Before there was a state of North Carolina, indeed before there was a United States of America, as early as the 1750s, settlers began to gather in the area now known as Mount Airy. A stopover point on a well-traveled road running from Salem, NC, into Virginia, the community grew into a small town by the 1830s.
A Frontier Town
The origin of the town’s name is uncertain, but local tradition holds that it came from the “Mount Airy” plantation, which was established along the stage road in the early 1800s. The town originally served as a frontier commercial and trading center for the surrounding rural area and remained very small in the early 1800s. During the mid-1800s, the town’s frontier economy gradually shifted to agriculture and manufacturing, and by 1860 the small town had a population of 300.
The Railroad Brings Economic Revitalization
Mount Airy’s economy was severely damaged during the Civil War and the Reconstruction period that followed. However, by the late 1870s and early 1880s, with tobacco as the area’s major industry, the economy again thrived. The construction of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad to Mount Airy in the late 1880s provided the catalyst that spurred the successful commercial exploitation of Mount Airy’s two greatest natural resources – granite and lumber.
“Granite City”
During the 1890s, commercial development of the large granite quarry just east of downtown Mount Airy began. The area, known locally as “Flat Rock,” became the world’s largest open-face granite quarry and gave Mount Airy its popular nickname, “Granite City.” Although the town’s growth slowed considerably in the early 20th century, it remains a vibrant and progressive community today.
a.k.a. Mayberry
Mount Airy’s other famous pseudonym springs from it being the model for the small town of “Mayberry” on the popular Andy Griffith TV show in the mid-20th century. Mount Airy is Andy Griffith’s boyhood home, and the Hampton Inn chain now owns his house, which is available for rent. Fans can also visit Andy’s favorite haunts on the show, including the Snappy Lunch, Floyd’s Barbershop, Opie’s Candy Store, Mayberry Soda Fountain, and the Old City jail with Andy’s police car. Each year the community celebrates “Mayberry Days” with a four-day festival that includes a major golf tournament, concerts, a parade, and much more.
Parks & Museums
The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History is housed in a former mercantile store on Main Street. Exhibits in this 35,000 square foot, four-story museum tell the story of the development of “the hollow”, as this region is known, and include the Native American story, the history of the largest open-faced granite quarry in the world, pioneer life, and the rich history of the Old Time music heritage that is unique to Surry County.
The Andy Griffith Museum contains a large collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, including hundreds of items from the life and career of Andy Griffith in movies, television, and music.
The EARLE Theater, a project of the Surry Arts Council, is home to many music events, including year-round music performances, dances, and even live radio.
- The WPAQ Merry-Go-Round takes place Saturdays from 11 am -1:30 pm. The second longest-running live radio broadcast in the nation, the WPAQ Merry-Go-Round features different guests each week. (Admission to the Merry-Go-Round includes admission to the Andy Griffith Museum and other exhibits.)
- Surry County is home to a distinct style of Old Time music known as the “Round Peak” style, named for the rural area of Round Peak. The Old-Time Music Heritage Hall features exhibits that tell the rich history of Surry County music.
Mount Airy Parks & Recreation maintains several parks in the community, including Riverside Park, which features picnic shelters, restrooms, a lighted soccer field, playground, canoe launch, and greenway. Westwood Park is a wooded site with nature trails, two lighted ballfields, playground equipment, fitness stations, disc golf (9 holes), mountain bike trails, community fishing pond, shelter, restroom facilities, and paved parking.
Local Attractions
Many of Mount Airy’s local attractions include those related to the Andy Griffith heritage of the town, including Squad Car Tours, Mayberry Mules and Wagon Rides, Andy Griffith Playhouse, Andy Griffith’s Homeplace, Floyd’s Barber Shop, Old City Jail, Opie’s Candy Store, Snappy Lunch and Wally’s Service Station.
Pilot Mountain State Park is located nearby, as are numerous local wineries.
Festivals & Events
- Tommy Jarrell Festival
- Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers Convention
- Mayberry Days
- Autumn Leaves Festival
Farmers Tailgate Market
The Mount Airy Farmers Market is held every Friday morning from April through October from 9 am to 12 pm in downtown Mount Airy. The market is located at the Mount Airy Post Office parking lot at 1232 W. Independence Blvd. It is part of the Surry County Farmers Market system. For more information, email LocalFoodFarmersMarket@gmail.com.
For more information
Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center
200 North Main St.
Mount Airy, NC 27030
800-948-0949
tourism@visitmayberry.com
