By Matt de Simone
A local effort to connect residents with the region’s past continues April 11 as the Botetourt County Spirit Trail makes its next stop at Stoney Brook Vineyard in Troutville.
The event, scheduled from noon to 5 p.m., is part of the Botetourt County Spirit Trail 1776–2026 series, a lineup of community gatherings leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence in 2026. Organized by the county’s VA250 Committee and the Botetourt Preservation Partnership, the series highlights local history while bringing together agriculture, music and community life.
“We wanted to find a way to celebrate Botetourt County and its influence during the Revolutionary era,” said Patsy Dickerson, president of Historic Fincastle, Inc. last month. “Even though there were no battles fought here, the county played an important role by providing leaders, iron works and citizens who supported the cause.”
The April 11 event will feature live music, food trucks and displays tied to the county’s agricultural roots. At about 3:15 p.m., Tara Williamson will speak about agriculture in Botetourt County, and visitors will be able to view a variety of farm equipment on site. The vineyard will remain open after the event concludes.
Dickerson said in a previous interview that the Spirit Trail grew out of conversations among local organizations looking for ways to better collaborate and share Botetourt County’s story.
“Many of our groups were doing wonderful things, but they were often working separately,” she said. “One of the goals of the partnership has been to bring those organizations together so we can share information, support each other and create events the whole community can enjoy.”
Although no Revolutionary War battles were fought in the county, Botetourt played a role in the nation’s founding as a frontier hub along the Great Wagon Road, supplying people and resources to the war effort. Organizers say the Spirit Trail aims to make that history more accessible through engaging, family-friendly events.
“We hope people come out, have fun, meet someone new and maybe learn something about Botetourt County that they didn’t know before,” Dickerson said.
The April gathering is the first in a series of spring and early summer events. Additional stops are planned for May 9 at Virginia Mountain Vineyard in Fincastle and June 13 at AFOG in Buchanan, each highlighting different aspects of the county’s heritage, from family life to the James River and early industry.
“They’re really for anyone who wants to enjoy the county and its heritage,” Dickerson said.
Organizers say the Spirit Trail is intended not only to commemorate the past but also to build community connections ahead of the 2026 semi-quincentennial.
“Botetourt County appears frequently in archival records from the 1700s,” Dickerson said. “It was an important western outpost at the time and helped supply people and resources for the war effort.”
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
