My people used to visit old graveyards on a Sunday afternoon in the mountains of Virginia just to keep in touch with those who have gone on ahead of us. Gravestones covered in moss dated back to the 1700’s. We need to remember the hardship they faced that made our country great. Let us never forget their grit, determination and Christianity. I stand humbled by their courage. Thank you Brother Donnie.

I grew up in southern Virginia and East Tennessee and these serene places were everywhere, full of history and stories. So many have gone now. I wish I had the money to buy them all up and restore them. Thanks for posting this and helping others to remember.

I've mentioned this time and time again and so does a few other relatives, I get sad when I see a empty abandoned building's etc so many lost stories to tell, and a chance for someone else could occupy the places, the abandoned churches are the worst for me, a lost soul in need of help.

Seeing the old houses, schools, churches and barns makes me proud of what my ancestors were able to carve out of the wilderness. And it's sad to see them meld back into the wilderness from which they sprang. Thanks, Donnie.

Boy I wish I could own and restore one these old places. I appreciate your time making these videos. Cherish our heritage and Appalachian roots brother Donny. God bless you greatly for it!

I've always had a love of old abandoned buildings. It makes me wonder who was there before me. How did they live and if the walls could talk. Thanks Donnie for another great story. I could listen to your voice all day. There's something soothing in your narration . God Bless.

Mr. Laws, no one can captivate one's attention like you can. You have a gift of the storytelling - and, I'm sad to say, there aren't many left. Even without pictures, we can go back and visualize (well, maybe not some city folks - no offense meant to you, city dwellers 💖). My family came down from Canada and decided that northwest Michigan would be their home. The farm was deemed a Centennial Farm back in 1994, and my Uncle Bill is living there now. It breaks my heart when I see the remnants of our past slowly fading away - but I am thankful for the ones that are being preserved for the future folks to see. Thank you again for sharing the history of the people of the Appalachia mountains. Without the stories of where we came from, how can we see the future? Oh, I do have to add that I grew up with 8 brothers and 2 sisters....and survived lol. 🤗💖💖💖🌄

Life after people.....Sad and BEAUTIFUL all at the same time Thank you Mr. Donnie for sharing our History

Donnie, that is sad to see all these old structures just rotting away. Thank you for sharing. God bless.

Every bit that you can cover Donnie is a blessing to those wonderful people. Thanks for sharing.

And thank you Donnie for reassuring us that our Lord knows where each of us is; that really helps me! ⛪

Another beautiful classic Donnie,just as l appreciate what you do so does my old terrior four legged friend,who as the spirit of a Angus bull ,he just spreads out chills and listens to your calming stories,thank you so much for that Donnie,🇮🇪☘️👍

Mr. Donnie sir I could listen to you alllll day tell stories, you have such a nice soothing friendly voice, thank you for showing us all these beautiful abandoned places hopefully many of them will be restored and kept for future generations to see 🙏🏻❤️ Greetings from the garden state NJ ❤😻

I so enjoy your videos and could watch them for hours. It makes me sad to see abandoned homes that were once so full of life and would love to see them restored. Back in the day families helped families, neighbors helped neighbors, they worked long, hard days, no technology or conveniences like we do now and yet so much better a time. I think I’m an old soul as this just touches me to the soul🤎

I absolutely love these Donnie. Thanks again for your hard work. I know these are not an easy thing to do. You make it appear easy though. Keep ‘em comin’ brother.

Beautifully presented and very moving. I know things change, but I don't know what is more poignant. The places that are abandoned or places that are built and developed beyond recognition. Thanks for posting.

