Coker's Motor Court - US 301 Virginia/North Carolina State Line

Coker's Motor Court and the Stateline Junction Restaurant were some of the numerous old motor courts you could find along US 301.  Coker's was unique as it sat on the Virginia and North Carolina State Line.

Coker's Motor Court Linen Postcard dating to the 1930/40s.

Coker's was home to at least six duplex outbuildings on the Virginia side.  A restaurant and gas station were on the North Carolina side.  The Coker family lived in a farmhouse adjacent to the property on the North Carolina side.

One of the six standing motor lodge duplex buildings. (May 2011)

There is not much known about the motor lodge - when it operated - or when it closed.  On the back of the postcard, it states that the restaurant features southern cooking.  In time, a convenience store called Stateline Lottery opened on the property.  The store sits on the state line, and a wide yellow line runs through the middle of the store to denote which state you are in.  

The yellow line inside Stateline Lottery - to the left, North Carolina - the right, Virginia. (May 2011)

Before North Carolina approved their lottery in 2005, the store sold Virginia Lottery tickets only on the Virginia side.  Since 2005, the store has sold North Carolina and Virginia Lottery tickets on their respective sides of the building.

The Coker Family Home. (May 2011)

The Coker family home was in disrepair when I visited in 2011.  At the time, it was home to some storage items.  (I was fortunate to receive from the lottery store owners a box of linen postcards dating to Coker's original state.)  A small flea market was also taking place that Saturday afternoon.  Since then, the Coker home has been demolished, and most of the old duplex buildings have been overrun by nature.  The old restaurant has seen facade improvements and has been home to a mix of businesses, mostly related to gaming.

If you have any further information on Coker's Motor Court - please feel free to comment below or send me an e-mail.

All photos taken by post author - May 2011. Coker's Motor Court postcard from author's personal collection.

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