Rural Retreat, VA

Set among the rolling hills of Southwest Virginia, Rural Retreat is a quiet mountain valley town surrounded by scenic farmland. With about 1,500 residents, it offers a relaxed, friendly pace where open space is part of everyday living. The town originally went by Mount Airy until postal mix-ups with other towns prompted a name change. Over the years, it built up plenty of character, once claiming the title of world cabbage capital and holding a long-running local connection to the origin of Dr. Pepper.

ATTRSer Amantio di Nicolao / CC BY-SA 4.0

For day-to-day living, the area gives you plenty of room to breathe while keeping community traditions alive. Locals head to Rural Retreat Lake for fishing, boating, and camping, or gather at Heritage Park and the town fairgrounds for seasonal events. The restored historic train depot downtown now serves as a community hub and local museum. Quick access to Interstate 81 makes errands and commutes simple, putting larger stores and employers in nearby Wytheville just a short drive away.