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I’m constantly amazed at the amount of history that is around me and near where I grew up. Recently, I took a day trip to Mount Airy, North Carolina. I’ve known for a long time that the Andy Griffith show was based on the area near Mount Airy and that The Andy Griffith Show is a big deal there. I just never took the time to go check out all memorabilia and history the town has to offer.
After doing so, I’d highly recommend checking out Mount Airy, especially if you are a fan of the classic Andy Griffith Show. To help you plan a trip, I’ve come up with the Five places Andy Griffith fans must visit in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
The first and most obvious place to visit is the Andy Griffith Museum.
This was my first stop and I would definitely recommend it as a first stop as well for fans of the show. You pay a small fee to enter the museum and that covers admission to the Andy Griffith Museum as well as the Mayberry Mural Theatre, the Betty Lynn exhibit, the Mount Airy to Mayberry Photo exhibit, and the Original Siamese Twins exhibit all located below the museum. Admission to the museum also includes admission to the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall at the Historic Earle Theatre.
I checked out all of the exhibits listed above except the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall as I believe it was under construction at the time. However, all of the other exhibits were really interesting and well worth the small fee! The main museum displayed a lot of costumes, scripts, and original props from The Andy Griffith Show, which was fun to see. Lots of history and facts about Andy Griffith himself were also displayed in the museum.
When I went below the museum, I found a beautiful mural of Mayberry which is definitely worth seeing! I’m not sure who the artist was, but they are amazingly talented! The photo exhibit and Betty Lynn exhibit were also below the museum as well.
The surprising and especially interesting exhibit was the one about the Siamese twins. I wasn’t expecting that but was fascinated to learn about the twins’ history. I had no idea they had even existed before visiting the exhibit!
Next, head over to the Mayberry Courthouse.
As you walk up to the doors, you’ll just know you’re about to see Andy and Barney waiting inside. When you walk in, you’ll see the desk, jail cells, and even a jar of Aunt Bee’s infamous pickles! It’s such a cute setup and it does look a lot like the actual set on the show, however it’s all just a replica. Some of the actual props and sets are in the museum I mentioned earlier. Still, you can see and touch everything in the courthouse which also makes for some great photo opportunities!
I had to sit behind the desk and pretend to be Andy and then I headed into one of the jail cells to be Otis for a bit. It was such a fun little stop and I highly recommend it for any Andy Griffith fan. After finishing up at the Mayberry Courthouse, go next door to another place fans of the show must visit.
The third place to visit is Wally’s Service Station.
The outside of Wally’s looks like an old service station where maybe Andy or Barney would have filled up the squad car. There are wooden rocking chairs on the front porch so anybody that wants to can sit and chat and rock for a bit. There are also a few antique vehicles parked around that are great for photos!
Inside Wally’s, you’ll find lots of Andy Griffith collectibles and souvenirs. They have crafts, t-shirts, and old-fashioned snacks like Moon Pies and RC Cola too! I enjoyed looking at the local artists recreations of their favorite Andy Griffith moments or characters displayed throughout the store.
Perhaps the most popular reason to visit Wally’s Service Station though, is the squad car rides. At Wally’s you can hop in an old police car, just like the one from the Andy Griffith Show and tour Mount Airy! I personally didn’t get to go for a ride but I saw several car loads of people touring the town. It looked like a super fun way to see Mount Airy! If riding in a squad car isn’t your thing, then drive to this next location, park nearby, and see it on foot.
Downtown Mount Airy is a must-visit location.
There is parallel parking on Main Street but if you’re like me and hate attempting to parallel park on a busy street, then there are other parking lots nearby. After you’ve parked, be sure to check out all of the little shops and restaurants right on Main Street. You’ll find antiques, Andy Griffith and Mount Airy souvenirs, restaurants that look like 50s diners, and even a theater!
I went into a lot of the shops and me and my family decided to stop in at Walker’s Soda Fountain and get a milkshake. Walker’s is set up like a 50s diner and is so adorable inside! Go there for good food and a fun atmosphere! I didn’t get to eat at Snappy Lunch or get a haircut at Floyd’s City Barber Shop but they are there on Main Street if you want to stop in.
Finally, on our way out of Mount Airy, we decided go by Andy Griffith’s actual house that he had purchased in 1935 and lived in.
It’s still right in Mount Airy!
We found the address at the Andy Griffith museum I mentioned earlier. It now has another owner who rents out the house as sort of a Bed and Breakfast. So it’s possible to actually stay in Andy Griffith’s old house!
If you’re a fan of the Andy Griffith Show or even just appreciate classic television and small towns, then I hope you’ll put Mount Airy on your list of places to see. I’m not a huge fan of the show but I have seen enough of it to love and appreciate it. To see and learn more about the show, the actors, and feel like I’m really in Mayberry, was such a treat!
Are you a fan of the Andy Griffith Show? Let me know in the comment section below!
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