What is a Rubberneck Tour?
Belmont County Tourism’s 47th Annual Rubberneck Tour is worth is a second look. Started in 1971 as an agricultural “fall foliage” driving tour, the name came from an initial planning meeting in which someone said, “Folks sure do like to drive and rubberneck at scenery”. With fewer working farms in the county, the focus of the tour has shifted, it remains a free, drive-it yourself tour that people from around the state look forward to every year.
This year’s tour will take place Sunday, Oct. 13 from noon- 6 p.m. and features 10 stops in the Flushing area. The tour is dedicated in honor and memory of the late Dr. John Mattox whom passed away in July. Dr. Mattox was co-founder and curator of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing and very active in tourism in Ohio and West Virginia.
Download a copy of the brochure at https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/4ada38_35ad05cc46a44cab81cb0c00fbf222c3.pdf
The UGRR Museum is a stop on the tour which also includes: Schuler Park, Stratton Flour Mill, Stratton House Inn, Flushing Fire House, Flushing Business District (American Legion, Howell Building, Furniture Rescue, Senior Center and Municipal Building); Flushing United Methodist Church; Zion Christian Retreat & Nature Center; Flushing Alliance Church; and Sunni Rae’s.
Participants located at Schuler Park (395 Morristown St.) will be: the St. C Flyers with model airplane aviation demonstrations; master falconer Mick Brown demonstrating the ancient hobby of falconry; Mark and Beth Mitchell with a antique Wilhelm Bruder Sohne fairground organ; Belmont County Soil and Water will be giving fishing lessons; and Raspberry Fields Apiary will be selling their honey products and demonstrating the importance of honeybees.
At Stratton Flour Mill (213 Mil Rd.) there will be an antique farm equipment demonstration by the Stumptown Steam Threshers. There will be information about the mill and visitors will see the progress in cleanup and structure improvements at the mill. They will also be displaying craft items made from Flushing Flour sacks. The Mill was constructed in 1878 and the Stratton House Inn was constructed in the 1890s.
The following stops are within walking distance on High Street in Flushing:
The Flushing Fire Hall (104 E. High St.) will be open as a food and restroom stop. The department’s equipment will be on display and members will be present to show people around and answer questions.
At the Flushing American Legion (104 E. High St.) the Ladies Auxiliary will be serving soup beans and corn bread.
At the Howell Building (115 E. High St.) the Flushing Alumni Association will display items, pictures, memorabilia, and other items highlighting the history of Flushing High School.
Furniture Rescue (119 E. High St.) will be open to offer their wares and will be serving cider and donuts while supplies last.
The Flushing Senior Center (201 E. High St.) will be open during the tour.
The Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, Ohio.
Behind the Underground Railroad Museum (121 High St.) the Belmont County Master Gardeners and friends of the museum will be at Rozz’s Garden offering pumpkin decorating for children. They will also be giving away flower seed packets.
Also on the tour will be the Flushing United Methodist Church (301 E. High St.) and the Flushing Alliance Church (431 High St.).
Zion Christian Retreat & Nature Center (334 E. High St.) will offer complimentary fishing, boating and open house tours during the Rubberneck Tour. Visitors are asked to check in at the office located at 334 E. High St., and pick up a punch card. There will be five stops within the grounds. The stops will include: the office, RV park, Eagle (luxury cabin), Lakeside Pavilion and rustic cabins. If you visit each location, you will be entered into a drawing for a family getaway to Zion. Visit https://www.zionchristianretreat.org for more information.
Also at this stop, The Brooks Bird Club will have an informational booth and some birding equipment. They will be available to help identify the numerous bird species found at Zion.
Sunni Rae’s (450 High St.) is a 12,000 square-foot antique and collectibles store. Gran’s Goodies will be selling baked goods, vegetables, and plants in the parking lot.
Stops will be numbered and marked with signs, however, they can be visited in any order.
