Everyone talks about how wholesome and family oriented Mayberry was. Ironically no one was married on that show except Otis and he drank all the time.

The way things are today makes me wish times was still like that. Simple, sweet,and safe. Kids would get out and play and not be stuck on a phone. I could deal with it!

Well it is now 2022 and I'm sitting in my living room watching Andy Griffith Mayberry and watching your video at the same time. It's still a good show to watch.

Such a simpliler time in my life...I was just a child of 4 years old in 1960. Some of my best memories are from my childhood. This TV show captured the beautiful way of life of those years. Thank you for this opportunity to go back and remember.

Hi, I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show n heck I still get to watch it every day on Free Antenna TV. OTA with a lil Antenna. I am so Blessed to get to live out the rest of my days with Andy,Barney n the rest of them to make laugh n feel happy.

Fascinating story mark another thing i didn't know and now I know, the rest of the story. Outstanding !

I was born there myself. Born in my grannys back room on Simons farm.

What a great story! The real Mayberry has such a rich history! I don't travel, but if I could this is a place I would want to see.

I started working at Universal 1965 I saw one filming of Andy Griffith and it was really nice it was at studio city where they filmed Gilligans island big Valley gunsmoke and many other TV shows I will never forget the experiences that I have then

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I remember Paul Harvey he saw the future of America that's for sure!

I believe most Americans would run back to a place they could truly call home. Thanks for sharing a part of movie history and Americana of the past ✝️🇺🇸

Oh this is so cool! I love Andy, he always seemed like the perfect man..I was born way to late.

I actually got to visit Andy Griffith home church man he lived just up the road from his church before he died

Before I die, my dream is to visit these wonderful places in Appalachia.

sure wish we had someone like Paul Harvey today. simple times and a better life.

I had several customers in Mt. Airey, nice town with fine folks. For over 20 years I called on auto paint and parts stores there and in Galax, other towns. Been in Floyd Co. probably a hundred times. Never even heard of Mayberry VA. Learn something new every day! Thanks for your excellent video!

I loved learning all this! I’m a big Andy Griffith/Mayberry fan! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us.

I absolutely love this story! I still watch Andy every once in a while and am pretty sure I've seen every episode multiple times 😁 I'm guessing it counters the crazy reality of our current times... Thanks JD ... this put a great big smile on my face 😎👍❤️

that's just a hop, skip, and a jump from where I grew up. I've been down route 58 past Meadows of Dan hundreds of times and never knew it was there. Glad to see you're venturing out into Virginia, JD, There's lots of history in that area.

A great video, my heart still warms thinking about it. And, enjoy the music as well. Thank you.

Thank you for this wonderful video, I learned things I didn't know, Andy Griffith show is a beautiful piece of Americana.

I wanna do this. Born 1966 in WV, I miss the older times! I remember the old men setting around the potbelly stoves, smoking pipes and camels, telling stories in those old stores. loved the Andy Griffith show, even if I only remember the reruns.

I've been to My Airy, will have to check out the real Mayberry. Thanks for the video

I personally think that it was a cross between Mayberry Virginia and mt e airy NC. Not only did they call it Mayberry NC but there are so many things that resemble both places.

I would snatch up as many of those homemade canned goods and jams as I could afford. 😋

Several real North Carolina cities were mentioned in the Andy Griffith show. I was born in Southern Pines, North Carolina. In several episodes of the Andy Griffith show, Siler City is mentioned. Siler City is a real North Carolina town. It's about 40 miles from Southern Pines.

