The Caretakers of Lynchburg

The vibrant Virginia town was first defined by the river that runs alongside it. Now it's shaped by the people who call it home

- BETSY CRIBB

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, is a city in bloom. Pansies tumble out of window boxes at downtown bars and restaurants, peonies burst from front yards in the historic districts in the spring, and even the occasional flowering weed pops up from the sidewalk with cheery and hospitable flair.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and situated along the James River, Lynchburg got its start as a trade center and tobacco town, thanks to a ferry service there. And over the years, the city has lived many lives: It's been a railroad hub, a supply point during the Civil War, and (by the beginning of the 1900s) a manufacturing site with many factories. Today, it's a college town and entrepreneurial playground with historic buildings thoughtfully transformed into shops, craft breweries, and art galleries.

Lynchburg is blooming in the proverbial sense, too, due to the dedicated locals working to preserve its history, foster its growth, and make this place the kind of city where even visitors feel at home.

Chris and Dave Henderson
The Water Dog

Brothers Chris and Dave Henderson never planned to open up a restaurant in their hometown. "When we were growing up, we didn't ever really think downtown Lynchburg would be a destination," says Dave, owner of The Water Dog, a riverside oyster bar and tap house. "I kind of put it in the rearview mirror." But the area is entirely different these days, notes Chris, the restaurant's general manager. "Now, you come here at night, and it's buzzing and vibrant. There are places to eat, fountains, beautiful colors, and kids running around everywhere having fun," he says.