“If walls could talk, oh the stories they’d tell”. Wonderful video

I love the history of East Tennessee. I live in Upstate SC, about twenty-five minutes from the mountains and have many relatives who moved to both East and Middle Tennessee and they call Tennessee home. It is a very beautiful state. The mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina are truly God's country. Growing up, I visited my relatives there and I have many wonderful memories. I also have great Christian friends there. Mr. Laws, thanks for sharing all these wonderful videos. You really captivate an audience and I'm looking forward to seeing many more. God bless. 🙏🙂

Hi Donnie, we just talked about the old roads & my Dad on another video & here we are again talking about old roads & abandoned places. I love this. I really do. Both sides of my family originate from Kentucky, West Virginia & SW Virginia near the Tennessee & Kentucky line - Clintwood VA, Virgie Kentucky & a lot of other small towns & abandoned places. The Appalachians are home to me. My DNA is proof. Since my Mom & Dad passed, I'm the one that takes care of all the family graves. Hopefully when I'm gone my son will continue. Really liked how you said the Lord knows all those people. Yes, he definitely does. Really liked your fishing cabin area. My son just asked me about a place I used to go to as a kid & camped with Mom & Dad. We'd go in the off season when no one was there. Being out in the woods & through my Dad's love of being outdoors led me to the same interests. Really like your wildlife & trail cam videos. You never know what's out there in the woods. This might sound a little strange but has anyone in your neck of the woods had any encounters with that large hairy fella Sasquatch/Bigfoot? I know they roam the Appalachians. Scott Carpenter who lives near Knoxville has had quite a few encounters. Was just wondering. Need to take the time to go through all your videos. You might already have one on the big guy. Oh, I also love those areas that have springs or hot springs. You're right. City folk are wanting to move to the Appalachians but they don't want to live the true rural way of life. We are a tough hardy breed of people. Often I think of my Dad's Mom (my Grandmother) who had 13 children. Oh my, I try to think how she did it while cooking, canning & taking care of the garden. I also do not want those small towns & abandoned places destroyed. Thank you, for preserving them in videos. Thank you, Donnie & I sincerely hope that God blesses you too. I'm also a Ridge Runner myself. Yes, my address includes the word "ridge" ;). One of my dog's is a Mountain Cur/German Shepherd mix. Yes, the original Appalachian Dog the Mountain Cur. His unofficial official name is "Shooter Oakley Lee McKenzie Ridge Runner". You know how those fancy dog people have their show dogs. Well, mine's a fancy Appalachia hound! Take care & I hope you have a great weekend.

Blessings on this Easter Sunday to you & family Mr Donnie! Love your videos and especially this one where you show part of old 25W! This road was built by prisoners, the rock work in the retaining walls and bridges. We used to use this road frequently before I75 came through Tennessee and Kentucky. My father had plenty of stories about the moonshine runners and police chases on this dangerous road. It is a beautiful drive and a lot of history on that old road! Thanks for keeping our History alive!💕

That is some neat footage of the old homes and businesses.. ..schools ..churches that are off the beaten path there Donnie...and the fish camp as well..one wishes someone would restore them...there is so much history there... Thank you for your hard work and time ....research and diligence that you put into each video Brother ...it is truly appreciated.

Thanks for the history Mr Donnie. I love to go through those old places and graveyards myself.

Can't thank you enough for the work you do. I don't get out like I used to but can still enjoy the sights and history through you while in my living room. The subdivision's, shopping centers and lots of new houses are filling the fields I worked and played in back when. God Bless you and yours. NW ga.

Now that I'm retired, i plan to search the Appalachia for a small old home place for me and my dog to rebuild and just be able to live quietly in until my time comes. I don't need much of anything, but it would be nice to have good neighbors and a local church where I wouldn't be judged for being from the North. Thank you for sharing this with us.

When I was about 4 through 7 years old, my grandparents lived in a house just like those, surrounded by deep pine woods in Mississippi. As a kid, I just loved staying there! It was just like on the American frontier. They had a fireplace, a wood burning stove, a smoke house, and a well on the front porch. They also had hogs and chickens. I'm 67 now, a retired pastor, and I have lived in Iowa and Illinois most of my life. But I look back on that house as my experience living just like the frontier. My grandma used to cook all of us breakfast on that cast iron wood burning stove! Thank you Donnie for bringing back so many fond memories! You're a great brother!

Thank you Donnie for a walk through the past . it breaks my heart to see the past slipping away . God bless you ,much love .

Since I was a little kid, I've sometimes imagined sad spirits roaming around abandoned graveyards and inside abandoned homes and churches. But I believe that every good person goes to Heaven and God looks after every one of us, which is comforting beyond words. Happy Easter!

