Chamber News

Foothills Smithy Joins Round The Mountain Loop Trail

The Foothills Smithy in Ararat, Virginia, became the latest in a number of trail sites scheduled to be featured on Patrick County’s Community Loop Trail.

The Foothills Smithy Joins ‘Round the Mountain Community Loop Trail The Foothills Smithy in Ararat, Virginia, became the latest in a number of trail sites scheduled to be featured on Patrick County’s Community Loop Trail. This project, part of ‘Round the Mountain’s ongoing efforts to promote artisans and tourism in Southwest Virginia, features farms and agri-tourism as well as artists and crafters. Patrick County’s Community Loop Trail brochure, a project of Patrick County’s Tourism Advisory Council with support from the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, is nearly completed and ready to go to the printer. 10,000 copies will be distributed at welcome centers throughout Virginia and at Heartwood, the new artisans’ center in Abingdon. The Foothills Smithy is included on this brochure because of the artisan membership in ‘Round the Mountain and the studio is also listed on the ‘Round the Mountain web site at http://www.roundthemountain.org. Tourists will be able to visit the web site and find the many attractions of Patrick County, along with artisan studios, historical sites, B & B businesses and agri-tourism activities. The Foothills Smithy, located in Ararat, is the blacksmith shop/artisan studio of Bill Pruehsner. He is a traditional blacksmith and does not use chemicals in his work. He does all of his welding on the forge or mechanically rivets items as required. Mr. Pruehsner learned his craft as one of the blacksmiths at Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway and still demonstrates at the mill as a volunteer. He is a member of the ABANA Blacksmith's Guild of Virginia.