I have visited mayberry as my airy I love that people are so friendly

Glad I came across this story, my dad use to take us to Mabry mills for picnics growing up in Pilot mtn Griffin never did acknowledge it until later said when he was young they use to make fun of him, because of being dirt poor thanks again for sharing Jd

I think the show is literally based on the actual town of Mount Airy but to pay homage to his grandparents they called it Mayberry. That's my opinion and they probably got a few stories from his parents/grandparents when writing the episodes 😉❤️

Thx this was great !! And one of my favorite hymns. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms :)

My oldest son was born in Mt Airy...my wife and i were married in the preachers meadow in Fancy Gap, Va. Being a product of the 60's/70's, naturally i watched the Andy Griffith show, and loved every minute. I was transferred to Mt Airy as a young man and lived there 2 years. My wife and I lived in an apartment very close to Andys childhood home. The cliche goes that "you learn something new everyday" fits your video....i had never heard about Mayberry Va until now. I consider myself fairly smart and am intrigued with everything and anything about my home state of North Carolina, my family genealogy and the area's history, and I'm floored i have never heard of Mayberry Va and its connection to the show. I always had heard and believed Mayberry (was) Mt Airy. With my confidence shaken now, I am beginning to wonder if Mount Pilot is not really Pilot Mountain, down the highway from Mt Airy. Is Raleigh really the State Capital of NC? Seriously, im joking, of course but I just wanted to thank you for educating me about the real Mayberry, well done!

Thank you! I wonder what will happen to the store when they sell the land?

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks so much for all the info

Love the show, makes you feel go od, awesome video!

I was able to visit Mayberry a few years ago. I wondered if it had some influence with the Andy Griffith Show. Thanks JD for sharing the rest of the story

Boy sure makes you wish you were born in a simpler time so you could experience the kinship and traditional ways of our Ancestors. Thanks for sharing, just love your channel.

Ty so very much. This was an inspiration for my 44 years career in law enforcement. God-bless you and your family 👪

Thank you for sharing this story! We've been to Mt. Airy... it's great! You can sleep in Andy's childhood home! His Mother was a hot dog vendor and that's why at the end of every "Matlock" episode, Andy would have a hotdog! As a nod to his Mother... thought that was a fun fact. In September Mt.Airy hosts what is called 'Mayberry Days'. They go ALL out with parades, beauty pageant, music and much more! The Darlins even show up!

I love the Andy Griffith show. I still watch it when I get the chance. It's such a " feel good " show. Interesting story!

Good Video JD. But the General Store I don't think would have been that colorful back then. I am from Princeton, WV and we used to have a store of sort out on Rt.20 going towards Bluewell. At that time it was called Faulkner's Store. As a kid I remember walking up and down the roads gathering pop bottles to turn them in for 2-3 cents each. Depending on the type of bottle. The store was always kind of dark because the only windows was at the front of it, It may have had 4 light bulbs if the old woman forgot to turn 2 of them off. This was back in the 40's and 50's.

Good job, so Andy's parents traded at that store, and it's still there, amazing.

Your You tube pages are a dream come true. Yes and I also admired Paul Harvey. I miss fine gentlemen like him. Thanks ever so much for this valuable material. I'm continually sharing these with my Facebook Friends :)

I love the Andy Griffith show man one of my favorite shows loved old Mayberry peaceful town quiet nothing went on there simple times for sure buddy they don't make towns like Mayberry wow interesting cool never been to Mayberry Virginia thanks for sharing the true Mayberry

I live in Mt.Airy NC, Andy's birthplace. We greatly appreciate our association with him and the series. We were a prosperous small area with a history in furniture, textiles and tobacco. We were ravaged by federal government regulations and trade agreements. We have maximized our image with Andy and it has slowed our decline. Most of us take exception to Ted Koppel and his narrow view of our town. We strive to meet the image of Southern Hospitality and appreciate those who visit. Maybe we don't have sole claim to the image of Mayberry,NC, but it's more of a human quality than a physical location.

I wish I'd known this when I was in Mt. Airey looking at properties years ago. I ended up settling down on a mountain in NH

Yep, it was a different time. I grew up watching the show when I was a little kid in the early 60s. Where has the time gone?

Mmmmm....MMmm! Now if that ain’t something ! Hey, did you see this video Barne ? Right here on the internet? It’s jus plumb amazing what these fellas are doing nowadays. Thanks 😊

Subscribed this morning after watching this video and several others. You're very talented and I look forward to seeing what tales you have in the future. As an aside, I spent my teen years in Roanoke, VA and one of my pal's mothers dated Andy Griffith in Mt. Airy. My family visited Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway many times, but I never heard of the lost town of Mayberry. Thanks for making the connection and history clear.

