In case you aren’t familiar, the iconic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was performed by John Denver alone, but was written by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert with a bit of help from John Denver himself in 1971 as an ode to West Virginia and it’s beauty.
Oddly enough, none of those three were from or ever spent much time in West Virginia, nonetheless, the song is an incredible tribute to the natural beauty of the Mountain State – which just so happens to be about an hour from Washington, D.C.!
What part of West Virginia inspired ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’?
Well as we stated, none of the song’s writers has spent a significant amount of time in West Virginia, although John Denver had traveled around the state briefly and was smitten with its natural beauty – which was one of the things that he conveyed while helping write the lyrics to the song.
However, the lyrics in the song’s chorus, “Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River”, tell us everything we need to know – the song is describing Jefferson County, West Virginia.
How do we know ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ is talking about Jefferson County, WV?
West Virginian locals know that the Blue Ridge Mountains barely extend into the WV state border, in fact, it only extends into one singular county of the entire state: Jefferson County.
On top of this, the Shenandoah River passes only through Jefferson County in WV and not any other county in the entire state!
So while the song is a beautiful tribute to West Virginia as a whole, based on the lyrics, the only possible place John Denver is referring to as “Home” is Jefferson County!
Things to do in Jefferson County, West Virginia
There’s a long list of fun activities and things to do in Jefferson County, most of which are perfect for the Summer!
1 – Visit Harpers Ferry
This beautiful spot is an incredible fusion between interesting history and jaw-droppingly beautiful nature. The historic small town is located exactly where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, making for an incredible view from one of the hiking paths above.
2 – Go for a hike to see West Virginia’s famous rolling hills
The world-famous Appalachian Trail just so happens to run right through Jefferson Country in Harper Ferry, so take advantage of this and see the same views that could have inspired at least part of the most iconic folk songs of all time!
3 – Go out on the river and ride the waters
Although the song’s lyrics say West Virginia is a “stranger to blue water” because it’s a landlocked state, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun in the river this Summer!
Aside from the hikes or biking trails that give you views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, you can ride the waters in a raft, kayak, canoe, or even just a simple tube for river floating.
4 – Visit the charming small town of Shepherdstown, WV
This picturesque and refreshing small town might be the perfect place to recharge your emotional and physical batteries away from the stress of the capital city this Summer!
Aside from having stores dedicated to renting everything you might need for just about any outdoorsy activities you can think of in the area, the small town also has a unique cultural and art scene, making it a unique and pleasurable experience for everyone!