Where is Andy Griffith

Day 5

June 11, 2019

Left Danville around 8 AM and took the “shortest” route but probably longest time since it was mostly two-lane country roads.  Beautiful country!  Beautiful weather!  Only had 80 miles to go so we actually arrived in Mt. Airy at 11:30 AM way too early to check in at the Comfort Inn.  So we headed down town and stopped first at Wally’s gas station for a tour of the court house, the jail, Sheriff Andy Taylor’s desk and we took a tour around town in the squad car.  Lots of information about the town, the granite quarry, Andy Griffith, and the show.  We learned that the Ford Motor company told Andy they would supply a new squad car every year if he would agree to use only Ford vehicles on the show.  Ford knew the show was going to be a hit and Andy knew a deal when he saw it – couldn’t get much better than free.  Brand new Galaxy 500 rolled off the line, repainted in a flat black; then after a year Ford took the car back, put it back on the line repainted it in the original color and sent it to a dealership as a used car.  No one knew they car they were buying had spent one year on the Andy Griffith show.  The man who gave us the tour allowed Todd to sit in the driver’s seat and blow the siren when we go back to the garage.  He was so proud.  We stopped at his home which is a very small little house where he lived from the age of 8 until he moved away as an adult.  His folks lived there until 1966 when he was doing very well in Hollywood and moved them out to be with him.  The house is now owned by the Hyatt (hotels) and can be rented.  Bet that price is hefty.  We parked downtown and walked around; went into Floyd’s Barber Shop but no barber was on duty.  The man there (Floyd’s son) said he hoped they would have a barber by Wednesday or Thursday.  Gave me his number to call because Todd really wants to get his hair cut at Floyd’s Barber Shop.  We then walked over to Snappy Lunch and ate lunch; stopped at Opie’s candy store and each of us got a small bag of candy from the various candy jars just like we did as kids.  All new to Todd but it brings back memories for Don and me.  Back to the hotel and Todd spend an hour or so in the pool and then we headed across the street to a Mexican restaurant.  Todd was a bit hesitant, but he really like what he got.  Back to the room for the night.