Burke's Garden

Burke's Garden is a mysterious geologic bowl about two hours west of Roanoke.  According to "The Majesty of Burke's Garden" by Helen Barranger, the valley could be a couple of things.

From the air, or from the Appalachian Trail which overlooks it for a time, Burke's Garden could be a volcano crater or an ancient lake bed. Indeed, millions of years ago it did lie beneath an ocean, for most of the rocks are of marine origin, say authorities Jim and Louise Hoge. However, the drip of water on limestone ultimately formed the 20,000-acre bowl.

According to the historical marker we saw when entering the valley, Burke's Garden has been settled since 1754.  Today it is still a very agricultural community, but there are now only about 250 people in the valley.

It's a nice trip, but there are almost no services so don't count on catching a meal at a local restaurant. While in the General Store, we heard a story about a lady locking her keys in the car and OnStar taking over seven hours to get someone to help her.

We came into Burke's Garden from the north since it appeared to be a little less crooked trip up and down the mountain.  This composite map will give you an idea of the area.

It's a beautiful area, and certainly more isolated than our Tay Creek Farm (now a B&B)  in New Brunswick.  We at least had a small grocery store, garage, clinic, library, and bank only five miles from us.  I suspect the Burke's Garden inhabitants have to drive to Tazewell which is fourteen miles away for any services.

I posted additional pictures of Burke's Garden at one of my websites.

 

Comments

[Joyce Tibbs Ortiz]

Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures of Burke's Garden. My father took me once years ago when I first started working on the family genealogy and I have been promising myself to get back there since that time! You have at least given me a more recent look at the place my ancestors called home, and for that I thank you.

[Don Wills]

Found the location of Burke's Garden by accident while looking at satellite images of the area. Remarkable sight. So obvious! Looking further indicates it would be a good place to visit. Thanks for the insight gained from the description and photos.

[Mike Morgan]

Visited Burke's Garden yesterday 9/7/07. It was beautiful and provided unusual sceanery for even a lifelong Virginian, like myself. The summer has been unusually dry and, what I suspect is atypical for the area, the rolling grass valley rimmed by mountaians was reminiscent of the chaparral one might see in California. Blooming goldenrod was spectacular as were the great herds of cattle, pretty farms and the beautiful mill pond. Came in through the low pass and out over the high pass (a long, narrow, gravel, mountain road with a succession of tight switchbacks only a steady handed driver could enjoy). Had a great afternoon exploring. Only downer was an highly unfriendly shopkeeper in the one store in the valley. Pack a lunch.

[sandy elswick]

I first saw an pictoral of burkes garden in a magazine and i fell in love with it.my husbands family is from raven va,and i wish i had known that i was so close to such a amazing and beautiful area.I will be visiting the area soon.

[JT]

Yes, BG is absolutely awesome. I hope not many will make the effort to find it. I did, 'way, 'way back in 1986, on a backroad motorbike tour, I came in on a dirt road, pre-GPS.

don't go there, there's nothing to see.

[H.E.R.]

My family was born and raised in Burkes Garden. It's a beautiful place. I spent my summers there as a teenager and I had some great memories.They had square dances once a month in the old school gym and everyone came whether they were young or old,we all had a great time.

[H.E.R.]

My family was born and raised in Burkes Garden. It's a beautiful place. I spent my summers there as a teenager and I had some great memories.They had square dances once a month in the old school gym and everyone came whether they were young or old,we all had a great time.

[Christina Burk Phillips]

Thank you for posting the pictures of Burkes Garden. My 8x great-grandfather is the James Burke who is attributed with discovering the area. I'm adding a visit to my 'bucket list'. Anxiously looking forward to seeing the beauty in person.

[Stacia]

I live in Tazewell and have an Environmental Degree, although Burkes Garden strikes up the imagination of things like volcanoes, astroid strikes, or mountain lakes, it is acutally a geologic formation called a double pitching anticline that collapsed thousands of years ago due to the week nature of the limestone that underlays the region. Basically creating a very large sink hole. What ever the case it is a beautiful place and anyone that lives there is lucky to enjoy its beauty everyday.

[Tom]

I live in Bluefield about 20 miles or so from Burke's Garden. It is a nice rural farming community, and some "outsiders" who have found its remoteness attractive. the view of the valley from the Appalachian Trail is amazing! The best time to go is for the weekend of the fall festival. I highly recommend strawberry rhubarb preserves that are sold at the church on rt. 61 heading toward Tazewell from the bottom of the mountain! :)