1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1



                                   May 8, 2000




Dan River Inc.
2291 Memorial Drive
Danville, Virginia  24541

         Re:      Dan River Inc. - Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Dan River Inc., a Georgia corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission relating to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock (the "Shares") that may be issued pursuant to the Dan River Inc.
2000 Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

         As such counsel, we have examined and relied upon such records,
documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary
or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In all
such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original
documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted
to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to certificates of
public officials, we have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be
accurate.

         For purposes of the opinion set forth in clause (ii) below, we have
assumed the following: (i) the Shares that may be issued under the Plan and
upon exercise of options issued under the Plan will continue to be duly
authorized on the dates of such issuance and (ii) on the date on which any
option is exercised, such option will have been duly executed, issued and
delivered by the Company and will constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.

         The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the
corporate law of the State of Georgia, and no opinion is expressed with respect
to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on
the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated
herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated herein.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  (i)      The Shares are duly authorized.

                  (ii)     When the Shares are issued under the Plan and upon
         exercise of options issued under the Plan against payment therefor as
         provided in the Plan, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid
         and non-assessable.


   2

         This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no
obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that
come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the
opinions contained herein. This opinion is being rendered solely for the benefit
of Dan River Inc. in connection with the matters addressed herein. This opinion
may not be furnished to or relied upon by any person or entity for any purpose
without our prior written consent.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                      Very truly yours,



                                                      /s/ KING & SPALDING