Old Cranks RV Campground
Old Cranks RV Campground
4.5
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37 within 3 miles
Attractions
10 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
10 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Dwayne E
1 contribution
Oct 2021
This is a hidden gem, and well worth a visit. Lots and lots of antique autos as well as other period memorabilia. The best part was the owner, who has an absolutely encyclopedic knowledge of each piece and can answer all of your questions on "When," "How," and "Why." He really went above and beyond to make our visit informative and enjoyable, and he has a true passion for what he does.
Written October 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K L
Pineville, WV90 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
The bathhouse was very clean and accessible. The grass was well mowed, the sites were level and graveled. They were all pull though sights with 30 and 50 amp service. Water and sewer was available at each location. $33.00 per night seemed a little steep, but everything else was great. No Wi-Fi and no
AT&T service in town. Very quiet and very convenient especially to the Rex Theater and Smokehouse Restaurant. Unfortunately all the sight are in a field and no shade in sight.
Old Crank’s is right across the street from the location of the Old Time Fiddler’s Competition. Very easy for a “big rig” to pull in. About one half mile from the Galax trail head for the New River Rail Trail. Tent camping is permitted.
Stay here!
AT&T service in town. Very quiet and very convenient especially to the Rex Theater and Smokehouse Restaurant. Unfortunately all the sight are in a field and no shade in sight.
Old Crank’s is right across the street from the location of the Old Time Fiddler’s Competition. Very easy for a “big rig” to pull in. About one half mile from the Galax trail head for the New River Rail Trail. Tent camping is permitted.
Stay here!
Written June 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory D
Maineville, United States12 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
For a 14th year in a row I've been one among a group of friends participating in an autumn tour of a cluster of auto museums, our Annual Auto Museum Adventure! This year our tour took us through Virginia and West Virginia. Our final stop was with Dr. Tom at the Old Cranks Motorcar Museum in Galax, Virginia. In many ways we saved the best for last.
I had communicated with Tom in advance of our travels to determine an appointment time that worked with his schedule and ours. Tom was responsive throughout that process and was waiting for us when we arrived at 9:30am on October 27th.
In short, Tom was a wonderful host. He is a font of automotive knowledge and eager to share. He was patient and available throughout our entire visit. I marveled at his story of the fairly recent restoration of a Model A Ford, a process through which he invited a cluster of high school age young men to participate in a very hands-on manner. At the end they entered the car to participate in the Hemmings Great Race. Who knows how those young lives might have been guided through that process?
Visitors enter the museum into a large lobby of sorts that is littered with a delightful, eclectic mix of automobilia and local history from across the 20th century. Once we had sufficiently taken in that experience, Tom ushered us to a doorway in a side wall. It was somewhat like that moment in the "Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy throws open the door to the brilliant colors of the entirely new world of Oz. Inside that "museum" room you quickly see that Tom's automotive interests are diverse and expansive. It is the technology behind the 1917 Detroit Electric car, the bizarre yet brilliant drivetrain on his primitive Orient Buckboard, the beauty and lines of his little 1935 Hudson Terraplane that appeal to Tom. Like Jay Leno, Tom gets caught up in the elements and pieces of technology that make the stories of each of these vehicles special. The cars are displayed among a mix of appropriate period-dressed manikins, and additional supportive automobilia that enhance the experience.
We assumed our tour was wrapping up when Tom let us know that he had some more cars in the garage behind the museum. Trust me, he didn't have to invite us twice. It isn't that the cars in the garage were not of museum quality. No, there is a multitude of significant museum worthy cars back there. But they are back there primarily because these are the vehicles that Tom puts on the road with some regularity. For Tom, vintage automobile ownership is about more than looking at beautiful lines, pristine paint and blinding chrome. All of Tom's senses experience his cars. The core of his collection still sees significant road time. And through that road time his cars become our cars. We too get to experience and share in those unique joys. I applaud and appreciate that. Thank you Tom. I'm so glad we came.
I had communicated with Tom in advance of our travels to determine an appointment time that worked with his schedule and ours. Tom was responsive throughout that process and was waiting for us when we arrived at 9:30am on October 27th.
In short, Tom was a wonderful host. He is a font of automotive knowledge and eager to share. He was patient and available throughout our entire visit. I marveled at his story of the fairly recent restoration of a Model A Ford, a process through which he invited a cluster of high school age young men to participate in a very hands-on manner. At the end they entered the car to participate in the Hemmings Great Race. Who knows how those young lives might have been guided through that process?
