Destinations

Destination is a place designated as the place to go or the ultimate goal for which something is done. For those of us who left Athens High School at noon to enjoy a brief romp around town, the destinations were Jennings', Bradley's and White's stores. Venues might also include a brief stop at Lilly's Pet Shop to visit with Chico, the Myna Bird that ran loose and talked a lot, or to the Post Office to joke with Eddie Kissinger. Later, after we had driver's licenses, the boundaries of Athens were expanded to include additional destinations. We found favorite places in the community and claimed them as our own. These included theaters such as the Lavon and Mercer in Princeton and the Colonial and Granada in Bluefield. Especially intriguing as 16 year-olds who could get access to the family car was the Skyway outdoor theatre in Bluewell.

There were many favorite restaurants. Brock's was at the top of the list, followed by Ferrell's, the Green Tree and the Walnut Room. Drive-in restaurants were BIG, especially Bill's, Mooney's, and Thurston's. The first fast food restaurant, Kenny's, was a hit when it was built near Skeen's Grocery. Smiley's, first located in Princeton and later north of Athens on Route 20 under the name "Tilt Tavern," became of interest as we approached the legal drinking age. 

Family destinations that we knew as children, such as Shawnee Lake and Bluestone Park, were rediscovered with friends. Pipestem State Park was being developed. These special places were a few miles from Athens but played important roles in forming the overall Athens experience.