When Eden Hamby walks out the front door of the Wilkes Heritage Museum — housed within the 1902 county courthouse building — time seems to unfold before her. From the stately building, with its Classical Revival columns and pediments, Hamby looks out at historic homes mixed alongside newer buildings and, in the distance, Blue Ridge Mountains.
“I get a feeling of peacefulness and togetherness,” Hamby says, the museum’s special events and volunteer coordinator. “I was born here, and my family has lived here since the 1700s. We still have a strong sense of community. People do nice things for each other and value one another.”
Especially this year, as Wilkes County joins the nation’s America 250 celebrations, locals have plenty of reasons to embrace their town — and welcome visitors to join the fun. From Friday evening to Sunday morning, read on for a history-steeped weekend in Wilkes County.
Follow tour guide Mya Baynes to Wilkesboro’s quintessential food destinations, like Liberty Theatre. Photography courtesy of Wilkes County Tourism
When 17-year-old Wilkesboro native Mya Baynes travels with her family, she loves to explore the local restaurant scene. “But you only have so many meals when you’re on vacation, so you’re limited to how many places you can go,” she says. That’s how the idea for Blue Ridge Food Tours — a three-hour, history-buff-meets-foodie exploration — got its start.
To explore Wilkesboro like an epicurean, book your ticket for Baynes’s Friday evening tour. The adventure starts at 4 p.m., typically at Dom Bakeries. That’s where she shares some of her favorite history about local geography, like how North Wilkesboro got its start.
“In the 1890s, the people of Wilkesboro were trying to get a train to come and bring infrastructure and more jobs,” she explains. “But when the train tracks finally came in, they just stopped across the river from Wilkesboro, and a new town was started.”
She and her companions often move from Dom Bakeries to Tripp’s Mercantile, not for snacks but to look around at the handmade merchandise from local vendors and artisans. Their next stop: C’est la Vin for wine flights and charcuterie or 6th and Main Restaurant, a fine-dining restaurant housed within a historic home. “Then we go to Key City Antiques, which is so cool,” Baynes says. “We stop in at Liberty Theatre to get their world-famous popcorn, and we end at The Lost Wombat” — a restaurant, tavern, and backyard hangout in North Wilkesboro’s social district.
Liberty Theatre gives Baynes another chance for a good story. “Now, this hasn’t been officially confirmed,” she says, “but Elvis Presley once came to Wilkesboro to buy a horse, and when he saw the stage, he decided to give an impromptu performance later in the evening.”
Once you get the lay of the land, retire to your cozy vacation rental or hotel to rest up for tomorrow.
After a hearty breakfast at The 50’s diner — get the French toast — stroll around downtown Wilkesboro, where historical sites are part of everyday life.
Start at The Book Room, a cozy bookstore about a two-minute walk from the Wilkes Heritage Museum. Owned by two sisters, the shop in a quaint cottage sells new and used books.
Take a moment of reflection in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s cemetery. Photography courtesy of Wilkes County Tourism
From there, walk to one of Wilkesboro’s tucked-away treasures, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Inside the church sanctuary, two frescoes from the world-famous artist Ben Long are on display. Take an audio tour to learn more about the art of fresco painting and the inspiration behind these masterpieces.
“The church campus is beautiful, with big trees that make it a shady spot to walk around,” Hamby says. “A lot of prominent people from our town’s history are buried in that cemetery.” Look for the grave of George Gordon, a Revolutionary soldier who famously fought at Kings Mountain alongside the Overmountain Men and eloped with Sarah Herndon, a member of one of Wilkes County’s prominent early families, against her family’s wishes.
Continue your dive into history with a self-guided tour at the Wilkes Heritage Museum. Be sure to see the Tory Oak exhibit, a witness to the site where Benjamin Cleveland, aka “Old Roundabout” and the “Terror of the Tories,” executed five Loyalist leaders in an act of vigilante justice. And don’t miss the 1859 Old Wilkes Jail, where the infamous Tom Dula — “Tom Dooley,” if you know the folk song by the Kingston Trio — and his lover Ann Melton were held before their trial.
Continue your museum tour outside the main building and visit the Robert Cleveland Log House, the oldest existing dwelling in the county. “I learned the art of open-hearth cooking on the original fireplace,” Hamby says. At the museum’s Living History event demonstrations, interpreters teach attendees how to make things like sausage and apples, venison stew, bread pudding, biscuits, and cookies, Hamby says, adding, “it makes me feel connected to my ancestors.”
Chow down on turkey Reubens and other family-friendly favorites at Dooley’s Grill & Tavern. Photography courtesy of Wilkes County Tourism
When lunch time rolls around, grab a bite at Dooley’s Grill & Tavern, a locals’ favorite with casual pub fare. Now a Wilkes County history afficionado, you’ll appreciate the vintage and historic framed news clippings adorning the walls.
Paddle out in the 1,475-acre W. Kerr Scott Reservoir. Photography courtesy of Wilkes County Tourism
The deep shade of the hardwood forest at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir offers one of the coolest summertime escapes in Wilkes County. Make your first stop the visitor center, where interactive exhibits tell the story of the Overmountain Men. These frontier militia fighters played a pivotal role in the American Revolution.
Along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail — which follows portions of the Yadkin River corridor the men traveled on their march toward Kings Mountain in 1780 — you can walk through the same landscape that shaped their journey.
If all that walking works up an appetite, it may be time for a sweet treat. Baynes loves all ice cream, but mint chocolate chip from Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery holds a special place in her heart.
Book a wine tasting at Jones von Drehle Vineyards’ tasting room or swing by for a full pour to sip while overlooking the rolling Yadkin Valley landscape. Photography courtesy of Jones von Drehle Vineyards
As the sun lowers over the Foothills, get to know the Yadkin Valley when you stay a night in Ronda or Thurmond near one of nine nearby European-style wineries and a meadery, open by appointment. If you prefer to stay in town, Call Family Distillers welcomes visitors with spirits and food in Wilkesboro. Download a guide that shares all your options — plus details on activities and their tasting rooms.
Start your morning with a strawberry matcha latte from Wilkes Coffee Company. photograph by Ellie Whittington
After a restful night’s sleep followed by lattes and open-face bagel sandwiches at Wilkes Coffee Company, take time for one more outdoor adventure before your drive home. Rendezvous Mountain State Park is a fun final hurrah to stretch your legs and squeeze in a little more history, especially if you’re traveling with children.
Check out the views from Rendezvous Mountain. Photography courtesy of EXPLORE WILKESBORO
As an official America 250 site with scenic trails and mountain overlooks, the park offers 5.5 miles of trails through the forest. “Their ‘Talking Tree’ trail is a great way for kids to learn more about trees and nature,” Hamby says. Along the half-mile path, seven trees tell stories about themselves, local history, and their neighboring trees.
That’s the magic of Wilkes County: the way centuries meet in everyday moments. Here, Revolutionary War heroes, family traditions, mountain forests, and Friday-night popcorn all belong to the same story — one that visitors are invited to step into and remember long after the weekend ends. Ready to experience it for yourself? Click here to start planning your trip, and if you want a deeper dive into Wilkes County’s America 250 destinations, learn more here.
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