Most of my family is originally from the Grundy, Prater and Deel area. As a matter of fact, my mothers family name is Deel, so if you go there you will meet tons of my relatives. Anyway, I am a little off topic. I hate going there. My grandfather decided to leave that hell hole of a town, and has only gone back for short family visits over the past 60 years. First, there is no easy way to get to Grundy. From anywhere outside of far southwest Virginia, you actually have to drive through West Virginia to get there. Techincally you are in Virginia, but the people there have more in common with West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Second, the town is flood prone. I am not sure if they have done it yet, but there was a plan to move the entire town to higher ground. It tends to flood a lot. Third, you will not see signs of civilization. There is nothing, I mean NOTHING to do in the town. Fourth, it is all coal fields and rednecks. You actually see people that look like they are straight out of deliverance. They speak in an Appalachian dialect, not a southern accent. If you can understand anyone, I will be impressed, considering my grandfather left that town 60 years ago, and I still have hard time understanding the man. And he speaks better than most people from there. Finally, it is flat out depressing. If you can cope with poverty, and places that look like they are straight out of third world nations, then Buchanan (Pronounced Buh-Can-nun by locals, not like the former presidents last name) County Virginia is for you. I personally refuse to ever go back, and i skip family reunions that are located there because it is just that awful.
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