For the past couple of years, the big news out of Davie County has been economic development. Big names such as Ashley Furniture and Wake Forest Baptist Health, Ingersoll Rand, Avgol and more have invested millions of dollars in new facilities in the county, and smaller firms like Carolina Precision Plastics and Pro Refrigeration have set up shops offering good-paying jobs at a time when employers are extremely picky about where they’ll locate.
But when WXII News 12 paid an all-day visit to Historic Downtown Mocksville this past December 11th, they weren’t there to cover a business opening or a groundbreaking ceremony for a new business. Instead, the number-one news team in the Piedmont Triad was there to “Celebrate Davie,” with a special focus was on the people and places that make Davie County uniquely appealing to residents and visitors alike.
Longtime nighttime news anchor Cameron Kent took viewers to Cooleemee for a trip down to The Bullhole, an eye-catching waterfall on the Yadkin River that generations have relished as a prime swimming and fishing spot, then peeked into the area’s past with a report on Lake Hideaway. The man-made lake, fronted by a beach created with sand hauled in from the North Carolina Coast, was the gathering spot for Davie County teens in the 1950s and early 1960s, but decades after closing its charms are found only in memories.
History buffs were treated to a report on Joppa Cemetery, final resting place for legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone’s parents Squire and Sarah Boone and his brother Israel.
Chief meteorologist Lanie Pope traded in her maps and charts for mixing bowls, eggs, and flour at Ketchie Creek Bakery and Cafe in Mocksville. While Pope’s creations were passable, you’ll probably want to visit when the regular team is whipping up its signature Five-Flavor Pound Cake, which Our State magazine described as a “symphony of flavors.” But who knows—you might get to taste the bakery’s wares at a wedding at WinMock at Kinderton, a 1920s-era dairy barn that was converted into a a rustic yet tasteful special-events center in 2011.
At the end of the day, though, it’s the folks of Davie County that make it such a special place to live, work, and play. Morning news anchor Kimberly Van Scoy introduced Seth Grooms, a hugely successful Special Olympian and a fixture at Davie County High School football games—so much so that he was named an honorary member of the team. In fact, Grooms is so beloved in Davie County he was named marshal of the town’s 2012 Christmas parade. Emma Slabach stopped by the WXII studios to show off her special talent: the 13-year-old is a cup-stacking champion and has competed in evens sanctioned by the World Sport Stacking Association.
And even when the news team visited one of Davie County’s most successful enterprises, the focus was on the people more than on the product. Trailers of the East Coast, which provides trailers for many NASCAR teams and for major national companies like FedEx and Walt Disney Corporation, goes back three generations, when Ted Junker bought an appliance and hardware store in Mocksville. Today, his son Bill and Bill’s sons Clint and Will run the business—and nine grandchildren stand ready to join the Trailers of the East Coast team at some point.
Of course, there are far too many hidden charms and smiling faces in Davie County to be covered even in an all-day TV broadcast—which is another way of saying you should take time to make a visit. Visit the Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Facebook and Twitter pages for a list of events, businesses, attractions, and more.
Once again, thank you to the entire team at WXII News 12 for picking a day to “Celebrate Davie.”