The Shadow
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA (VR) – For eight years, Alleghany Outdoors has been turning the Jackson River and the trail that runs alongside it into one of the busiest recreation hubs in Alleghany County, and this month, the outfitter is adding a reggae concert to the mix.
The business, located at 1903 Dressler Drive at the Intervale Trailhead of the Jackson River Scenic Trail just north of Covington, serves as the official
contracted concessionaire for the Alleghany County Parks and Recreation Department. Matt Fischer, the facility manager, said the operation has grown
steadily since it opened, driven largely by tourism but increasingly aimed at drawing in local residents as well.
“It’s mostly with tourism, of course, but we’re trying to target that local crowd,” Fisher said.
Alleghany Outdoors offers kayaking and canoeing trips on the Jackson River ranging from four to ten miles, along with a two-mile tubing run. The outfitter also rents standard and electric mountain bikes, including several adapted for special needs, for riders tackling the roughly 15.5-mile Jackson River Scenic Trail. Shuttle service is available up to Cedar Creek, with stops along the way at Cliff View Restaurant and Petticoat Junction. The business also runs Lake Moomaw rentals, offering paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, and more.
This week, the outfitter is offering a $15 tubing special for local residents, giving them about an hour and a half on the river.
Beyond river and trail activities, Alleghany Outdoors regularly hosts community gatherings on its back deck overlooking the Jackson River, as well as sound bath meditation sessions using vibrational bowls on the first Friday of every month, along with periodic “floating feast” events that pair a community float down the river with dinner from local restaurants, often accompanied by live music. A floating feast featuring Casa de Leones is scheduled for July 11, with more events planned through the summer.
The centerpiece of the summer lineup is a reggae concert set for July 18, featuring headliner Lazy Man Dub Band along with opener Father Sun. Lazy Man Dub Band has performed reggae music in the region for more than two decades. Father Son, a rising act slated to play Floyd fest this year, has previously opened for the Wailers, the band once fronted by reggae icon Bob Marley.
“I don’t know if reggae has ever been here,” Fischer said. “One of the thoughts I’ve had is just bringing in different music, and especially cultural, ethnic-type stuff that we don’t get to enjoy here every day.”
Fischer is hoping the shows help build a following among local music fans in addition to visiting tourists.
The business has deep roots in the area. Fischer’s family has lived in the region since 1870 and has been involved in local business for seven or eight generations. He is the third generation of his family to run a business in Alleghany County, noting his family owned the area’s first movie theater which was in Clifton Forge.
“It’s been one of my big passions, to come back here where there’s so much family history, and just start something and make it grow,” Fischer said. “I like seeing the community start coming around, especially with all these new trails coming in and opening. I really hope to see more.”
Alleghany Outdoors is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Labor Day. More information on trips, rentals and upcoming events is available on the business website at, http://alleghanyoutdoors.com or by phone at (540) 969-1800.
