This book was written by local author, Michael Ryan, about the life and history of Rock Castle, VA.

As part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Rock Castle Gorge in Virginia is full of nature-loving hikers every year. Along the trails, hikers discover sentinel chimneys of fieldstone along with other remains of homes and gristmills, mere reminders of a once thriving community. Within these pages are the faces of the people who once lived here and their stories, told in their own words, about the Blue Ridge Mountain community known as Rock Castle, Virginia.

Michael Ryan has worked as a seasonal Interpretative Ranger for the National Park Service on the Blue Ridge Parkway since 2006. He holds a Master’s degree in History. He has written and presented programs on various regional historical subjects including the Underground Railroad, the Rock Castle community, and the Civil War in Floyd and Patrick Counties.