In the early 1970s, when someone mentioned Hunt Valley, they were referring to the office park or the inn somewhere in the northern wilds of Cockeysville off Shawan Road.
Valley View Farms had expanded from a small roadside stand by then into a single building filled with cider and pumpkins for Halloween, ornaments and lights for Christmas, and a tire swing for children to play on.
Today, Hunt Valley has emerged as one of Baltimore County’s most desirable areas to live for its country charms and quick access to downtown Baltimore, and Valley View has become the pre-eminent garden center in the area.
“It’s in the country a little bit,” said Claire Cann, who lives in Hunt Valley Station, which is next to the old Northern Central Railway line — now used for hiking and biking.
“It’s great to be so close to the trail.”
Abraham Lincoln once traveled along this route to deliver the Gettysburg Address in Pennsylvania.
Though much of the area has been developed since then, one of the main draws to Hunt Valley is the beauty of the land.
“I have acres of pristinely undeveloped property,” said Katherine Gust, who lives in a modern home near Oregon Ridge.
“It will remain that way.”
She moved to the area a few years ago from Baltimore.
“I’m getting ready to have a second wedding on my property,” she said. Both of her daughters will have been married there.
“I’ve been growing a victory garden every year. If the economy gets real bad, I’ll turn my backyard into a tent city, and we can all live together on the vegetables,” Gust jokes.
She frequents Valley View Farms for her gardening needs and takes classes offered Saturday mornings.
“I’ll also run up there for the must-have perennial,” she said.
Valley View has grown exponentially over the years in space and services offered, but its essence remains the same. Its Christmas display — with 50,000 lights and 140 trees– rivals the glimmering spectacular in Hampden.
The aroma of the garden center — a mixture of scented candles and fresh-cut greens, unchanged since the early days — takes one back to an era when Johnny Unitas hurled spirals and Brooks Robinson played the hot corner.
For Hunt Valley, the game has changed considerably since then.
The new Towne Center has transformed the community — replacing a mall built in the early 1980s with restaurants, upscale retail, movie theaters, a Wegmans grocery store and Caribou Coffee.
“[Caribou] is infinitely better than Starbucks,” Gust said.
A trip down York Road into Cockeysville for the essentials is no longer necessary. It’s all in one place now.
“I love living out here and being so close to everything,” said Gust.
“It’s very family-farmish.”
Hunt Valley has become home.
10 Things: Hunt Valley
VALLEY VIEW FARMS GARDEN CENTER
Since 1962, this store at 11035 York Road has been the premier garden spot for Northern Baltimore County residents. The staff is informative, friendly and courteous. Gardening classes are offered Saturday mornings. Its legendary Christmas display features 50,000 lights, 140 trees and 6,000 ornaments. 410-527-0700
HUNT VALLEY STATION
On Hunter’s Run Drive, this sought-after development of town houses and detached single-family dwellings backs up to woods that connect to the beginning of Hunt Valley’s Northern Central Railway trail, which is great for running, biking and hiking.
WEGMANS
One of the main attractions of the Hunt Valley Town Centre on 118 Shawan Road, Wegmans makes it difficult to get out of the prepared food section without being tempted. With a restaurant on site, Maryland’s first Wegmans has dazzling displays of fresh produce, artisan breads and other baked goods hot from the oven several times a day. There are displays of fresh seafood, meat, deli products, imported cheeses, international foods and all the groceries and household items usually found in supermarkets. 410-773-3900
CARIBOU COFFEE
Finally there is an alternative to the Starbucks juggernaut in Northern Baltimore County, in the Hunt Valley Town Centre on 118 Shawan Road. Decorated like a moose lodge, the place is comfortable and the house blend will become your home brew after a few samples. Les, the manager, has the inside story on good stores to shop in. 410-229-0112
OREGON RIDGE PARK AND BEACH
The park offers various year-round recreational activities, open to the public, on 13401 Beaver Dam Road. Oregon Ridge has an accessible playground, posted fitness area, three-hole par-3 golf course, horseshoe pits, seasonal swimming and sledding plus miles of hiking trails. Voted Baltimore’s best place to swim in 2007, the beach at Oregon Ridge is one of Baltimore County’s best-kept secrets. Originally excavated for iron ore in the 1800s, the former quarry is filled with spring-fed water and provides welcome relief from the summer heat. There’s no need to spend all day driving to Ocean City when the white sands and cool waters of Oregon Ridge are just minutes away in Hunt Valley. 410-887-1818
THE MILTON INN
The historic Milton Inn on 14833 York Road has played host to ladies and gentlemen of the Baltimore area since 1947. Weddings, anniversaries and birthdays have filled the 1740s mansion’s six dining rooms with family and friends. During the years, businesses have migrated to the rolling hills of Hunt Valley. Business luncheons and dinners, sales meetings, awards presentations and retirements are all part of the daily life at the Milton Inn. 410-771-4366
MARRIOT’S HUNT VALLEY INN
A legendary hotel and regular home to NFL meetings and entertainers during the years including Carol Channing and Cher, the Hunt Valley Inn has just undergone a substantial renovation. Located on 285 Shawan Road, the inn was originally built to serve as the conference center for the McCormick company, which moved to the location in 1970. It quickly became one of the most prestigious addresses in the area. 410-785-7000.
OREGON GRILL
At 1201 Shawan Road, the Oregon Grill is perfect for romantic dinners, anniversaries and wedding receptions. Flavorful steaks, lamb and veal are all cooked to order. Lemon butter and chives enhance the seafaring sweetness of grilled oysters, and tart apples and hearts of palm spruce up mixed greens. Wines are sold by the glass or bottle. The selection is enormous and ranges in price from $28 to $320, with even fancier wines available upon request. 410-771-0505
PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH MARKET
The shopping experience at the Pennsylvania Dutch Market on 1121 York Road in Hunt Valley is a step back in time. With cheeses, fresh produce and smoked meats, the market fills with the most delicious aromas. At 5 a.m., fresh breads and pies are baking; chickens are threaded on skewers and put in the barbecue ovens; fresh salads, prepared foods and desserts are being prepared and 12 kinds of fresh sausage and gorgeous steaks and roasts are going into the meat cases as the Pennsylvania Dutch Market prepares for the day. 410-316-1534
ANDY NELSON’S PIT BARBECUE
Ribs, beef, wings and chicken are all recommended at this Memphis and Elvis influenced establishment, voted as one of Baltimore’s Best on 11007 York Road. You can join the Swine Social Club — the restaurant’s mailing list — to keep tabs on the offerings and enjoy what one reviewer called “lip-smacking good eating … a carnivore’s dream.” 410-527-1226
