Virginia’s state slogan is “Virginia is for Lovers”, and there are many LOVEwork sculptures and murals around the State celebrating that fact.
The giant LOVE Shoe is located in front of the Craddock-Terry Hotel and one other giant shoe is on the façade of the hotel.
In 1888, The Craddock Terry Shoe Company was founded by John W. Craddock. The shoe company began a legacy in Lynchburg and grew into the 5th largest shoe company in the world. In 2007, the original factory was converted into the Craddock Terry Hotel and Event Center, a downtown luxury accommodation occupying the original building and the historic William King Building.
This building produced over 2,500 pairs of women’s shoes per day. The Craddock Terry Shoe Company produced every type of shoe, from baby shoes to combat boots, to the tune of nearly 100,000 pairs daily at the peak of their production capacity.
Paying homage to its origins, shoes are celebrated at the Craddock Terry Hotel and Event Center with whimsical touches such as complimentary in-room continental breakfast served in an old-fashioned wooden shoeshine box, shoe-shaped signs to label each guestroom door and shoeshine service available upon request. The decor throughout the hotel is accented with historical artifacts mixed with modern artwork, and a unique collection of shoe memorabilia gives a further ode to the building’s unique heritage.
