The Great River Road - Transylvania

     Paralleling both sides of the mighty Mississippi River, the Great River Road covers over 2000 miles, travels through ten states and follows centuries of American history. This National Scenic Byway is one of the oldest, longest and most unique byways in the country. Dating back to the Franklin D. Roosevelt era, the highway consists of a patchwork of local highways and main routes. From Minnesota to Louisiana, this transcontinental route invites travelers to explore the culture, scenery and each unique small town story on the way.
     For those already familiar with the lower Great River Road, a land of exquisite plantation mansions, huge levees and a string of riverfront towns, this feature focuses on Louisiana's northern section of the Delta from Vidalia to Gassaway. This broad expanse, stretching north and south for 100 miles is only broken by an occasional tree line. Here on the Mississippi River Delta, farmland is discussed in thousands of acres. Row crops vary between corn, cotton and rice, with Louisiana's largest crop of soy beans ever, covering a million acres. Following U.S. Route 65, one of the most interesting names you'll come across is Transylvania. Quickly reminded of Bram Stoker's Dracula, the town enjoys its spooky image. One of the only towns with a bat image on a water tower and a general store featuring Count Dracula on the window, you may soon wonder who would name their town Transylvania. Aside from the non-official town slogan, we're always glad to have new blood in town, there's little connection to the Romanian Province of Transylvania.

   Map of Transylvania