Rockingham County joined the tradition in 2015 with just 20 squares. Today, 43 barn quilt squares created by local artists are featured among the rolling hills and mountain views north of Greensboro and just south of the North Carolina/Virginia border, with more squares planned.

“The trail was created to celebrate community artists and family heritage, while providing an economic boost to historically underserved areas,” says Rockingham County Tourism Development Authority’s Tara Martin. “The RoCo Quilt Trail really captures and celebrates Rockingham County’s rich history and agricultural roots.”

The trail provides towns a community-building opportunity to create a shared cultural project. Local artists, families and organizations participate in designing and displaying quilt squares at unique locations. In return, the towns gain a bump in tourism economy, with visitors exploring downtowns, shops, historic sites and eateries.

Four separate routes make up the RoCo Quilt Trail, with each route a different color on an available trail map (see sidebar). The routes are based on geographic locations, and each section’s order is based on the best route to travel while following the trail. And the routes encourage visitors to explore hidden gems found in parts of the county otherwise overlooked.

“The connection between the individual square and the surrounding places to visit was one of the main drivers for the current layout of the RoCo Quilt Trail Guide,” Tara explains, pointing out that the guide serves “to connect them to the nearby places to eat, places to shop, stay and play.”

Quilt highlights