Love Valley is one of the most unusual places in North Carolina. It is a small town of about 100 people in Iredell County, in the Brushy Mountains. Cars and trucks are not allowed inside the town limits. The only way to travel the main street is on a horse or in a horse drawn carriage.
The Story of Love Valley
Love Valley was founded in 1954 by a man named Andy Barker. He had a dream of building a Christian community that felt like the Old West. He built wooden storefronts along a dirt main street and slowly the town grew into the real life Western village it is today.
What Makes It Special
When you visit, you will see horses tied up along the main street just like in an old movie. A small church sits on a hill overlooking the town. The whole place feels like it is from another time. It is peaceful, friendly, and unlike anywhere else in the state.
Things To Do
- Ride horses on miles of trails through the Brushy Mountains
- Watch or attend a rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing
- Come for the Easter, Halloween, or Christmas parades where horses trot through the streets
- Fish or boat at Love Valley Lake nearby
- Browse the general store, saloon, and shops on Main Street
Getting There
Love Valley is in Iredell County, about an hour north of Charlotte and 30 minutes west of Statesville. It is a great add on to a Brushy Mountain or Wilkes County day trip.
Love Valley is proof that NC still has places that feel totally different from everything else. If you want something truly unique, put this one on your list.
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