I can really relate to this video. I can go to the exact spot where my maternal grandparents were born & raised. It is a very surreal feeling to walk where they walked. I was a child when her grandparents' home place was sold. There is no amount of money I wouldn't give for that land. It always spoke to my soul.

I wish these places would be restored and all preserved. I hate to see our old history disappearing. Thanks to you for filming and the history will keep going through your videos. Your voice is so soothing. God bless you.

Thank you, Donnie . I love the story you tell with your videos . Those old timmers would be proud of you for taking the time to remember those folks whose memories have faded with time . I have a lot of respect for you and what you're doing. 🇦🇺

Great history Donnie! Stiners fishing camp had to be a popular place. Back then if your dwelling was one story it was a cabin and if it was two story it was a mansion! Thanks for all you do for us, Donnie and all the great history you put before arise. God bless you.

Donnie brother I miss the old days so bad. I still remember some of how great it was. We’d go to sleep and leave the front door open and the screen door was closed to keep bugs out. They were some of the greatest and some of the hardest days back then. I sure do miss them days. We’re the last of a dying breed my friend. I consider it a honor to have lived in some of them times.

Thank you, Donnie, and others like you all over our country that make these videos to document and preserve our history. That old fish camp that you use to go to looked cool. I hope one day you can catch that old ferry running that would make a great video! Speaking about little ole country stores, we had one in the area that I live that just closed its doors. It was owned and runned by one family for as long as I can remember, good folks. It's in a small rural town / area that people, including my family, depended on. Oh, there's a Dollar General and a convenience store, but you now have to drive 20 miles to Winn Dixie to get groceries. Hope that someone will open it back up for the folks' sake.

Hi Donnie! Thank you again for showing us the beautiful historic old homes, stores, churches. None of us would ever know if it weren't for you. I love your videos and the old memories you bring -- we can only imagine how the people lived back then. blessings sent!

And I love exploring the roads. And wondering about the communities of people long gone. Remember a few from childhood 👩‍🌾

It is sade to see the path this old world is going down. No matter what is happening to the youth of today, keep the faith of morality and goodness. All we ask is God give me strength to endure. THUMBS up to this video!!!!👍👍👍👍👍🙏🇺🇸

My grandparents owned a little country store back in the day. Such fond memories of it. I used to go in there on Saturday mornings to dust everything. My reward was a bag of penny candy. Thank you!

Thank you for showing clinch mr.donnie God bless you brother. Choose Jesus Christ today folks.

Donnie I’m almost 70 years old now and I see where your coming from. Keep up the wonderful videos. Your and old school man as I am. Keep up the great work and videos. I love you brother

Love, old homes, and old buildings! Love to think about the stories that those houses and buildings hold. One of my favorite things to see. Thanks so much.

I just want to thank you for such a touching video! We are losing to many of these beautiful treasured places. It saddens my heart. I greatly appreciate what you are doing. Look forward to more.

So sad to see these buildings empty and falling down. History. Thank you Donnie for keeping this history alive.

Wonderful video and touching narration, the people of today could learn from the hard working people of long past generations. As a northerner I have deep respect for our southern neighbors and your beautiful country.

I really appreciate you sharing these old home sites they were and still are amazing, I can stare at one of those front porch scenes for a few real long minutes and imagine the folks going about their day, or sitting up on the upper balcony late at night in the cool air, imagine how it must have been. Thanks again. Cheers from Jacksonville Florida 🌞

My love, Barbara, and I spent literally THOUSANDS of hours motorcycling all the BACK roads of east TN / western NC, created memories which will carry me to heaven

You’re the best, Donnie, & you sound like my grandfather! Thanks, Donnie! 🙏🏻

I love watching your stories. My family is from that area and Virginia (father's side), so it's nice to hear about things there. I live up North in the country and can relate to much of what you tell. I still use an outhouse. Not necessarily by choice, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I miss the old ways.

