Heading north on I-95, I can still see snow sticking to the ground and salt clinging to the road from last week’s snow storm. I also see signs pointing me to a popular amusement park, but I drive past them. Not just because it’s winter (and too cold for roller coasters), but because I know there are other places that make up this community. There are stories in the fields I see on either side of me that want to be told – and I’m ready to listen to what they have to say.
Doswell is a community located about 30 minutes north of Richmond. The area has three official LOVE signs – one located at Castle Glen Winery (which has unfortunately closed permanently) and two at Meadow Event Park honoring Triple Crown champion Secretariat and the DRIVE SMART Virginia campaign (featured at the top of this blog). While I have been to Doswell many times to visit Kings Dominion, I had never spent time exploring the area. So it still felt like going to a new place for me.
A few months ago I started this adventure by visiting Squashapenny Junction, perhaps one of the most unique antique places I’ve ever visited. It is open on Saturdays by appointment only (you can’t just drop in). This creates an intimate experience for customers to explore the vast collection on their own. The majority of items are true antiques, leaning more towards smaller/ collectable items vs. furniture. I was asked not to take pictures inside (adds to the mystery of the place). But trust me when I say, there are so many wonderful treasures here that you’ll be glad you called ahead to visit the place.
I came back to Doswell recently to finish my LOVE sign hunt which led me to Meadow Event Park, the birthplace of Secretariat. Secretariat is” widely considered to be the greatest racehorse of all time. He became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and his record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, is often considered the greatest race ever run by a thoroughbred racehorse.” Want to know more? Make an appointment to visit the Secretariat Heritage Center at the park, a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the history and stories of this famous race horse.
Today, Meadow Event Park is a multi-purpose venue, with the State Fair of Virginia and other notable events being hosted here. You can also catch some great music here through their After Hours Concert Series. The family and I saw Brothers Osborne here a couple of years back which was a great time. The DRIVE SMART Virginia LOVE sign is also located here (see top image) but know that it does sometimes move. Please call 804-994-2800 to confirm its location before visiting.
A nice place to grab lunch when you’re in the area is Crossroads Italian Bistro. It provides a casual diner-esque experience with an extensive menu that would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I got the strawberry spinach salad with chicken and Brett enjoyed a fried bologna sandwich. And the homemade chips…some of the best we have ever eaten – so good! They also offer a small selection of beers, wines and whiskey beverages to quench your thirst while you eat.
If you find yourself needing to walk off your amazing meal, right next door is Crossroads Village and Antiques. Here, there are so many awesome items that you’ll need a shopping cart to hold all of your finds (which they do provide). There are a lot of different vendors here selling all types of old and vintage items. What is also great about this place are the prices – super reasonable. I purchased an antique brass lamp for only $35, it is beautiful. Brett bought some hand tools, also fairly priced. We love going to antique places and this will certainly be a place we will come to again.
Doswell is a place to love…
While many go to Doswell for the amusement park, there are some unique places and interesting histories here that would peak any travelers interest. It’s easy to get too (right off the interstate) and makes for a nice, quick stop when you need a break from the road. When you see signs for Kings Dominion on I-95, also know that there is a lot more to experience in the town of Doswell.
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| VA ♥️ Signs Visited | Official VA ♥️ Signs |
| 38 | 336 |
Need more info on Doswell Visit the Caroline County webpage.
Is this your first Leah LOVES Virginia blog post read? Thank you for taking the time to visit. If you’re wondering how this adventure got started, check-out my first blog post and my about page. Want to stay connected? It’s super easy and you’ll only hear from me when a new blog gets posted. You can also follow along by friending me on my Leah LOVES Virginia Facebook page.
Important note: I always do my best to ensure everything I include in my blogs are factual and that I also give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something included here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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