Courtesy of Eric Costa Photography 

Just a few short miles off Highway 17, turn off Rock Creek Road onto the Barn at Rock Creek, and you feel like you’re entering an idyllic peaceful getaway located in the middle of the country. Its 13 beautifully landscaped acres feature a barn with 2,400 square feet of indoor space, 13 crystal chandeliers, a covered porch with Edison lights and a bridal and grooms suite. Connected to the barn is a spacious open-air pavilion with Edison lights and a majestic stone fireplace, beautiful gardens and a scenic pond. Owner Lesley Padgett tells us how she, with the help of her family, made it happen, and why they love it.

Courtesy of Jenna Corley Photography

My maternal grandfather, Robert ‘Bob’ Ward, had been farming this and surrounding land since the ’50s. My parents live across the street, and my uncle, Gene Ward, and my cousins Cory and Cody still work the main farm where my grandparents lived, off Bell Swamp Road. We decided to do something different with this piece of land. I was doing hair and makeup for weddings with my mom at her salon in Wilmington, and we envisioned an event space here. In 2012, we went from farming to clearing 50 acres of land, building the barn, doing the landscaping and building the pond. We opened our venue in 2014. 

My favorite movie is Field of Dreams, and during the process, we were all joking, “If we build it, will they come?” It turns out that, fortunately, people love our serene, elegantly rustic country setting as much as we do. Since 2014, we’ve added the pavilion and the gardens, which are so breathtaking and perfect for First Look photos. People like that it’s a family-owned business, and we tell them that when they book with us, they become part of the family too. My parents, Donnie and Mary, and brother Seth all have careers, but they are also very hands-on here, from landscaping and maintenance to anything that needs to be done. We truly have the best team for the events; it’s hard work, but such a rewarding feeling. This year is our 10-year anniversary. 

Our couples are starting their families at The Barn on their wedding day. We know how important every little detail is, and being able to see the magic in the air when it is all coming together is the best feeling. I’ve built new friendships with the most amazing people because of this place, and it’s so wonderful to continue their journey with them and watch their families grow.