Big Walker Lookout – Wytheville, Virginia - Atlas Obscura
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Big Walker Lookout

Wytheville, Virginia

A 100-foot metal tower and swinging bridge that provides stunning views of mountains in five states. 

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Big Walker Mountain Fire Tower Shanleigh30 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Big Walker Mountain Fire Tower Shanleigh30 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Big Walker Mountain Fire Tower Idawriter / CC BY-SA 3.0
View from the tower Idawriter / CC BY-SA 3.0
BW Country Store Sean Jackson / CC BY-ND 2.0
Observation Tower emilyhay (Atlas Obscura User)
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This family-owned rustic gem is located on the summit of Big Walker Mountain in the Jefferson National Forest. The tower has been run by the Kime family since it was first built in 1947.

After you climb up the steps of the 100-foot tower you are rewarded with spectacular views of mountaintops in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. As you walk down the tower, you can walk across a wooden swinging bridge.

The BW Country Store is located at the base of the tower where you purchase tickets to the tower and adjoining swinging bridge. Adult tickets are $8 and children’s tickets are $5. The store sells ice cream, handicrafts, postcards, and a sizeable collection of souvenirs.

The whole complex feels like a roadside attraction from a bygone era.

Know Before You Go

Tickets to the tower and adjoining swinging bridge must be purchased inside the BW Country Store. The store has seasonal hours and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the winter. The swinging bridge feels a bit rickety but the views are stunning.

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Published
March 30, 2023
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