Thank you, Donnie, for all your videos of our Appalachian history. For some of us seniors like me, you keep the spark of memories alive! I can feel so homesick looking at the old photographs but where I grew up the mountains and my memories are the only things still standing. Again thank you and my hope is that you keep recording the history of Appalachia.

I love coming off the beaten path into the country and the hills. My family were homesteaders and farmers over in buford, tradesville, and Lancaster South Carolina. My roots run deep and rich through the hills and hollows. And I never forget where I come from and what I am. Thank you Donnie.

You just justified why I love traveling the backroads when traveling. Thank you for your time and dedication in making these videos

Thanks for passing along this history. I will try to draw some of these houses and buildings in my sketchbook, because they're all so unique and interesting. History is important, and should never be forgotten.

Im living north east of Morristown, TN. I am fascinated with the history , I respectfully like to explore these old buildings. There are many many around my area. just abandoned. If one was to stay and done normal repairs, maintenance , fresh paint, fixing roof parts , the normal things as a home owner, these buildings could still be occupied. Ive looked at several i could possibly invest in if I could find the owners, yet no one anywhere around , banks, mortgage brokers, city persons...no one can locate previous owners, kin, family. These buildings just sit there and rot away because no one around to take the time to fix them up. And its pretty depressing. Im from Arizona I liked traveling around looking into old ghost towns, again the same things, abandoned. Whole towns with every possible convenience of the times 1890s, just abandoned all at once seemingly as if everybody there in the town just packed what small things they could carry and rode away on horseback, leaving everything behind in place, and those build just sat there, decaying. Some buildings are so vacant and lonely that even the ghosts left. LOL

Lovely. We had the mom and pop stores in rural Florida. I can still hear the creaky floors remember the smell. Not many left here. New gas station places have replaced them. Definitely need to restore those Gorgeous churches in the mountains.💕🙏That Fish camp should be renovated.😢

Another great trip down memory lane with an excellent host! Thank you Donny.

I and my siblings grew up in Ohio, but one of my brothers met a girl in Florida while stationed in Jacksonville with the Navy. They married and settled down there. So we would visit every couple of years. My daddy was not in a hurry to get there. He liked to meander and pretend to "get lost." We always took I-75 to Knoxville and hooked up with Route 441. That was the best! We loved to watch the beautiful scenery go by. Driving through Gatlinburg was no big deal. Not much to see! My dad would flip to see it now. I remember seeing those old abandoned homes and wondering what it was like when people lived in them. Thanks for your videos!

I grew up in upstate NY. I loved exploring back roads and the hills that surrounded our valley. It was amazing how much lost history ( old decaying homes and camps, cemeteries, stone fences, etc.) that I discovered right under the noses of modern living. Thank you for your content, Donnie. Your videos are relaxing and educational!

Thank you, Donnie for keeping the memories of the past alive through your stories and videos. God bless.

I haven’t been back to my birthplace since 2007, last trip with my Dad. I was born in the old home place in 1950, you have to cross over a swinging bridge, in Delbarton, W Va. it’s still standing, a distant cousin lives there now. Thank You for a timeless tour…….God bless…..❤️

I said it before donnie. I love history and I appreciate you Bringing it to us. Those people aren't gone. There's just waiting for resurrection day.

I LOVE to see tear old buildings/houses…I can imagine family gatherings and Christmas there…thank you for this..❤

It’s so sad they don’t preserve these places for the younger generations to see and learn about the history here.

Mr. Laws, you are the best story teller of all, I really enjoy the metal detecting "Shotgun shell baby" it relaxes me so much to watch your videos. Thank you.

Another GOLD NUGGET ,thank you mister Mr. Laws.

Mr. Donnie all these old places were built without this day and time permits.and there still standing 😊

THANK YOU DONNIE LAWS LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT OUR OLD FAMILY PASTS THEY LIVED THROUGH BACK IN THE DAYS GODBLESS YOU 🙏 MY FRIEND

I love the peaceful nature and history. Thank you Mr. Donnie and God Bless you.

I wish the people that come from these big cities and the north wouldn't come and try and change our land and try and make it what they left the cities and the north for.If there gonna come the should respect our part of the country and our history. Just the way I feel about it.Thank you Donnie for putting this up on video for our children and grandchildren and so on the remember were they come from.

