Revisiting the Roanoke Region

Last month I wrote about things to do in Roanoke, like visiting Black Dog Salvage and it's beautiful Bed and Breakfast, indulging in artisan spirits at Twin Creeks Distillery and enjoying the delicious food of The Vault at the Liberty Trust.

During my time there, I stayed at the comfortable and beautiful Hotel Roanoke which dates back to 1882 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hotel Roanoke was built in 1882 and grew from 34 rooms to 384.

Now it's time to revisit the area once again--this time we'll take a look at Center in the Square, which is home to multiple attractions. We'll also take a side trip to Olde Towne Social House in Rocky Mount, Virginia, a venue that has its own unique story to tell.

Center in the Square

Center in the Square, located in Roanoke at One Market Square Southeast, is a vibrant destination for visitors of all ages. Home to a variety of attractions, Center in the Square is an ideal spot for out-of-town guests to explore, especially on rainy days when outdoor plans are disrupted.

The origins of Center in the Square trace back to a community-driven effort to revitalize a neglected area and create a hub for education and tourism. With this vision, a former feed-and-seed warehouse, originally built in 1914, was transformed into an educational and cultural landmark.

Since its opening in 1983, the attraction has had its fair share of challenge, including funding shortfalls and infrastructure issues. However, each setback was met with community support and determination, resulting in the thriving attraction that it is today.

One of the first things visitors will encounter are six aquariums located on the first floor teeming with marine life like coral, clownfish, pufferfish and jellyfish.

Located on the second floor is the Roanoke Pinball Museum, a nostalgic attraction that delights both young and old. The games are fully operational and span nearly a century of production from the 1930s, until the modern day.

Some of the pinball machines date back to the 1930s.

Also on the second floor is the Kids Square Children's Museum, another interactive attraction where families can gather to learn through a S.T.E.A.M. enriched educational environment. Visitors can engage in hands-on exhibits and activities that promote learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. I particularly enjoyed learning about the breakdown of the nutritional content in fast-food meals that is sure to stimulate conversation about healthy eating among grownups and children.

Kids can see the nutritional breakdown of their favorite fast-food meals.

Another fun attraction on the second floor is a parakeet garden where kids and adults can interact with a total of 250 parakeets, a unique activity that few people ever experience. Visitors can feed the parakeets and take Instagram-worthy pictures with them. 

Bird lovers will be in their element in the Parakeet Garden.

Parakeets seem to love interacting with people as much as the people enjoy the interaction.

Also located at Center in the Square is the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture where visitors can explore the rich history and cultural contributions of African-Americans through engaging  exhibits and historical displays about people like Frederick Douglass, known as a writer, orator, abolitionist and social reformer. Visitors will also learn about Henrietta Lacks, whose HeLa cells were taken without her consent. In 1951, she was hospitalized with cervical cancer and doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore took samples of her tumor cells for research, which led to significant scientific advances.

Visitors can learn about Frederick Douglass at the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture.

Henrietta Lacks was known for her HeLa cells which helped advance medicine.

These activities and so much more are all under one roof at Center in the Square in Roanoke. To learn more about the attraction and additional activities available, visit the website at centerinthesquare.org.

The Olde Town Social House

The Old Towne Social House is a comfortable venue for enjoying libations.

After spending a day at Center in the Square, folks may wish to venture into Rocky Mount to enjoy a glass of wine, beer, cider, or a cocktail at the Olde Town Social House. 

Be sure to check out the basement located down a flight of stairs at the back of the venue where a small museum offers a glimpse into the building's history. Here guests can learn about a crime that took place during a bye gone era.

The building, which was once a garage and home to the Turner Motor Company, was the site of a crime that happened in the summer of 1930 when two employees left a pair of Model T Fords running while they stepped away. These cars, which were secretly loaded with moonshine, caught fire due to a leaking fuel pump. The fire was so intense that it burned through the garage floor, causing the vehicles to fall upside down into the basement.

A crime that has been frozen in time.

These overturned Model T cars remained hidden for 85 years, encased in the basement's reconstructed flooring and walls. They were rediscovered during renovations under the ownership of Amy Pendleton. Today, the Olde Towne Social House displays the two cars as part of its commitment to preserving local history.

