Last Updated: May 2026
We couldn’t resist touring the Mount Airy area in North Carolina after years of watching Andy Griffith. What we didn’t expect was to end up camped on land once owned by the world’s most famous conjoined twins — or to discover that North Carolina produces genuinely good wine.
Mayberry Campground
The campground sits on land once owned by Chang and Eng Bunker — the original Siamese twins. No trees or bushes between the sites, but pads are level gravel. Cable was grainy, wifi was unusable, so we relied on our own hotspot. Voltage ran at 118 (bumped up by our Hughes transformer) and water pressure held at 45 psi. Most guests only stayed a couple of nights. They had a catch-and-release fishing pond, and Jake spotted a fish and lunged for it — luckily missed a hook to the mouth. Now every time he sees water he puts his nose straight in, still searching for that fish.
Chang and Eng Bunker
Mark Twain wrote a book called “The Siamese Twins” based on the Bunkers. They were born in 1811 in Siam — today’s Thailand — joined at the sternum. An autopsy after their deaths revealed their livers may have been fused or touching, meaning surgical separation would have been fatal from blood loss if not infection. A Scottish merchant discovered them and exhibited them around the world. When their contract ended, they settled in North Carolina and may have been among the first Asians to become American citizens. They were above average in intelligence, did well financially, were Buddhists, excellent fishermen, skilled with firearms, and played the flute.
They married sisters and all four slept in a specially built bed. The two couples had 21 children between them. Over time the sisters grew to dislike each other, so two separate homes were built and the brothers alternated three nights at each. The Civil War financially devastated both families and they briefly returned to touring exhibitions. Chang became an alcoholic and eventually had a stroke. In January 1874, Chang died in his sleep. Eng died approximately three hours later — possibly from disseminated intravascular coagulation. They were 62. It’s surprising no one has made a major film about their lives.
Downtown Mount Airy
Downtown is old, dated, interesting, and touristy — a little heavy on the Mayberry memorabilia, but fun nonetheless.
Andy Griffith
He was born in Mount Airy in 1926 and died in 2012 at age 86 from a heart attack. As a newborn, Andy lived with relatives until his parents could afford their own house — his crib was a dresser drawer. He grew up listening to music, graduated from Mount Airy High School, and earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After numerous plays and films, he took the role of Sheriff Andy Taylor in fictional Mayberry in 1960. Don Knotts was one of his closest friends. Knotts won multiple Emmy Awards for the show — as did Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee) — while Andy was never even nominated. He stayed in contact with Knotts until Knotts died from lung cancer in 2006. TV Land dedicated a statue in Mount Airy honoring the show and Andy came for the celebration.
Old North State Winery and Brewery
A nice restaurant, winery, brewery, and bar all in one. Their wines are light, low-alcohol at around 12%, easy drinking, and all estate-grown. The reds are blends — very different from California reds, which are full-bodied and pushing 15% alcohol. We enjoyed a vegan flatbread and a bottle of their Restless Soul red blend.
Round Peak Vineyards
We enjoyed their tasting room and the views from the back patio. The woman pouring was also studying to be a winemaker, which made for a great conversation about North Carolina wines. Their prices are excellent. Like Old North State, their reds are harvested with lower sugar content — frequent rains make it difficult to develop the fruit. Nevertheless, they are good table wines and worth buying. The Biltmore’s wines are better, but they import grapes from California and charge accordingly.
Blue Ridge Parkway
We set out again on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Scenic, though not as dramatic as the Asheville section — more farms and houses in this stretch. We came across what looked like a black rat snake, about three feet long, warming in the sun.
Mabry Mill
We came for lunch but the restaurant was still closed for the season. Ed Mabry built the grist mill in 1905 to grind corn into coarse grain for livestock feed or cornmeal for household use. The millstones were cut from quartz at a local quarry. Mabry later added a sawmill, wheelwright shop, and blacksmith shop. It’s one of the most-photographed spots on the entire Parkway.
There were a number of old outbuildings and a still. The doorways were not very tall.
It was a lovely walk in the woods. We came upon trillium and lilac in bloom along the trail.
Visitor Information
Mayberry Campground is in Mount Airy, NC on land once owned by Chang and Eng Bunker. Level gravel pads, catch-and-release fishing pond, no shade between sites — bring your own hotspot. Mabry Mill is a free National Park Service site on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 176.1 in Virginia; the restaurant typically operates May through November. Round Peak Vineyards is in Ararat, NC, about 15 miles east of Mount Airy and well worth the short detour.
Practical Tips
Downtown Mount Airy is compact and walkable — budget two to three hours for the Mayberry-themed shops and the Andy Griffith statue. Approach North Carolina wines as lighter, food-friendly table wines rather than big California-style reds and you’ll enjoy them on their own terms. On the Blue Ridge Parkway in spring, watch for snakes warming on the pavement, particularly on cool mornings. The Mabry Mill restaurant closes for winter, so call ahead if you’re planning a lunch stop.
