“There’s more to Mount Airy than Mayberry.”
Ed Shelton, Resident of Surry County, North Carolina
Smart Money’s on Mayberry
Trouble’s brewing in Mount Airy, North Carolina (population 8,583), and it all comes down to tourism dollars. Why’s that a big deal? Mount Airy is better known as Mayberry. Yep, Mayberry—America’s favorite hometown. But the tourism slogan for the county where Mount Airy is located, Surry County, is “Very Surry.” The folks from Mount Airy want to change it to “From Mayberry to Merlot” to capitalize on the county’s most famous small town and the local wine industry. But other towns in the area say the county is known for a whole lot more than Mayberry—such as the largest open face granite pit and the Museum of Regional History. Hmm. As for Pilot Mountain (aka Mount Pilot), they like the Mayberry theme—they’re even talking about putting up a statue of Barney Fife. Sounds like something the folks’ll have to hash out down at the courthouse over lemonade and Aunt Bee’s preserves.
Read the Article ® A Mayberry image update?A River Runs by It
The borough of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania (population 896) is tucked along the banks of the Susquehanna River but it took six years to receive designation as a “River Town.” Building on the designation, the town plans to put in a boat launch and campsite to go along with the biking and hiking Warrior Trail that currently runs along the river. They’ve already raised $350,000 in state and federal grants and plan to start construction next year. Town leaders say the boat launch and campsite are in the perfect spot, and who can argue? Considering the nearest boat launch four miles up river flanks the SCI Retreat, a Pennsylvania state prison.
Read the article ® Shickshinny hails new designation