Donnie, Very sad we have generations now that will never know the factual history of our country, because it's being rapidly erased by the radicals and replaced by lies . Thank you for preserving history, this may well be the only real history some will ever know. Sending love and respect, your Maine friend xxx❤

I love looking at historical old buildings. There are so beautiful restored and so mysterious when they are not . Love the video and pictures. Thank you.

Thank you. My mother and father in law grew up in the mountains of Jackson and Buncombe counties, NC. She was one of 10, he was one of 11. She told one time, that her parents didn't get electricity until she was 24. This would have been @ 1949.

Loved seeing all this today. Sad though to see homes abandoned. Thanks for these pics, Mr Donnie. Get well soon 😊

In the 1980s I lived for a while with my sister who restored such an old farmhouse. So beautiful a restoration. She taught at ETSU in Johnson City and commuted to her home there in Trust, North Carolina. She discovered one day that All of her "outsider" friends had moved back to Asheville, or further away. There were very few jobs around these parts except farming. The coves and hollows, I soon discovered on my walks, hid many abandoned homes. Some were shacks, others were grand with many rooms. Someone told me why so many had left! was WW II when they began to leave. many enlisted. Once they saw the outside world they never wanted to go back! The settled, then, after the war, in big cities. Their next generation probably, I think< went off to college and got degrees and then embraced the metropolis life, like in New York or Los Angeles. Even now their culture is gone,. The *next* generation might now be dappling with Wokeness and transgender. Once the people left the branches, the stores left too! Not enough customers. Too, so east to drive the better roads like to Asheville or Johnson City to shop at Walmart! However, a few retirees have come back. Sometimes they build a modern brick house next to their their old cabin: I saw such a thing there at Trust. Trust: population was 2, sister and I! Nowadays there is a gas station and, yes, a new country store too. Even a coffee shop in the cafe! [two tourist roads intersect there.] In my very rural area where I grew up, in the Northern Appalachian mountains, the same. Abandoned houses and even farms. Why one farmer was thinking of moving to where his brother lives and then work in a warehouse there. [Philidelphia] Back then one could make a living on 40 acres. Now you need 1500 to 3000 acres. abandoned schoolhouses too, there. However I knew of at least two of them that are maintained as living museums and often a busload of kids are brought so to experience what it is like to be sitting in History! Move away. Gain a lot. But lose other things. Too, from my own experience, many old houses, when the owner moves away, he rents the house out to renters. Often the renters are "white trash" and trash the place. probably this is why there is so much junk around some of these houses! So the dreamers move away to seek their dream frutation and often only the old people and the "losers" remain behind. I thank you for this video, freestone.

Every time that I came across the abandoned places in the mountains of SW Virginia or in West Virginia, I would always have the same thought come to my mind, "Broken Dreams." Thanx Mr. Laws for the videos that honor our past in America.😃

Everyone needs to know their history and thank you for sharing the history of these places.

Donnie, so many thoughts went through my mind watching this. Too many to write. Quite possibly mankind just simply got too big for its britches and that's one reason we see so much decay. There's million dollar homes across our country that got left behind and never lived in again. Life has its mystery's that'll never be explained. As close as we'll ever get to an answer is Ecclesiastes 3. Thanks bud!

I'm from up north moved here to S. Carolina, I take rides on these old roads on Sundays and take pictures of the old share croppers homes and old tobacco Drying barns, old country stores all falling in on them selves, its sad if only these places could talk and tell us about the days gone by.. I shared your video with my family up north and all around. (I have family doing the same thing in Canada). I'm 81 yrs young and wish I would have taken way back when I was a young The places I've seen then are all gone today...

Another great reminder for me to remember how my grandparents had it . Love wins always ❤

Look quick before such great history is gone. Course there's no interest from the urbanites, they have lost their perspective on what made this country what it is...their history is written on a pothole cover...you take care Donnie and keep sending these nuggets from our bygone days, i love them.