That's about it for my Roanoke coverage, but there is so much more to do in an area that is not only  rich in history, but culture as well.

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Food, Drink and DIY in the Roanoke Region

Black Dog Salvage is a business that gave life to a reality show.

If you're a DIY'er or simply enjoy poking around salvage shops, then you'll be in your element at Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia. The architectural salvage store was central to the popular television series called "Salvage Dogs," that aired on the DIY Network, which is now part of HGTV.  The reality show ran for 11 seasons with 143 episodes airing from 2012-2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic, when filming ceased. The good news is that episodes can still be seen on streaming services like Magnolia Network, Discovery Plus, Amazon, iTunes and YouTube.

Robert Kulp chats with a member of our group.

The background of the owners is an interesting one in that both men served in the U.S. Navy. Robert Kulp served as a naval officer who later earned a degree in building and construction from the Virginia Technical University and Mike Whiteside served as parachute rigger who, after leaving the service, became a yacht captain. The men founded the business in 1999 and quickly made a name for themselves, salvaging materials that might otherwise be scrapped, which led to the popular television show with the sustainability theme.

When the show ended, the business continued and some still make a pilgrimage to marvel at the unique items that are housed in the 40,000 square-foot warehouse and perhaps get a glimpse of the show's main characters.

A steampunk man.

Many of the buildings that the workers salvage are from historically significant structures and some are slated to be demolished. People also bring old sentimental pieces to their shop for restoration or to repurpose them into another piece of furniture. The show is inspirational in that they make it look easy for DIY'ers to do what they do, offering tips and techniques.

An Onsite Guest House

Also on the property is a guest house and event venue that ranks a 5.0 on Google and sleeps six people.

The cozy abode reflects the aesthetic of the show, being steeped in history, craftmanship and creativity.

Whiteside remarks on the Stone House rental in terms of its history and significance to both Black Dog Salvage and the community. "The main idea is that it provides people an opportunity to live in a piece of Roanoke’s history—an idea that is central to the company’s mission," he said.

Cocktails anyone?

When you're poking around in another city while on vacation, it's always nice to indulge in an after-dinner drink before heading back to your accommodations. Twin Creeks Distillery, located about 19 miles away in historic Rocky Mount, is a cozy place to enjoy your favorite libation. The small town of 5,000 is welcoming to visitors and for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, Rocky Mount is a gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway and is home to Smith Mountain Lake and the Appalachian Trail.

Have a drink and relax for a while.

Guests who visit the distillery can enjoy a cocktail, or purchase bottle of whisky, moonshine and/or brandy to go. Anna Prillaman Robertson runs the place with owner Chris Prillaman, who does the distilling. If Chris is onsite and you're interested, he will regale you with stories about the past. You could say that Prillaman, as a distiller, comes by the business honestly. His descendants were bootleggers and Prillaman has been quite happy to take up the family mantle and continue the tradition. Prillaman said that he is dedicated to making small batch, high quality spirits with local ingredients and that visitors have been responding positively to his creations.

Good Eats

The Vault at Liberty Trust

The Liberty Trust building in downtown Roanoke, when built in 1910, was described in the newspapers as a "Temple of Finance." The seven-story structure is home to The Vault restaurant, where chef Andrew Schlosser shines. 

Chef Andrew Schlosser explains a few of the dishes to the group.

Among the dishes available on the manageable menu are Devils on Horseback comprised of bacon-wrapped goat-cheese stuffed medjool dates, albondigas, comprised of beef meatballs, cotija cheese and bravas sauce, and a dish Schlosser recommended on the day I visited--a delicious Khachapuri, otherwise known as Georgian cheese bread, featuring sulguni cheese, egg yolk and special seasoning. Those who enjoy ending their meals on a sweet note can choose from among a rich pot de creme au chocolat, hummingbird cake, or peach bread pudding.

Georgian cheese bread

Peach bread pudding.

The Vault is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

That's about it for this blog, but I do intend to write more about Roanoke destinations like Center in the Square, which features a children's museum, a pinball museum and a museum of African American Culture, so stay tuned.