Big Walker Lookout facts for kids
Big Walker Lookout is a super tall tower, about 100 feet (30 meters) high! It's an observation tower where you can see amazing views. This cool spot is located in the Blue Ridge Highlands Region. You can find it right on top of Big Walker Mountain in Bland County, Virginia.
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Visiting Big Walker Lookout
You can get to the tower from the Big Walker General Store. This store is just off US Route 52. It's about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Wytheville, Virginia. The first store building sadly burned down in 2003. A new store was then built right next to where the old one stood.
Long ago, visitors used a swinging bridge to reach the tower. This bridge connected to the back of the old general store. The fire did not destroy the swinging bridge, and it is still there today! You can walk to the edge where the original staircase met the bridge.
Big Walker Lookout often has fun events on weekends. You can watch people show off traditional arts and crafts. To go up the lookout tower, you just need to pay a small fee.
Amazing Views from the Top
The tower is located at a high spot, about 3,405 feet (1,038 meters) above sea level. From the very top of the tower, you can see so much! The view includes mountain peaks in five different states. Imagine seeing that many states all at once!
A Look into History
The Big Walker Lookout tower was first built way back in 1947. The Kime family has been taking care of it ever since. The Virginia Department of Tourism shares an interesting story about this area. The tower is near a mountain pass that a brave woman named Molly Tynes used.
Molly Tynes warned the town of Wytheville about upcoming attacks. These attacks were planned by Union Colonel John Toland during the Civil War. The tower is also the start of a special driving tour. This tour tells the story of the Wytheville Raid. This battle happened on July 18, 1863. During the raid, Federal (Union) soldiers marched to the Wytheville area. They wanted to destroy the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad tracks and bridges. The troops also hoped to ruin important telegraph lines. They also aimed to damage nearby salt mines and lead mines.
Thanks to Molly Tynes' warnings, the battle was not very successful for the Union forces. After some small fights and confusion, Union Colonel John Toland ordered his men into Wytheville. Quickly organized Confederate fighters managed to kill Colonel Toland. They also limited the damage to the railroad track and supplies. The raid did not achieve its main goals. The damaged track was fixed very quickly.
Wildlife at Big Walker Lookout
Big Walker Lookout Tower is a special stop on Virginia's Birding and Wildlife Trail. It's part of the Big Walker Loop. This means it's a great place to spot different kinds of animals, especially birds!
Many cool birds have been seen at Big Walker Lookout. These include wild turkeys and black vultures. You might even spot majestic bald eagles and golden eagles flying high. Smaller birds like American kestrels and peregrine falcons also visit. Plus, several types of hawks can be seen. These include sharp-shinned, Cooper's hawks, broad-winged, and red-tailed hawks. It's a fantastic place for birdwatching!