I have eaten at Aunt Bee's Restaurant before and it was so good. It went on to become Sweet Sue's (Lord i haven't thought of those places in MANY years. My family is from Galax Virginia area and when we would go "up home" from NC where we lived, we would stop at eat at Aunt Bee's either before or after visiting my Grandparents! I was a little bitty thing, now my Parents are both gone, and my heart longs for these times. Now, a Momma of a 12,6 and 4 year old, we are planning a trip to Mayberry and introduce my children to the precious memories that both tug at my heart and fill it with my most cherished memories and best days. ) THANK YOU @JD for reminding me of Aunt Bees and these places that from my childhood that had gotten lost in time and space ... BTW have you ever heard of Odell's Drive in also in Mt Airy? It was such an amazing place, ikd style radio microphone looking pieces to order from, girls bringing your food out on Siates and sitting the tray on your window. No drive theough windows.. little red hot dogs, the best French fries, oh my heart. ) With tears rolling, a heart flioded with memories I dont have words to explain, Thank you for soothing a aching spot in my heart. God bless you JD, I mean that from the depths of my heart. Be blessed in Jesus precious Name

Thank you for doing this… wonderful walk down memory lane.

Hi JD, Very interesting story. I am old enough to remember that original show when it aired. Everyone loved it in my family. Thanks for the info and vid!

Grew up watching Mayberry or The Andy Griffith show as I became a young adult and still struggling and staying with my mother I had had the sweetest dream that she and I were living in Mayberry when I told her this in the morning what a great dream I had and what it had been about she who had a bachelor's degree and was a psychiatric nurse quickly analyzed my dream as my longing for a more simpler time in life and I couldn't have agreed more with her how I wish we could just go home to Mayberry even if I'm from Texas

Thanks for the video. I was born in Mt. Airy, NC and grew up near there. We've been to the Mayberry Trading Post several times; it's a neat little store, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you get a chance to go by there, do yourself a favor and get a copy of the book, "The Man Who Moved a Mountain"; it's a great story of a preacher who grew up in that area back in the early to mid-20th century, and all that he did to help the people of that area.

Thanks, love videos like this it's like going back in time. 👍

Thanks man, I never knew about Mayberry VA. Great information, when I was young there were many general stores similar to the one in the video, thanks for the memories 😀 👍

Went to Mt Airy last month. Loved every minute of the trip. 😊

Still my favorite tv comedy. Been to Mount airy last year. A nice experience. Great video. now I'll have to visit Mayberry Virginia. Lol

Well gonna plan another trip🤣♥️ 🚙

Awesome job on this video!

That's pretty cool information. Thank you again for your research .

Thanks for the education! This only about 50 miles from me in Bluefield WV.

Great Video, I love stopping at the general store when I drive north on the Blueridge Parkway on my way to Meadows of Dan , Virginia

While traveling we discovered Mayberry!

Great job!.

Great video!!

Hi! I'm a geographer. In the part of NC where Mount Airy is the community of Pilot. So my contention is this is where they got the fictional name of the closest middle sized town of Mount Pilot by conflating the two names. So, Mount Airy is Mount Pilot. This was also done in the movie "The Last Picture Show" where Archer City, TX was the location that was filmed as the town of Anareen which is actually a community ten miles south. Maybury,VA was probably the inspiration in name for Mayberry, NC

Love the story Andy lived in Manteo N C. East part the state most his life & passed away there about.just figured I'd share. love the story God Bless 🙏

Mr. Phillips thanks for pulling back the curtain on a small slice of southern storytelling. You have to remember people tell stories all the time and sometimes there not always true, but in the end we always like a good story 😊

All that's in Meadows of Dan, VA. He might have used the name from there since it was nearly defunct already anyways, but it was definitely based loosely off of Mount Airy, where he grew up and went to school. Why would he base a show about a small town on a place that barely had a trading post or even enough people to need a sheriff much less a deputy or two in later episodes? Andy's character has to go to the state capitol in Raleigh on official business a few times throughout the show. He never says the NC state capitol, just to the capitol or the state capitol, implying the state he was in was NC. He also says a couple times on the show he has to go to the next town over, Mount Pilot, also known as Pilot Mountain, literally the next town over on the map from Mount Airy and on an early episode he refers to the Snappy Lunch, which was established in 1923, in Mount Airy. The town definitely rebranded after the show took off to cash in on the tourist money, but it was always the inspiration for the show, would have been a pretty boring show based on a sheriff standing around guarding the general store and trading post in a town of about 50 people..

