almost a goner so they really did save her life
RO Goad also called “Ossie” was a great guy. He sold tires in Norton for years. I lived close to his brother George L. Goad.
Robert Hill- I never did ask him or Ruth where Ossie came from! He and George L were both good guys. George L would come down to run the farm whenever R.O. had to go out of town. They always treated me like family. I miss them all!
@@emtiv334 glad to talk to you! George L’s granddaughter delivers my mail in Big Stone. It’s still a small word!
@@roberthill1400 yes it is! I've not heard from any of them since R.O. died many years ago. I assume Dana, Tank, and Robbie probably still live up that way.
Thanks for sharing!
glad you enjoyed it!
Very nice video....MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Merry Christmas
What a beautiful little town, and the scenery is just stunning. I can’t imagine having that scenery out your window 💕
I see you showed a wee little clip of the restaurant food. How was it , and what did you get ?
the food was fantastic at Curklin's, I think we both had sirloin tips and they made some amazing mac n' cheese too
A few years ago so graciously took a friend to Washington DC for a funeral and on the way back to my former hometown Big Stone Gap stopped in the visitor center to see if they had the restroom and ended up in handcuffs thanks for the police chief and there was a mediately let go for no reason got to love small-town crooks
Hello Shane & Melody, First of all I enjoy your videos and I'm also a subscriber to your channel. I have a small suggestion, would you please consider listing in your title exactly what state you are. When you mention a county like the fair you attended, I had no idea if you were in Va, W. Va or Tennessee. Please don't take this as criticism, it just would be nice to know what state you are reporting from. Thank you for your time. Also how about a story about you and Melody ??
thanks for the suggestons. Melody and I are planning to do a couple of videos from our hometowns in the next year to give more of a look at our backgrounds and upbringing. It is more complicated than it might seem because it is pretty personal plus the pressure of doing justice by our hometowns.
Hugs!
My dad grew up i Big Stone Gap.
You all do put out some good videos.
I worked in the Lonesome Pine Hospital in the late 80s and the OR nurses told me that Liz Taylor's physical appearance at the time left much to be desired. She had many highs and lows in her tumultuos life. RIP
I am in Stephens city VA now
merry christmas and happy new year shane and melody
Merry Christmas, John
I did leave Appalachia in 1960.
👍👍
05:14 The Cemetery on the left is the only time I have seen the graveyard where my Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Great-Great-Grandparents some Great-Aunts & Great-Uncles, et all are buried in 30 years.
My Grandfather was murdered there in his home on Stone Mountain in 1990.
The whole thing was a huge mess because he was a building contractor and it took almost a week for the police to catch the 2 who did it and my family was completely unprepared for all that. As ya'll probably know families either come together in situations like that or fight...mine came together and then went to WW3 against each other.
One of the only things I got to do was pick out his gravestone and what was on it.
He had just been visiting me in Florida the month before his murder and I "was his favorite Grandkid" (I believe that in this case but he was a BSer).
Although all of his 5 children all stood around looking mean and rolling their eyes when he came to Florida for his 70th Birthday, I got him to do one of his famous family tricks and stand on his head for his 70th Birthday.
I was able to incorporate a man standing on his head, one of his favorite phrases "Sh*t Happens" and some other eccentricities of his onto that gravestone. It's kind of hidden but easy to see if you're looking. 😂
My family doesn't want to go there anymore after we all went to the trial of the men that murdered him, his 2nd Wife Evelyn died and then my Great-grandmother died. So I haven't been in those parts in 30 years now.
Wow, time flies but Big Stone Gap stays the same.❤
At 3:05 the coach house is on your left the brick building. The road you turned on and turned back around on at 6:20 was heading to East stone gap.
Beautiful Town, except for the Five Gee Tower.seems they are popping up like mushrooms all over the united States. Regardless,another sunny day for you two. Very nice indeed.🇺🇸👍
thank you
I think you passed by Powell Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery. I have a brother in law buried there.. haven’t been there in a few years.
Sorry, that was Glencoe cemetery. Powell Valley cemetery is between Big Stone and Norton on Powell Valley road.
My grandmother is buried in the cemetary.
At around 3:06-3:08 if you pause The Coach House was on the left at the bottom of the hill I believe.
Thank you!!
your gas is cheaper! In Gilbert, AZ gas is somewhere between $3.65-$3.99
My momma is from BigStone
My momma still has her Jack Rock
You in my stomping grounds now
At one point I got a little scared. A few times someone was following you two and recording you. Lol.
zat you Santy Claus??? lol
Wait…..who was the 3rd person holding the camera?
we are working on a special project and it was a friend of ours with us for the day to try a couple new things
@karen
Thts exactly what I was thinking....lol
It was diff...I liked it @real Appalachia 😊
STOP SIGNS!!!!!
A third person?
we have been working on a special project so we had a friend along with us for the day
Really? Stop signs are not suggestions. That and jumping cue are my pet peeves.
Stop signs
Lol.. wow car dealers have cars.. amazing
Big stone gap don't look bad .Appalachia not to good .I live in both town in 1950
Need to edit at 25:43 , you will get a fine in the mail lol
Hillbilly Highway.😅The Woke Folk would call it Appalachian- American Hwy😅🥰