Silver Dollar Music Park encompasses approximately 40 acres of an old school campus. This campus has a great history.  For nearly 75 years Glade Valley School was a boarding school that changed lives and redirected the futures of many young people.

Glade Valley School was the first high school in Alleghany County. The school opened in 1911 with a dream to provided higher education to any student who wanted more than the basic elementary courses offered in those days. Over the years many local residents attended and played sports at GVS.

The school started as a self-sufficient entity.  Parents brought hams, bacon and sausage to offset some of their child's tuition.  The school's farm provided an assortment of vegetables.  The boys fed the chickens, cows and pigs while the girls prepared the meals, cleaned, and ironed clothes.

Over the years the school's academic reputation became so strong that consideration was given to making it a junior college.

When the Great Depression hit GVS, major calamity was avoided due to the school's self-sufficiency.  However, during World War II the number of students graduating fell to less than 10 per year.

After the war the school once again flourished.  In 1948 GVS built a gym to provide basketball court, more space for student activities and for"socials." The school's growth was on a steady increase.

Throughout the 50s & 60s the school continued to flourish. In 1953 baseball, basketball and soccer teams were started and GVS became a serious contender for area schools.  As enrollment continued to increase, more dorms, teachers and staff were added. In 1965 an auditorium with additional classrooms was built.

However, in the late 70s the school's financial woes began and reached a point in 1985 where cattle were sold, farmland rented out and the maintenance staff let go.  Then in 1986 financial problems dictated closing the school and selling all assets at public auction.

After the school was divided and sold at auction, the property and portions of the property changed hands several times over the years.

The once pristine campus was left unkempt and gradually became an eyesore. Buildings began to leaked rain. Vines and weeds took over the buildings and crept through the broken windows and doors.  While varying uses for the buildings were found during this period of stagnancy, none of the uses included any repairs. Sadly, the buildings continued to deteriorate.

Today the only two buildings still standing are the gym and the auditorium. When Buffalo Bob became the owner of the buildings and surrounding property, he began cleaning.  The eye soar was changing.  The campus began to take-on its pristine look of years gone by.  The grounds are mowed regularly. Fresh paint and window repairs are bringing life back into this campus.

Visit it and you will experience the vista that only mountain views offer. The land lies basically flat, but the 360 degree mountain views surrounding the campus are breath-taking.

Go back in time. Feel the dream. Experience Glade Valley for yourself!