Virginia’s Love Signs Locations and History

When it comes to the state of Virginia, there’s a lot to love. With the picturesque Atlantic coastline to the east and majestic mountains to the west, it’s the perfect destination for any adventurer. There’s gorgeous countryside, rich history, beautiful beaches, excellent wineries, and so much more. And if you’ve journeyed around the state, you’ve likely spotted some of the impressive LOVE signs too. They’re large, fascinating works of art. But even more intriguing is their history. Before you head out on your next road trip through Virginia, read on. You’ll learn how the LOVE signs came to be, their locations, and more.

Let’s first go back to 1969. That’s when The Martin Agency (who had recently won the Virginia State Travel account) created ads that pointed tourists to the state’s unique highlights. Examples include “Virginia is for Beach Lovers“; “Virginia is for Mountain Lovers“; and “Virginia is for History Lovers.” While good, the ads were considered too limiting, so the agency dropped the specifics, and the resulting tagline simply became “Virginia is for Lovers.” The first ad campaign using the snappy slogan appeared in the March 1969 issue of Modern Bride magazine. It was a success from the start, capturing immense advertising acclaim ever since. Today, you’ll see it touted on everything, from Virginia’s license plates to its welcome signs. Virginia now celebrates over 50 years of the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand.

To reinforce the love theme, the Virginia Tourism Corporation commissioned various artists to create huge signs that spell out the word LOVE. Since they are works of art, the signs are called “LOVEworks.” Each is made out of materials that directly relate to the local area where they’re situated. The intent of each sign is not only to surprise and delight its viewers but also to enhance the surroundings. What’s more, they act as fun backdrops for people to share photos online, usually with the hashtag #LOVEVA.

There are nearly 300 LOVEworks signs throughout Virginia – one of which is in our delightful hometown of Cape Charles. Located at the beach next to the fishing pier, each letter of the Cape Charles LOVEworks sign tells a story.

The L is made of seashells and sea glass to represent our beautiful bayside community. The O is a tractor tire, which may seem odd, but it represents agriculture. Northampton County is renowned for its idyllic farmland and fertile soil, producing wheat, potatoes, green beans, and tomatoes. The V is made of two intersecting kayaks, which represent a wide variety of watersports and outdoor adventure activities (boating, fishing, swimming, paddle boarding, beachcombing, hiking, golfing, jet skiing, sailing, and more.) Finally, the E is made of crab pots, representing delicious crab and other tasty, local seafood like oysters and shrimp, all of which are sweet and plentiful here.

Of course, the LOVEworks sign in Cape Charles is our favorite, but there are several more LOVEworks signs to enjoy nearby. Just over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, there’s one aptly named “Love is in the Air” at Norfolk International Airport. There are seven others to admire in and around Virginia Beach too. See the map of all the Virginia LOVEworks sign locations to plan your trip.

While you’re visiting the LOVEworks signs nearby, we invite you to come to Cape Charles not only to view our beautiful LOVE sign but to experience Bay Creek too. Here, you’ll discover an extraordinary lifestyle on the Chesapeake Bay in a distinctive, master-planned community and resort. We happily bring families together to live their best lives via close connections with nature, stunning coastal landscapes, state-of-the-art amenities, and active lifestyle programming.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Where there is love, there is life.” Come see the captivating LOVE sign at Cape Charles, and you may just discover your new awe-inspiring life at Bay Creek. Don’t wait – schedule your discovery visit today.