Hype for the Future 96A: Highland and Bath Counties, Virginia

Overview — Highland County

One of the least populated and highest-elevation counties in the eastern United States, Highland County, Virginia, is located relatively near the Blue Ridge Mountains, at the intersection of Routes 220 and 250. The Monterey Inn is the chief place to stay within the county, which may contain limited cell service as a result of being physically located within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ). The National Radio Quiet Zone, originating at the sensitive Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, has influenced the rural communities of the region, including east into the Commonwealth of Virginia. Smaller museums and attractions in the county include the 3rd Space, the Charles Pinckney Jones House Museum, and the Sounding Knob Fire Tower.

Overview — Bath County

Located immediately to the south of Highland County is Bath County, Virginia, most notable as the home county of significant golfer Sam Snead. However, the Warm Springs Pools serve as the primary tourist attraction within the county.

Hype for the Future 94H: Ohio State Route 134

Introduction

Within the State of Ohio, Route 134 is a state highway largely situated along with or immediately to the east of United States Route 68 within the former Virginia Military District of the State of Ohio, entirely situated east of the Little Miami River but west of the Scioto River. Wilmington, a city of approximately twelve thousand residents, serves as the largest community along the service highway, with connections north toward Port William and south toward the Ohio River.

The Route

Although the general route of Route 134 technically extends north of the official northern terminus, many of the associated routes are of mere county maintenance north of the Village of Port William. While the official highway does not dead-end into Port William, as Port William Road continues beyond the official end of maintenance as Main Street, the rural community largely serves as the end of the route for all intents and purposes.

If one travels north beyond state maintenance, the next community of significance in the region is the Village of Jamestown in Greene County, Ohio, near the connection with State Route 72 to the east. To the south, however, is the connection of the highway with the City of Wilmington, south of the crossing of Interstate 71 without an interchange.

Upon reaching Downtown Wilmington, the highway quickly joins Route 68, with the Fiesta Veracruz Mexican Restaurant and the General Denver Hotel and Restaurant each located in the area nearby. To the south of Wilmington, however, Route 134 returns to a distinct route, again on the east side of Route 68, intersecting with Routes 350 and 28 in rural areas before reaching the turnoff for the Nowhere Else Festival each Labor Day weekend along Townsend Road. The next village covered along the state route is the Village of Lynchburg, home to the Family Diner on the north end of the village without any significant amenities in the surrounding area, largely owing to the rurality of the region.

At the southern end of Route 134 is the Village of Sardinia, located in Brown County and home to the Underground Café and the gift shop at the Celtic Cottage. Though the highway officially ends stage maintenance at Route 32, the roadway generally continues at the level of Brown County under the name “Purdy Road,” situated directly in the middle of Routes 68 to the west and 62 to the east within the region. This road continues until the unincorporated community of Arnheim, with the gated community of Lake Waynoka situated directly to the east.

Hype for the Future 77N: City of Hillsboro, Ohio

Introduction

Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Highland County, Ohio, representing the central portion of the county. At the junction of Routes 50, 62, 73, 124, 138, and 247, the community of Hillsboro is heavily connected to a number of other communities, both larger and smaller, throughout the region. Along Route 50, Cincinnati is to the west, while Chillicothe and Athens are to the east. The other highways are also associated with such locations as Wilmington, Oxford, Portsmouth, Columbus, Greenfield, Circleville, and even the Ohio River.

Attractions

Not much exists in terms of tourism within the rural and residential Highland County, Ohio. However, of the features that do exist within the county, the preferred attractions are the Patriot Public House and the Highland County Historical Society. As with a number of related communities throughout the region in Appalachian Ohio, the vicinity is notable for having a haunted house, this house referred to as “Dark Harvest Productions.” To the east is the Rocky Fork State Park, with Paint Creek State Park even further east along the Ross County line, still partially within Highland County.

Though located in southern Clinton County, the Nowhere Else Festival slightly off Route 134 is effectively equidistant between the Cities of Wilmington to the north and Hillsboro to the southeast. The general area within Clinton County also provides access to Cowan Lake State Park even further northwest.