Visitors enter the museum into a large lobby of sorts that is littered with a delightful, eclectic mix of automobilia and local history from across the 20th century. Once we had sufficiently taken in that experience, Tom ushered us to a doorway in a side wall. It was somewhat like that moment in the "Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy throws open the door to the brilliant colors of the entirely new world of Oz. Inside that "museum" room you quickly see that Tom's automotive interests are diverse and expansive. It is the technology behind the 1917 Detroit Electric car, the bizarre yet brilliant drivetrain on his primitive Orient Buckboard, the beauty and lines of his little 1935 Hudson Terraplane that appeal to Tom. Like Jay Leno, Tom gets caught up in the elements and pieces of technology that make the stories of each of these vehicles special. The cars are displayed among a mix of appropriate period-dressed manikins, and additional supportive automobilia that enhance the experience.
We assumed our tour was wrapping up when Tom let us know that he had some more cars in the garage behind the museum. Trust me, he didn't have to invite us twice. It isn't that the cars in the garage were not of museum quality. No, there is a multitude of significant museum worthy cars back there. But they are back there primarily because these are the vehicles that Tom puts on the road with some regularity. For Tom, vintage automobile ownership is about more than looking at beautiful lines, pristine paint and blinding chrome. All of Tom's senses experience his cars. The core of his collection still sees significant road time. And through that road time his cars become our cars. We too get to experience and share in those unique joys. I applaud and appreciate that. Thank you Tom. I'm so glad we came.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joanboltonbpk
Bryson City, NC10 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Call ahead if you plan on going. We drove 30 miles to see the museum only to find it closed. It didn’t look very impressive when looking through the dirty front window and the neighborhood seemed kind of sketchy. The brochure by the front door said it was open a few hours on Saturday and a few hours on Sunday with a “small” admission fee. If you’re looking to camp there, it’s a big open field with a few hookups.
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandi V
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
I have never seen so many cars and history in one place! Not only fantastic old,antique cars, but such a variety of antique items.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian K
98 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We didn't stay at the RV park - just visited the car museum. We've wanted to go many times but they're only open on weekends. But during this last visit to Galax we were finally able to make it. Definitely worth the visit. It's. It as polished as other car museums. But the cars are great to see. After the entrance area with its own collection of memorabilia you pay $4 (YES, only $4) to see the museum. There's maybe 20 cars in there. A Stanley Steamer. And old electric car. Several others from early 1900s up to (I think) a 71 Chevelle. He has the history of the cars listed there. Really nice. But THEN he'll take you in the back to see "the rest of the cars". It's more like a workshop and storage but there's another 50 cars back the in various states of repair. REALLY cool. Some are all restored and could be displayed if he had room in the museum. Others need work. It are still really interesting to see. All kinds. Including some I never heard of. And the owner is willing and able to answer any questions and share his tremendous knowledge of these cars. Definitely worth the visit!!! It's great that he's preserving these machines and sharing the history. And really great he's sharing it with the public.
Written June 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel C
Glasgow, UK11 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
What a wonderful hidden gem in the midst of Galax. Owners were absolutely awesome - what a privilege to see a car collection built up over a lifetime. We were even able to trade a bit of coolant for some ice cream! Do not visit Galax without stopping by to see this treasure.
Written August 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShopTherapy
Herndon, VA108 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Very pleasant trip back in time...vehicles in the museum are surrounded by period ephemera. Wonderful that the owners are preserving these disappearing pieces of history and sharing their collection with the public.
Written October 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond K
Galax, VA10 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
Antique cars along with other items from the era of the vehicle. People are talking about electric cars today but you can see one from the early 19th century right here in this fantastic antique car museum. This collection of antique automobiles is easily one of the best I have seen. And, when you finish the tour, it's time to stop in the lobby on the way out for a delicious ice cream cone. This is one place not to miss while visiting Galax. However, it's best to call ahead and make sure someone will be there to let you in.
Written August 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pattyp814
Rhode Island607 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
I visited this car museum this summer, as it was open on a Sunday unlike many other businesses in the area.
It is a unique museum because it contains the car collection owned by the man who runs the museum.
There are several vehicles and period artifacts on display, along with plaques that outline facts about the vehicle. This part is a self-guided tour; I believe the fee for the tour was $4 or $5 per person; well worth it.
The more interesting part of the stop here was in another room altogether; where the owner seemed to have just as many vehicles crammed into a garage-like space. These are vehicles that I believe he sometimes rotates the collection of for the museum displays.
A very unique stop that we definitely enjoyed.
They also sell ice cream here.
It's worth a visit, for sure!
It is a unique museum because it contains the car collection owned by the man who runs the museum.
There are several vehicles and period artifacts on display, along with plaques that outline facts about the vehicle. This part is a self-guided tour; I believe the fee for the tour was $4 or $5 per person; well worth it.
The more interesting part of the stop here was in another room altogether; where the owner seemed to have just as many vehicles crammed into a garage-like space. These are vehicles that I believe he sometimes rotates the collection of for the museum displays.
A very unique stop that we definitely enjoyed.
They also sell ice cream here.
It's worth a visit, for sure!
Written August 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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