(NOTE: This story was originally reported March 5, 2014.)
The small TV town of Mayberry is moving from the South to central Indiana with a two-day festival this spring that pays homage to "The Andy Griffith Show."
Danville and the Mayberry Cafe on Danville's town square are hosting "Mayberry in the Midwest" on May 17th and 18th.
When you hear the name Mayberry, images of small town living come to mind, not to mention the theme song for "The Andy Griffith Show."
Danville dentist Larry Caskey whistled the tune as he sat eating lunch Wednesday in Danville's Mayberry Cafe and talked about why people still love the show and why small town living still carries a charm and nostalgia.
"You know who everybody is," said Dr. Caskey. "You know the police officers. You know the business owners and you can walk to all the restaurants."
Caskey was talking about Danville, but he could have been talking about Mayberry, the fictional town where "The Andy Griffith Show" was set, putting Mayberry on the map of cultural phenomena.
"It takes you back to when times were simpler," said Caskey.
"Everybody knows everybody. They get along," said Brad Born, owner of The Mayberry Cafe. "There's people that know about this show from all over the world."
Born opened The Mayberry Cafe with his wife Christine 22 years ago.
"It's Brad's favorite TV show. He always wanted to live in Mayberry," said Christine.
Instead, the Borns serve up a dish of Mayberry and some down home cooking at "The Andy Griffith Show"-inspired restaurant.
"It works in Danville. It's got great all American values, so it meshes well," said Christine Born.
"This is Mayberry," said Brad Born.
Don't tell that to the folks in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina.
"Mount Airy is certainly the place to host the best Mayberry festival because Mount Airy is the home town of Andy Griffith," said Tanya Jones with the Surry Arts Council, the organization that's been organizing Mount Airy's "Mayberry Days" for the past 25 years.
"I don't think any other community can do what we do here in Mount Airy with the Mayberry phenomena," said Jones.
They say, though, that imitation is the best form of flattery.
"This is just perfect validation that the folks who come here, to walk where Andy Griffith walked, are excited and the numbers are growing," said Jones.
"They are the mecca for all Mayberry fans. It's like going home to Mom and Pop. You can't duplicate that," said Born who explained they weren't trying to copy Mount Airy's efforts, only build on the enduring popularity of "The Andy Griffith Show.
After all, they say, Mayberry is universal.
"Everybody knows somebody in that show and relates to them," said Brad Born.
"We are just trying to celebrate our love for the show," said Christine Born.
At the same time, they say, celebrating the Mayberry in all of us.
Mayberry in the Midwest is set for May 17th and 18th.
The nostalgia-filled event will feature appearances from two original cast members. You'll be able to meet Maggie Peterson who played Charlene Darling and Rodney Dillard one of the Darling boys.
See the festival website here.
