Love Valley, NC: A Cowboy Town

If you're seeking a unique adventure and the chance to experience the Old West in the heart of North Carolina, then Love Valley is the place to be. As soon as you step into this charming town with a population of just 105 residents, you'll feel like you've walked onto the set of an old Western movie. Wooden boardwalks and hitching rails for horses on Main Street set the stage for a journey back in time.

The absence of automobiles on Main Street is one of Love Valley's most distinctive features. Tori Barker, a Love Valley resident and the granddaughter of the town's founders, Andy and Ellenora Barker, proudly shared, "We don't allow cars on Main Street." This unique prohibition harkens back to the vision that Andy Barker had for Love Valley.

Andy Barker, a successful contractor hailing from Charlotte, had always dreamed of living in a true cowboy town. When he couldn't find a place that matched his dream in North Carolina, he decided to take matters into his own hands. While working in Statesville, he happened upon 1,000 acres of land, and without hesitation, he negotiated its purchase. Andy and Ellenora, along with their two young children, moved into a humble one-room shack on the property and embarked on the ambitious project of creating Love Valley.

In 1963, Love Valley was officially incorporated, complete with a mayor and a town council. Today, the town proudly continues to honor its Western heritage by hosting a variety of exciting events. Love Valley remains a hub for Western enthusiasts, featuring rodeos, horse pulls, mountain man rides, and other events that capture the spirit of the Old West.

As you visit Love Valley, you'll find yourself immersed in a time when cowboys roamed the streets, saloons were bustling with life, and the open prairie was just a stone's throw away. It's a place where the spirit of the Old West still thrives, and a testament to one man's dream to create a cowboy town in the heart of North Carolina.

Photo courtesy of Town of Love Valley