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Welcome to Franklin County Virginia "Wettest County in the World!"

Moonshine Shack Wettest county in the world Franklin County VA

Matt Bondurant's fictional tale based on a true story of a family of Depression Era Bootleggers is being made into a major motion picture starring:

Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Jason Clarke, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Eric Mendenhall, Dane DeHaan, Jessica Chastain, and Mia Wasikowska. Directed by well known Aussie director John Hillcoat (who also directed "The Road"and "The Proposition.")  Buy this book on Amazon.com  See the actors in this movie here.

"Wettest County in the World" has Best Cast in the World! See article here

'Wettest County' -- Franklin County, Va. -- goes Hollywood See article here

People are already referring to this movie as EPIC! 

The best way to sum up the moonshining activity in Franklin County Virginia is "The Franklin County whiskey conspiracy case" in 1935 which brought widespread attention to the county.  Learn more about The History of Moonshining in Franklin County: "Moonshining reputation built on long history"

Franklin County holds the dubious distinction of being "Moonshine Capital of the World," a title bestowed during Prohibition and one that was most deserved, said Powell, who worked as an agent with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for more than 30 years.

MOONSHINE BLUE RIDGE STYLE

The History and Culture of Untaxed Liquor in the Mountains of Virginia - click here to read about it!

 

Franklin County Moonshining in the news (here's just a few to whet your whistle):

  1. The Economist Magazine Print edition "Moonshine: Lightning strikes. An ancient tradition is alive and reeling" Apr 16th 2009 | FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA
  2. "Virginia authorities notice increase in illegal alcohol busts southwest part of state" from Washington Post March 28, 2011
  3. Franklin News Post (FNP) article "Moonshine stills, guns seized at Penhook residence" March 16, 2011
  4. FNP article "County man gets two years probation in moonshine case" Auguest 7, 2009
  5. FNP article "Wirtz man sentenced in moonshine case" July 31, 2009
  6. FNP Column "Morris puts his dime on 'shine'" December 16, 2009
  7. FNP Column "Morris misses moonshine days" May 27, 2009
  8. FNP Column "Morris teaches magazine writer about moonshine" April 1, 2009 (Blake from The Economist magazine stayed with us at The Claiborne House while researching for the article.)
  9. FNP article "New CD reflects county's 'shine" March 16, 2009
  10. FNP article "It's time to recognize success of racing pioneer Wendell Scott" January 16, 2009
  11. FNP article "County man gets 30 months for role in illegal still operation" January 9, 2009
  12. FNP article "Cars, money and land seized in moonshine case" Sept 24, 2008
  13. FNP article "Powell's books recount moonshine days" February 1, 2008
  14. A correspondent's diary about the moonshine industry, published on Economist.com "Setting the Still"
  15. Book Review on Moonshining: Morris reviews 'Chasing the White Dog'
  16. ABC Agent Jack Powell's newest book, "A Dying Art III: Revenuer's Memories of Yesteryear's Moonshiners"
  17. "A taste of Franklin County's spirited past" April 14, 2011 Roanoke Times
  18. "Still talking moonshine" April 15, 2011 Smith Mountain Lake.com

GET THE RECIPE FOR CORN LIQUOR click here

What was the biggest Moonshine Bust in Franklin County?

In a 1972 bust, the largest still ever found in Franklin County was destroyed.

With 20 718-gallon vats, the still was located off Prillaman Switch Road between Ferrum and Henry. The operation had a mash capacity of 14,360 gallons, capable of producing 1,436 gallons of whiskey per week.
Later that year, in December, an even larger still was found near Ferrum, with 24 718-gallon vats.

That December bust gained such notoriety, as most Franklin County residents will say with a wink and a swig of pride, that a photo of the still has been widely distributed and a copy of it hangs in the Franklin County Courthouse.

No one was ever charged in the December 1972 bust. Our local reporter and larger than life Franklin County character Morris Stephenson took the photos of this bust.

FESTIVAL CELEBRATING BLUE RIDGE TRADITIONS

“Thoroughly authentic.”
—The New York Times

Traditional music, crafts, foods of the Blue Ridge region and old-time competitions will be showcased on the Ferrum College campus always the fourth Saturday in October at the annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival.

The festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature an array of Blue Ridge traditions and folkways, including country cooking, crafters, wheat threshers, moonshiners, sheepherders and banjo frailers. See the Blue Ridge Institute website for more details, click here. It is just 8 miles from The Claiborne House, directions here.