Written and photographed by Pfafftown, NC native, Scott Dickson, In Search of Mayberry is a fascinating look into some of North Carolina’s most celebrated and loved small towns. If you are an Andy Griffith Show fan you are sure to enjoy this material. Dickson focuses on small town values and beliefs and guides the reader through 12 towns and villages centering his pictures and descriptions on the town and its history.
Scott grew up in a small town in the northwestern piedmont of North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University. He strongly pursued a career in the music business before settling down with a small-town girl from Stanfield, NC in 1999 and has 2 children. He enjoys college football and basketball, vintage NASCAR, reading, writing, photography, music of all kinds, playing drums and creating music with friends, time on the farm, the mountains and the beaches of NC, classic television shows, spending time with his family and watching The Andy Griffith Show reruns, of course.
In Search of Mayberry 
I’ve been looking for a community in North Carolina to eventually retire in and will be visiting the Black Mountain area next weekend. The community we’re looking at referenced your book and I’ve just purchased it.
I was curious as to your opinion of the city of Black Mountain compared to some of the other communities close to Asheville …
Dale
I just purchased and read your book and visited the Black Mountain area … currently looking at a community there (The Settings) and was wondering how you’re feeling about the area since the book was published a few years ago. Only a few minutes away from the community is a relatively new area with restaurants and small stores (Morning Glory Cafe, The Artisan Gourmet Market, etc.) that maintains the small town feel along with the traditional Black Mountain downtown area.
Do you feel that the Black Mountain community will be able to retain this small town feel and avoid larger, commercial and franchise stores from building within the community. We’re planning on retiring in this area in a few years and would appreciate your thoughts …
Dale
Dale – I know that is their goal. They want to preserve that small town atmosphere. I hope they keep the “big box” stores and franchises away from the downtown area.