Due South: Salvage Yards Full of Southern Soul

Plus: Skiing in Snowshoe; Florida baseball parks; Edisto Island

PHOTO: JENNIFER GRIFFIN/VISIT VBR

Inside Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia.

Salvage yards aren’t just junkyards. They offer an opportunity to repurpose quality craftsmanship from the past rather than relegate it to the landfill. Stocking everything from heart pine flooring to leaded stained glass, they’re living museums of the South’s architectural heritage. Below are eight Southern salvage yards worth a detour.

Scenic views from a Sevierville cabin.

WHERE RUSTIC MEETS REFINED: The nineteenth-century naturalist John Muir once reflected, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” It’s easy to understand the sentiment when one is walking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the majestic backdrop to Sevierville, Tennessee. After a day soaking up Mother Nature’s gifts, why not find a place to land that’s as restorative as the mountains? A place like Oak Haven Resort & Spa. Perched on a scenic ridge with mountain and forest views, this three-hundred-acre gated resort is a refined yet nature-infused retreat. Guests can overnight in one of 140 luxury log cabins, explore on-site hiking trails, set kids loose on a playground or basketball court, and make priceless memories on a catch-and-release lake. And just steps from the cabins, the Spa at Oak Haven offers a variety of wellness treatments to complement the breathtaking scenery. Plan your Sevierville Smoky Mountains escape.

Snowshoe, West Virginia. Take it from a Washington State native: The best skiing in the South is at Snowshoe, West Virginia. After getting my husband and son hooked on Cascade Mountain runs over the past few years, I doubted we’d ever find a close-to-home slope that could compare to the peaks out west. But I’ll be darned if Snowshoe didn’t prove me wrong.

The mountains are calling. The long Valentine’s weekend seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally make the trek to Snowshoe. But with a four-hour drive ahead, a mid-journey pause felt essential. Enter Warm Springs—our favorite Bath County hamlet. The site of the historic Warm Springs pools, the geothermal spring where Thomas Jefferson once “took the waters” is a great one-day getaway. Since we’d done the old-timey spa before, we sought refreshment at Milk House Market, a darling stop for snacks and sundries, instead.
Dinner and a snow. We spent the night at Warm Springs’ charming Inn at Gristmill Square, a retreat made up of a series of historic buildings (including the eponymous mill), where snowflakes began to drift down as we headed to its acclaimed Waterwheel Restaurant. There, we shared in an unforgettable dinner of roast chicken and cornmeal-crusted trout—a perfect feast to fuel the fellas for a day of fresh powder.
Bluebird day. Spring may be in full swing across the South, but not in the Mountain State. As we ascended to 4,848 feet, thick snowflakes piled onto our vehicle, and by the time we reached Snowshoe, the lifts were barely visible through the dense fog. Thankfully, the winter sport gods were on our side. Just as the friendly crew at Expedition Rentals had our son geared up in skis and a helmet, the mist lifted, revealing a crystal-clear day—ideal for tearing down the slopes of what he now proudly calls his favorite ski resort this side of the Mississippi.