The North American Isuzu 4x4 Owners Club
AND
THE ISUZU CLUB RING!
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In association with
~
PRESENT ~
ZUTOPIA!
|
Come join us as we
travel along the scenic mountain
trails of beautiful
southwestern Virginia
and southern West Virginia!
This event promises to be the doorway
to the best
get-away-from-it-all
vacation of the year!
In addition to some first-rate 4-wheeling, I have no doubt that there
will be more than enough entertainment, activities, and various local
attractions available, that you will scarcely be able to decide what you want to do while you are in the area!
The staging
area and home base for the event will be VIRGINIA CITY, an honest to
goodness, actual Ghost Town in the sky! – Formerly known as ‘Dry Gulch
Junction’, an historic preservation of 19th century Americana, it
fell into a state of financial woe in the 1970s and 80s under its previous
owner. It seems that the building of Interstate 77 by-passed the
area’s former main road, US Rt. 52, and the once
thriving tourist traffic, which they had known for many years, declined very
rapidly thereafter. – Alas, such is the way of progress.
The current
owners have taken-on the mighty task of restoring all of the historic buildings
there, having just completed the old hardware store building (now the town’s
gift shop). In addition to this, using only
period lumber and materials, they have constructed a large, covered stage at
one end of the town, where local musicians often come to perform (And the
acoustics are simply amazing!).
I addition to
this, they have added a Gem Mine, complete with a
turn-of-the-century style water-fed sluice, and a covered, open structure built
of mammoth old wood timbers. Although
the buckets there are ‘salted’ with all manner of precious and semiprecious gemstones
(including: Rubies, Emeralds, and Amethysts!), it really
is great fun to try your hand at sifting for treasure, and splashing about on a
hot summer’s day!
Consisting of
250 acres of mostly forested land, and taking-up part of one whole side of Big Walker Mountain, Virginia City is located
just a few miles outside of the town of Wytheville, VA, on US Rt. 52. – With close
and easy access to both Interstates 77 and 81.
Should you want to bring a motor home, camper, or camper
trailer, you will find there is little trouble involved in getting there, and
electrical and water hook-up and support is available.
(At this time, I have no information about the costs… I will announce
any and all tent-camping and/or camper/motor home hook-up fees, as well as any
other additional fees there may be, for whatever other features that might be
involved with the event, just as soon as they have been determined.)
There are an untold number of notable points of interest within
the immediate area!
Among these,
there is The
Wolf Creek Indian Village; after very thorough and devoted
archeological research, they have made an authentic recreation of an actual
Indian Village, on its original site, accurate right down to the placement of
the animal pen fence posts. – Take a very interesting and informative
trip-back-in-time to the days before the European settlement of America.
Also, there is
the Big Walker Lookout. A lookout tower set atop, you guessed it,
Big Walker Mountain. It is like a
trip-back-in-time too, but only as far back as the days before the Interstates. The tower, and its gift shop and deli are
straight out of the 1950s… rustic, quaint and charming in every way. And the view from the tower is absolutely
breath taking!
The near-by
town of Wytheville,
VA has plenty to offer as well. Set at the crossroads of Interstates 77 and 81, it is both a
sleepy little town, steeped in it’s own historic charm, and completely modern,
all at once. There are plenty of good
restaurants, including a few that are completely unique to the town, such as The Wohlfahrt
Haus Dinner Theatre; and choices for lodging, at
well-known and established motel chains, are more than ample.
Within a short drive from the ZUTOPIA event at Virginia City…
If you care to
spend a few extra days or so in the area, making this the whole of your summer
vacation trip, you will find that there is so much to see, that you will
scarcely know where to begin. No matter
what your interests might be (short of there being a BEACH, naturally) the
surrounding region has plenty to offer.
The Town of
Abingdon, VA, home of The Barter Theatre, The State Theatre of Virginia; featuring
quality performances of many well-known plays, some of them known to include
cast members from the original Broadway productions!
Abingdon is
also home to The Martha Washington Inn, a four-star
accredited hotel. Once a stately early
19th century mansion, it is now one of the most luxurious hotels in
the South. – Yes, it IS expensive, but you will likely not find better
accommodations in any of the world’s finest hotels.
Not to be left
out, Abingdon is also home to The
Tavern. BAR NONE, in all of my
travels, it remains my all-time-favorite restaurant. The building, dating back to the late 1700s,
is so full of genuine atmosphere and that you would think you
had just stepped out of a time machine!
OH, AND THE FOOD!!! - You have not eaten until you have
had their Stuffed Filet Mignon, or their French-style Full Rack of
Lamb with Lavender and Fresh Mint!!!
They also offer an exceptional selection of wines and import beers, such
that you might only hope to find in many “finer” restaurants. – Expect to
pay $25-$50 (or so) per person for all of this, but it is unquestionably
worth every single penny!
Abingdon also
offers many Antique and Curiosity Shops for you to explore in the historic down
town district. – And there really is treasure awaiting you in some of them!
The Crab Orchard Museum, Pisgah, VA
Also close
by: Mount Rodgers National Recreation
Area, Hungry Mother State Park, The Appalachian Trail, The Blue Ridge Parkway,
both the Jefferson and Washington National Forests, as well as many interesting
towns, and a whole host of other scenic, historic, and natural attractions.
Visit Virginia's
Southwest Blue Ridge Highlands Home Page for loads
more travel, tourism, lodging, and restaurant information within the
surrounding area.
I feel truly
blessed to live in an area surrounded by so many beautiful places!
I pledge whatever
assistance possible in helping you to find those places and things that are of
personal interest to you! – I have no doubt that once you have visited this
area, you will want to return again and again, year after year!
I look forward
to hearing from all of those who are interested in coming to my quiet little part of the world, to enjoy some kick-ass 4-wheeling. - And after doing so, at day's end, when all of our 4x4s are muddied and resting, we'll have to have a beer around the campfire, and compare notes about the day's events, as we all get to know one another better. - But don't forget to get some rest, because for those who are interested, there will be a whole 'nuther day of wheeling ahead!
If you are interested in attending this event, or if you hope to do some 4-wheeling in the area, sometine in the future, there is now a Yahoo! Group devoted solely and exclusively to this purpose! The ZUTOPIA Group exists to allow fellow 4x4 fanatics to get together and plan their next trail or mudding adventure! - Take a moment, and join ZUTOPIA right now... Membership is completely FREE! - Just ONE CLICK, AND YOU'RE IN!!!
If you found this site via an Isuzu link, and you ARE NOT a
member of E-ZooZoo
then I invite you to JOIN TODAY!!! < Just click here! Membership is completely FREE! E-ZooZoo is focused upon Isuzu related topics, and membership is open to anyone who is currently an owner, those seriously debating becoming an owner, or for anyone who has ever previously been an owner of any Isuzu manufatured 4x4 vehicle.
I will update
this page regularly to reflect any additions or changes, as they apply to the
date and/or the scheduled activities for the ZUTOPIA event.
If
you have any questions, comments, or special needs relating to the event,
please contact The
ZUTOPIA Information Center.
Thanks all! – And remember,
“A 4x4 owner that you do not know is simply a friend you have not yet met!”