I live in Canada, but I sure love watching videos like yours and talk about other countries and their history. Thank you for sharing.❤

Donnie, you and I think a lot alike ,we hate to see history go away. I think young folks today don't care about these things, just to busy.

Loved watching all of the old home places, churches and schools thank you so much for sharing

Thank you for sharing this Donnie! Even in their abandoned derelict conditions, the old structures still have the essence of their former beauty. In my neck of the woods, there are very few old structures left now. The TVA lake claimed the bottom land areas in 1942 and the re-routed roads took a number of additional buildings. Now, the main roads are being widened and upgraded into 4 lanes, and with surges in migrations, pretty much all of them have been demolished except for just a very VERY few located off on the side roads that go up into the mountains. So much change in my own lifetime. I can remember a lot of the old houses and stores that are no longer.

Love all the back rds love all the old homes an barns so true it's all faded away love all your stories

When my family would go up through the mountains of North Carolina over into Tennessee, my dad would ALWAYS take back roads once we got to Asheville nc. I remember the mom and pop stores, restaurants we would stop at over near Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Maggie Valley, Blowing Rock, Boone, and other small communities that if they were named it was probably only known to the residents. I remember the old cabins that you could see down in the valleys with smoke coming out of the chimneys. There was a house that sat up on a hill on a curve coming out of a smell town somewhere on the NC/Tennessee border that I was always fascinated by as a child. It was built partially of file stone and wood. Beautiful old home with a porch that I know had a breathtaking view. I always dreamed of growing up and living in that house. Well... I did grow up and just after my wife and I got married we took a trip up that way. I asked my dad how to get to that house and he wrote it down. We rode by there and the house was gone. Nothing but a chimney. I had no connection to that house but it made me as sad to see it gone as if it had been. Keep posting these videos. This may be the only record of these places in years to come.

I miss them old stores going to buy a pound of bolony nehi belly washers and a moon pie,thanks for the trip down memories lane thanks Donny God Bless.

Thank you again for taking us back Donnie.

I wish I was still young and could get these places restored. Going to and from picking up my grandson in Gordonsville there's a wonderful store and the family lives upstairs and has a big farm "up the way" as the employee said it. I pray it stays there for my grandson to visit in all the days of his life.

Thank you so much for this beautiful beautiful video, I really love watching these precious videos 😊❤.

Tennessee is a beautiful state. My husband and I spent many oct in the mountains of Tennessee and north Carolina. The color of the leaves changing are a majestic sight to see.

These are just the best and slowly disappearing just glad I can remember what my grandparents told me thanks for sharing. The community I live close to only has 5 people left between the signs again thanks

wonderful video. too much history being forgotten.

Thank you for sharing my friend. V/R Chris

We love the old beaten path. Great video sir..

Keep em coming Mr Laws. God bless you and your family.

I love photographing these abandoned and forgotten places. I have lots of kin in Mountain City, TN. I went to Doc Watson's funeral. Another BEAUTIFUL video.

Donnie I love watching your videos.. this one saddens me because the young people will never have what we had and will never know the love, friendship and God.. like we were taught.. everything has changed and not for the good...

Every building has a story we'll never know... thanks Donnie 😎👍

We really enjoyed watching Donnie yes your right history is disappearing even here , Those old buildings are great to see thanks for showing us around 👍 Stay well regards Glyn uk 🇬🇧

I miss seeing all these places with ppl in them. That is the world I was raised to live in, and it no longer exists!

Thank you so much for doing these videos. My heart is broken because the greedy builders near me ripped out the wonderful wooded area and built a subdivision. City people are flooding my area with their cookie cutter homes and they bring their lights and city ways with them. There is a youtuber realtor encouraging people to come here, says the taxes and cost of living are low, come on down! How long will that last? I moved to my current location 40 years ago for the quite darkness and simple life, now gone forever because of filthy lucre. There is nowhere to go to get away from this, the woods are destroyed, the wildlife is gone, the peacefulness of the night sounds, rustling of the trees, sounds of the crickets, birds singing. Now can only hear heat pumps, lawnmowers and undisciplined children screaming. I hoped I would go to be with my Father before this happened, but was not meant to be. I will endure to the end. Come Jesus come.