In The Area
PATTERSON SCHOOL FOUNDATION
Patterson School Foundation is a non-profit organization located in Caldwell County, North Carolina. It was founded to preserve the history and legacy of the Patterson School, an educational institution that operated from 1909 until 2009. The foundation’s mission is to preserve the buildings and grounds of the Patterson School, as well as its archives and artifacts, in order to promote education, historical preservation, and community engagement. The foundation promotes education, innovation, and sustainable agriculture practices through the Incubator Farm Program. The foundation also offers educational programs, tours, and events to the public, and seeks to honor the legacy of the Patterson School and its contributions to the local community and beyond.
HAPPY VALLEY FILLING STATION
Happy Valley Filling Station is a brewery and pizzeria located five miles north of Lenoir, NC. Adjacent to the headwaters of the Yadkin River, the Filling Station is a place to enjoy craft beer brewed on site and wood fired, Neapolitan style pizzas. Enjoy the cozy taproom or dine outside on our covered patio or side deck for deliciously crafted food and drink, at the gateway to Happy Valley.
FORT DEFIANCE
The home was built by William Lenoir beginning in 1788 and was finished in 1792. When the house was originally constructed there were five outbuildings built within a 75 yard radius, a smokehouse, loom house, dairy, summer kitchen and corn crib. Today the smokehouse is the only other original building still standing.
HISTORIC HAPPY VALLEY
Step back in time to a world of quiet seclusion when you travel the backroads through the beautiful historic Happy Valley. It is as though the hurry of the modern world has not touched this natural wonder and historically rich valley on the banks of the Yadkin River. As you travel the scenic N.C. 268 byway, be sure to stop and experience the heritage and tradition of a bygone era. This valley was appropriately christened “Happy Valley” by its early settlers who described the valley as “a place of beauty, peace and tranquility” and the name aptly remains.
WHIPPOORWILL ACADEMY & VILLAGE
A collection of old North Carolina buildings that have been saved, moved and restored. The Village includes a one-room schoolhouse built in 1880 where North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Larkin Pearson attended school. Revisit Daniel Boone's home (replica cabin) when he and his family lived on the Yadkin River region in 1760. Hear an intriguing love story about a Wilkes County legend in the tale of the infamous Tom Dula (Dooley) in the Dooley Museum, which includes a lock of Laura Foster’s hair. Enjoy fine art at the Smokehouse Art Gallery, a reconstructed smokehouse with all original logs from 1700s. Explore the Chapel of Peace, an 1864 Yadkin River Jail, a blacksmith shop with a weaving room displaying an antique loom, and a good ole country store as well. *visitnc.com*