Craig County Tourism

Boy here it is April 1st but feeling a lot more like summer with the warmth of the sun shooting the temperature up to 84 degrees.  Not only is spring budding here in New Castle so are several new businesses that are as exciting as the prospect of spring.

The buzz on Main Street are two new restaurants which have recently opened.  The Locust Mountain Grill owned and operated by Joseph and Carolyn Harless opened its doors about a month ago and business has been booming.  Named for Craig County’s own renouned Locust Mountain Boys Bluegrass group the restaurant is decorated in country style decor with red and white checkered table cloths and lots of old time memorabilia on the walls.  It is opened daily except Wednesday and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. It serves up a breakfast that is destined to make some of the bigger pancake restaurant chains sit up and take notice.  If you aren’t a breakfast sort of person not to worry there is lunch and dinner to look forward to.  In addition to the traditional menu of hotdogs, hamburgers, French fries, onion rings, and sandwiches there is always a lunch to dinner special all home cooked of course. The special includes the entree with a large selection of vegetables to choose from with Pinto beans and cornbread a mainstay being offered every day.  And don’t forget dessert.  There is something for everyone including a sugar-free delight for those who can’t eat the real stuff.  And don’t be surprised if some Friday evening you hear the sounds of Bluegrass music coming from the popular restaurant.  It will probably be the Locust Mountain Boys featuring Steve Carper, Jr. (Carolyn’s brother), his son Jesse and maybe that infamous claw-hammer-style banjo-picking Steve Carper, Sr.   The downright delicious food, good company and affordable prices will keep you coming back time and again.

The newest kid on the block is The Garden Gate which opened March 31st.  Owned and operated by Loretta Keffer and her sister Lisa Carnack the restaurant/bakery is a totally new venue for New Castle.  Known for her good cooking Loretta decided to put all that talent to work for the whole community to enjoy.  Just walking into the place is like a breath of spring itself.  Small tables and booths are decorated with table cloths, flowers and of all things – really nice napkins that brighten your spirits in addition to keeping all that goodness from spilling into your lap should you accidently drop a crumb of it.  There are counters filled with homemade baked goods such as cupcakes, cakes, brownies, homemade bread and rolls and the best chocolate covered coconut cream and peanut butter Easter eggs you ever want to taste.  In addition to bakery items you can get a light lunch. Usually there are homemade chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwiches or you can get a lovely salad.  Homemade soup will soon be a part of the lunch time menu. And should you have to wait for a table there are two big overstuffed chairs by the front window where you can relax and read until a table is ready.  The ecclectic mix of primitive and country decor give the place a feeling of welcome and warmth.  And again the prices are just right for anybody’s pocketbook.

If you want to shop around after partaking of all that fabulous food on Main Street the Family Dollar is across the street and the Yard Sale Palace is down the block.  There is also a new consignment shop located in the old Broad Run Trading Post on Rt. 311.  Owners Steve and Amber White have transformed the little log cabin into an upscale consignment shop carrying a little bit of everything including clothes.  One of the most impressive things is the line of prom dresses and wedding gowns on hand – absolutely top of the line.  A big plus is the very large dressing room in which to try on all of those beautiful gowns.

Craig Creek Mercantile – home of Lilies Deli – is on Rt. 311 about 4 miles before you get into New Castle.  Don’t be fooled by its gas-station appearance.  Tucked inside is a delightful deli that serves just about anything you could want from tenderloin and gravy biscuits to fried okra, onion rings,  burgers and fries and daily home-cooked specials.  Just remember you can’t always judge a book by its cover so give it a try.  You’ll be glad you did.

Then there are the mainstay restaurants like Pine Top on Rt. 615 which has been around a long time serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a wide variety of lunch and dinner entrees and homemade desserts.  The New Castle Grill located on Rt. 311 as you come into town also serves all three meals and offers a wide variety of menu items as well.  And if you are in a hurry there is always our new Subway on Rt. 615 across from the IGA Mick-or-Mack Supermarket.  By the way IGA carries plenty of hot food items in their deli including fried chicken, barbecue, meatloaf, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, vegetables and a different dessert daily.  It’s what I would call pot-luck.  You take your chances on the menu each day but you’re lucky to get such good food in such a short time.

Gwen Johnson

Freelance writer