If something in Love Valley, North Carolina, seems familiar, the inspiration behind it was the Old West of Hollywood Movies. The 172 residents share founder Andy Barker's dream of being a cowboy. Andy was a successful general contractor in Charlotte when he chased his dream and built a small town in a Brushy Mountain remote valley. While many visionaries have founded towns, Barker really built them. He took the crew from his JA Construction Company and built the town. The first building to go up was the Love Valley Presbyterian Church, which fulfilled his other dream of a Christian community. The little brown church is still going strong.
The town was in the spotlight in 1970 when it hosted a rock festival. The Allman Brothers Band headlined the event, and over 100,000 people invaded the town. Some of the attendees are still living here. Further attention found its way here in 1988, when Joe Ponder, the town leather smith, made it into the Guinness Book of World Records with the world's strongest teeth. Appearances on Ripley's Believe It Or Not and the David Letterman Show brought Love Valley to the rest of the country.
Today, the town has some of the most dedicated horse lovers in the world. If you want to trek into town, it must be by horseback, carriage, or wagon, as cars are not allowed. There, you can find a blacksmith, tack shops, a general store, and hitching posts outside the establishments. For visitors, there is a parking lot outside of town. If you don't own a horse, you can rent one at Brushy Mountain Horseback Adventures or Love Valley Buggy Rides & Horse Rentals. There are over 2,000 acres to ride on, 24/7, and just a few rules to follow. If exploration is not your thing, guided tours are available.
For a ride of a different type, register for the Love Valley Roubaix. Three days of bicycle races start and end in Love Valley. The gravel track through the mountains is a scenic but grueling event that tops out at an elevation of 11,241 ft. Since 2022, the 50-mile race has added a 100 mile-option. The Friday Night Hill Climb is for Omnium riders only. An omnium is a four-race event about endurance; Saturday's races are speed. Zeb Ramsbotham was the winner of the 100-mile race in 2022 with a time of 5:40:38.9.
Take a piece of the town home with you at Moonshine Gifts. It was opened in 2006 by Andy Barker's granddaughter, Tori. Here you can find pottery, quilts, and "Cowgirl Bling." If you still feel the race's effects, comfort food is in order. Try one of the hand-made sundaes, milkshakes, or root beer floats. No Love Valley store is complete without a selection of horse gear.
A common problem horses have is flies around their eyes, but in Love Valley, flies aren't the only pest. If
ants, roaches, or
termites have found their way into your home or business, there is an answer, At Ease Pest Solutions. We are the area's leading pest control service and look forward to taking care of your issues.
