Dry Gulch Junction, now Virginia City, was open from the mid 1960's until 1981 and was the third largest attraction in Virginia at the time. It was abandoned in 1981 after Interstate I-77 diverted traffic from the area. We purchased it in 1999 and are restoring the town as a living museum. Sadly there are no longer trains and daily gun fights. We now do the gun fights once a month. But, there is still lots to do at Virginia City! Virginia City has since been visited by folks from 48 states and 13 foreign countries. Virginia City is located on Big Walker Mountain off Highway 52 ten miles north of Wytheville. We are open to the public 10am to 6pm from April 14th through October 31st.

Our Frontier Town

Virginia City, formerly Dry Gulch Junction Railroad, has 20 restored buildings including the General Store, the Covered Stage, Town Hall, the Grist Mill, the Jail & more! Take a tour of our historic town and see shops and countless photographic opportunities. There is a Gem Store and the beginnings of our Gem & Mineral Museum. We have covered picnic tables and the gem sluice is covered as well. The view of Jefferson National Forest is panoramic & breathtaking! Ample parking is available for buses, RV's, bikes and horse trailers. Our facilities are handicap friendly!

Admissions

There is no admission charge to Virginia City, but donations help our restoration and are greatly appreciated. Prices for mining gems and panning for gold are provided below.

Groups and Gatherings

For a special event, you can reserve our space! Book our revived historic town to host events of all sizes, from birthdays to family reunions, from weddings to parties. Schools groups will find fun learning opportunities at Virginia City. We offer guided tours through the buildings and landscape of our exciting town. For more information on reservations for your group or gathering click on the Reservations link.

Old-time Bluegrass Jam & Music on the Mountain

Every Friday night from May 4th through October 12th, VIRGINIA CITY host our weekly, Old-time Bluegrass Jam beginning at 7:00 p.m. and going until the musicians quit. There are indoor and outdoor stages, so the show goes on, rain or shine. Bring musicians to jam, music lovers to enjoy, and lawn chairs or blankets to be comfortable. Concessions and picnic tables are available. We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition and expanding our Friday night family.

Our monthly Second Saturday Series, Music On the Mountain, will be held this year on June 9th, July 14, August 11, Sept. 8, and Oct. 13. Plan to come at high noon and stay until 8 p.m. or so. We provide mountain music, cowboy shootouts, and concessions. Concession & vendor spots will be available. There is a $5.00 admission (16yrs+).

Old West reenactors will stage shootouts various times throughout the day. There will be food and drink available at the concession stand. Bring lawn chairs and jackets. Vendors and crafters are welcome to bring their wares. Kindly keep the old time theme for crafts and merchandise being sold. Contact us with questions about selling food, crafts, and merchandise at: Jeanne Davis: 276.223.1873 or info@vacity.com

6th Annual Halloween Haunted Town (2007)

VIRGINIA CITYwill be Halloween Haunted this year the last two weekends of October (19/20 & 26/27), from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. We'll have lots of games, pumpkins to carve, and face painting, all for free! There will also be free contests, so wear your Halloween best, and win one of our many prizes. Small guided tours of Town begin at dark and are by donation, $5 suggested, benefiting the Wytheville Junior ROTC and the Virginia City Restoration Fund.

Mine for Gems

Try your hand at mining for gems at Virginia City. Buckets contain at least a dozen different gemstones. The bucket prices are $10.00 for a medium bucket, $25.00 for a large bucket, $50.00 for a deluxe bucket, and $100.00 for a rockhound bonanza bucket. Groups of 10 or more receive a 20% discount. Reservations for groups are required for the group discount. Check out the Reservations page.