You have amazing country so many interesting places and lot history too ..thank you so much for sharing..have a great day..

Great video Can't wait to visit both 😍

Very interesting the history of Mayberry, Va.

Love your channel bro! Just found it a few days ago! gave you a sub!

Thanks for this, I'd always heard there was a real Mayberry, now I can't wait to visit. I also grew up listening to Paul Harvey 😄

I once dated someone who said: " You were raised in MAYBERRY," while that WAS NOT the name of the town, it did have a "MAYBERRYESQUE,", quality. People CARED about each other and neighbor helped neighbor. I remember my MOM recounted a story of when someone had a new baby in the house, neighbors pitching together and providing an ENTIRE evening meal ( MEAT, POTATOES, AND VEGETABLES ) for that family for at least 3-4 days after the new baby was home. SIMPLER TIMES! I see now what a blessing it was to be RAISED in that environment. ( This is in. MILLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.)

I've been here. Been in the store. I can agree the name was used as the town name in the show. Although if you're a big enough fan and know Mount Airy. On the show many of the street names mentioned are actual streets in Mount Airy. Betty Lynn not only visited. She moved and lived there until her passing last year. The Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy is mentioned in the show. They didn't call Pilot Mountain by it's name instead they called it Mount Pilot. There's at least one scene showing a newspaper and it's the Mount Airy newspaper. I don't agree with your thoughts on this.

Andy Taylor was a hero growing up, unfortunately Andy Griffith didn't have the same reputation and it doesn't surprise me that he allowed his business dealings take away from the true base of the show. Mama said if you can't say something nice...

That store makes me think of stores when I was a kid. Miss those days.

This is so freaking awesome!❤️🇺🇲❤️🇺🇲

Thank you for posting. Excellent video!

Have you ever checked out the Sunny Side General Store close to Hillsville, VA? It's still like it was since I was a child in the 70s. The owners are well aged, and I doubt it will remain as it is much longer. They used to turn their entire basement into a Christmas land filled with every toy for children that could about be found, and people used to come from a long ways and shop for hours. That stopped in the late 80s as they became too old to mess with all of the Christmas product moving. Even with all the mall trappings, no greater joy and wonder was there than to get lost in that basement and tell your mom all the stuff you loved before Christmas. They had candy and stuff upstairs too. You could always find something to do while your parents spent a lot of time looking around at any time of the year.

I really liked that show..Thank you 😊

I live in Mount Airy- My husband and I used to take Sunday drives and stop at that little store often 😊

Fascinating story!

I remember the episodes where the mountain man came down into town with his sons and daughter in the back of the pickup and they all played music.

We lived there when I was a small child.

That’s awesome 👍

The "rest of the story"...a great reference to a beautiful soul. He and Joe Crews were also good storytellers with many interesting truths.. You can find Joe Crews on KZfaq...they both had the same perspective and a great way to share information to make it easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to...just like you. Thank you for bring a little touch of history in the same way. We are enjoying ride : )

Very cool👍👍

That's awesome

Such a cool video.😎👍

One of my all time favorite shows still to this day 😎💕🙏

Yep, I took a picture of that mill on vacation many years ago.

After this, hopefully, they'll get some more business. With all that's going on, try to patronize my locals. Everybody go to Mayberry, Virginia and shop that general store.

Thank you for telling the truth of Mayberry

Next time you watch the show, watch when the actors are in the office there is a map on the wall, it's Idaho.

Cool Story

Im from mount airy. Nothing like the show.

I’m from England been to Mount Airy with old timers from there, Andy Griffith did not like coming back as when young he was poor and a lot of folk treat him like dirt..