Nelson County home of history, beauty

Staff Reports
Published: September 24, 2007

Before Nelson County became one of Virginia’s most popular tourist destinations, the area was home to the Monocans, a Native American tribe, then to early English settlers and finally to Scotch-Irish and German pioneers. By 1807, Nelson was formed from Amherst County - named after Virginia’s third governor, Thomas Nelson Jr. - and became a thriving agricultural community, home to tobacco, chestnut and apple growers.

Today, the apple industry is once again flourishing, along with a healthy wine industry, helping to draw thousands of visitors to the county each year.

Wintergreen Resort, which began development in 1972, is one of Virginia’s most popular ski and golf destinations. The resort was formed three years after Hurricane Camille devastated the county with mass flooding and landslides.

Outdoor lovers also come to Nelson for hikes along Crabtree Falls and the Appalachian Trail or for fishing along the James and Tye rivers. A large section of western Nelson is in the George Washington National Forest.

One of Nelson’s most famous sons, Earl Hamner Jr., wrote about growing up in the county during the 1930s, inspiring the successful television series “The Waltons.” Today, the Walton’s Mountain Museum in Schuyler gives nostalgic visitors a chance to explore replicas of the show’s set.