Floyd: History, Art and Music

Floyd brings together its local history, art, music and cycling opportunities. When choosing a hotel in Floyd, you can first decide whether historic buildings, a Friday evening event or a bike ride should shape your stay. These interests lead to different priorities when planning your visit and routes.

Local history across different periods

The historic significance of the Floyd Historic District dates back to 1832: Floyd, originally called Jacksonville, was established as the county seat of Floyd County. The district includes the historic Jacksonville Cemetery as well as a wide variety of historic residential and commercial buildings. The cemetery and the buildings’ different uses offer concrete starting points for exploring the town’s history.

The Floyd County Historical Society Museum is housed in the historic former Ridgemont Hospital, built in 1913 and also known as the Marie Williams House. This lets you consider the town’s early history and the story of a single building as two distinct topics.

Art and local culture

The Floyd Center for the Arts brings together visual arts, handmade crafts and music. It celebrates living traditions while also welcoming innovation. A wide range of classes are offered in its various studios. Concerts and festivals take place on the grounds throughout the year. Since individual exhibitions and event dates may change, check the relevant schedules before planning a visit around a specific event.

The Old Church Gallery is an educational organization focused on art and history. It showcases the artistic and historical heritage of Floyd County and the surrounding area, complementing the arts center’s offerings with an explicit focus on the region’s history.

Friday events and community-grown food

The Floyd Country Store is more than 100 years old and serves home-cooked country food. The Friday Night Jamboree takes place there every Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Floyd Artisan Market is scheduled for Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Community Market Pavilion next to The Station in downtown Floyd. If a Friday is important to your trip plans, check the dates of each event in advance.

The Floyd Farmers Market makes food grown in the community available to local residents. Its schedule may vary seasonally, so check the current dates before planning a visit. This lets you make a market visit a separate part of your itinerary instead of assuming specific opening hours.

Cycling routes and nature

A fully paved 28-mile cycling route runs from the Town of Floyd to the Blue Ridge Parkway, heads toward Rocky Knob, then returns to Floyd via several overlooks and the Rocky Knob Recreation Area. The Crooked Road Ramble is another paved route, covering 84 miles through Floyd County and Franklin County. At 28 and 84 miles, the routes differ considerably; their stated lengths provide a concrete starting point for planning your rides. Check the route and road conditions before setting out.

The Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve has 13 occurrences of rare plants, three occurrences of rare animals and six significant natural communities. A steep, one-mile trail leads to the summit. If you plan to hike this trail, take its gradient into account and check current access conditions before your visit.

For the broader travel overview: Floyd County.