Nestled on the banks of the serene Yadkin River, the town of Elkin resembles many small North Carolina towns: a main street lined with older buildings, a movie theater, a bank, various shops. One of the joys of motorcycling is discovering these time-capsule towns. It’s even more joyous to see them thriving in the 21st century.
“About eight years ago, we were stagnant. The mill had closed. We had 17 storefronts downtown. We had other assets,” said Sam Bishop, the former mayor. “We had the wineries. There are 42 wineries in the valley and six right here in town. We had the Reeves Theater, which being renovated into a music venue.”
The community pooled resources and reinvented the town, which is now becoming a popular destination for outdoor-recreation enthusiasts, including a large motorcycle rally planned for this August.
“People started discovering Elkin, the people coming up from the wineries,” Bishop said. “Downtown is now fully occupied except for what is being renovated.”
Elkin’s proximity to some great motorcycling roads near the Virginia-North Carolina border makes a great destination for a day ride or to spend a few days leisurely touring the countryside.
“Anyone looking to explore a place with a unique character, they have to consider coming to Elkin,” said Logan Haynes, a community project coordinator in Elkin. “We’re located on the banks of the Yadkin River and just below the Blue Ridge foothills. It’s 30 minutes, give or take, to the (Blue Ridge) Parkway, so excellent riding opportunities. You don’t have to call Elkin a basecamp, either. There is plenty of great riding near town. We like to call ourselves Little Asheville or Little Boone. It’s a really cool, grassroots culture that has been part of Elkin’s revitalization.”
At the Yadkin Valley Heritage & Trails Visitor Center in downtown Elkin, travelers can discover the area’s rich history and popular attractions. One branch of the famed Overmountain Victory Trail convened here during the American Revolution before marching to fame at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
“We’re definitely a trail town. We’re a town that has three of North Carolina’s state trails that converge here. We have the Mountain-to-Sea Trail that runs down Main Street essentially. We have the Overmountain Victory Trail, a national historic trail, and then the Yadkin River Paddle Trail,” Haynes said.
Today, people still stroll along the riverside trail where patriots once set off to free the nation from England’s grasp. That zest for independence remains in the spirit of the town’s merchants and community leaders.
“Elkin is constantly pursuing a lot of really cool thing that give it its own versatile character, yet you still have the small-town look, charm, the small-town accents, but also world perspectives, which makes it a really cool stop,” Haynes said.
Located not far from Mount Airy and Winston-Salem, the quaint town prides itself on all the entertainment and recreational possibilities to found.
“Elkin makes for a perfect stop or weekend escape if you have your bike. The wineries work in tandem, making Elkin a good, centralized hub. You have wineries, restaurant and pubs. In the warmer seasons, the Elkin Railyard is open. That is a really cool beer garden. It has live music nightly and food trucks. It’s one of the town’s favorite places to socialize,” Haynes said.
A stroll from shop-to-shop and a visit to some of the local restaurants often results in conversations with the business owners, all of whom know the people you just encountered during your visit to Elkin. Such a tight-knit community of merchants makes visitors feel appreciated.
“Elkin is constantly pursuing a lot of really cool thing that give it its own versatile character, yet you still have the small-town look, charm, the small-town accents, but with a world perspective, which makes it a really cool stop,” Haynes said. “It’s going to continue to grow, but it’s never going to grow so much that it’s just an arm of Mount Airy or Winston-Salem.”
Bishop, who helped lead the revitalization effort as mayor, also embraces Elkin’s new identity and shares the community’s sense of pride at transitioning from a former mill town to a travel destination. Textile producer Chatham Manufacturing went bankrupt in 1990 and was sold to various companies. The Elkin plant finally closed in 2009. Efforts are underway to repurpose the land and several company buildings in town. Once empty and in disrepair, the stores in downtown Elkin are filled with businesses and patrons.
“We have very wide variety of restaurants and music venues. Southern on Main is very good. Next door is Ember’s Pub. They have music a few nights a week. The Reeves Theater has music. On Sunday, the Angry Troll has music. They have trivia night tonight, so I’ll be there,” he said.
The best roads to ride
“My favorite is (U.S.) 21,” Haynes said. “It’s a very popular riding route. It’s cool because going up from Elkin, you’ll see the Blue Ridge Escarpment. It’s almost like you’re out west on the plains and see that big rise. You don’t identify that with a lot of places, it just gradually changes from the piedmont.”
U.S. 21 begins in Beaufort, South Carolina, and climbs from the coast to end in Wytheville, Virginia, at Interstate 81. The section near Elkin is where it begins its crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing through Thurmond, Roaring Gap and Sparta. Along the way, U.S. 21 runs near Stone Mountain State Park. Adventure riders can escape the tarmac if they wish by venturing into the park.
“Stone Mountain, on the west half of the park, the road goes from paved to gravel, and Stone Mountain has the best destination for fishing,” Haynes said.
Michael Tilley, the owner of Unique Transportations, a used motorcycle dealership in Jonesville, frequently rides U.S. 21.
“I love riding the mountains up through (U.S.) 21. There are places you can jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I like to go down to (N.C.) 18 in Freeborn’s and Station’s Inn. They’re good day rides. Places for fellowship with other riders, have some good food,” said Tilley, who also serves on the board of commissioners for Jonesville.
Freeborn’s and Station’s Inn, both located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile 248 in Laurel Springs, are popular bar-and-grill stops along this motorcycling route.
“We have great places to ride. Stone Mountain is up here close. We’ve got Pilot Mountain not far away.
Another recommended route is N.C. 268 heading east from Elkin to Pilot Mountain. This two-lane follows the Yadkin River for a few miles, then turns northeast following long, gradual winding roads through Surry County. Here, riders suddenly see the stunning, rocky crown of Pilot Mountain, one of the Tar Heel State’s most unique nature wonders.
Rally in the Valley
For the area’s motorcyclists, Elkin’s revitalization will include an upcoming motorcycle rally, which civic leaders hope will introduce the town to more visitors.
“I’m excited about it. It’s the ‘first annual’ because hopefully it’s going to be a recurring event. We’re going to try to have several bands, three or four with a big headliner. We’re going to have vendors,” Tilley said. “We’re excited about this. We’re wanting this to be more family friendly. The area is a social district, so they can walk around to hear the bands place.”
Organizers envision the rally as place where all kinds of riders and motorcycle enthusiasts can gather without a lot of drama, an atmosphere similar to the ones at the local breweries, wineries and outdoor music festivals.
“The Rally in the Valley will be the first weekend in August this year. That’s Sturgis weekend. We deliberately did that this weekend. Sturgis is a long way away and takes lots of money,” Haynes said. “We’re doing our best to model what the Outer Banks does with their rally. Get people to come from out-of-town and embrace their passion.”
Elkin plans several events for 2025, including The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival in May and October’s Reevestock Music Festival, held in the historic theater.
“A lot of people come up here and say, I never knew this place existed. A lot of people will stay a night here, and say I’m coming back in a few days,” Bishop said.
