An old apple-packing shed with music inside

Chapter One: 2001

Rapunzel herself

Rapunzel’s was dreamed up in 2001 by Sara Taylor, nicknamed “Rapunzel” for her long blond hair, who asked her father Bob to open a bookstore-and-coffee-shop with her in Lovingston’s old apple packing shed. By the venue’s own telling, it began even more simply: a pot of coffee and a few friends who sat down and played music together, until word of mouth filled the room.

For the first eight years it was coffee and used books; the music never stopped. A second-Friday Open Mic Night ran for over two decades. There were monthly jazz nights, an annual songwriters’ contest, poetry readings, theatre, dance parties. More than five hundred shows by 2011, as C-VILLE Weekly reported when a band cut a live album there.

“…a gem of a reclaimed barn in Lovingston — that just happens to be a magic, near-holy performance space where many Nelson County musicians get their start, make their runs and always come back.” Harry Woods, cvillesoundcheck

The room earned its reputation as a starting line: cvillesoundcheck credits Bob Taylor with booking first shows for a remarkable class of Nelson County musicians: Koda Kerl of Chamomile and Whiskey, Kai Crowe-Getty of Lord Nelson, Eli Cook, Sally Rose Monnes. Asked why the county produces so many musicians, Bob offered: “It may be the amethyst in Priest Mountain.”

Chapter Two: 2026

Passing the torch to Gene and Gayla

After twenty-five years, the Taylors closed the doors in spring 2026 with a farewell party. “Words fail,” wrote cvillesoundcheck. “Norm Carter’s camera work does not.”

Then, this summer, their own announcement:

“The rumors are true—Rapunzel’s is coming back to life! The Taylors made it possible by agreeing to pass on the building and beloved community venue—the music, the books, the support for local talent—that they’ve built with dedication and creativity through the decades. Gayla and Gene Mills, who are part of the Rapunzel’s family, have purchased the Lovingston Packing Shed…” rapunzelscoffeeandbooks.org, August 2026

Gayla and Gene Mills are no strangers to this stage. A roots duo, Gene on flatpicking guitar and lead vocals and Gayla on upright bass and harmony, for years they joined other songwriters for the annual Songwriters’ Contest, which drew musicians from Central Virginia and beyond, and Gene won several awards through the years. Gayla is the author of Making Music for Life: Rediscover Your Musical Passion (2019). The book presciently concludes with a chapter on how to build a music community.

Rapunzel’s is supported by the community and the non-profit Rapunzel’s Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Chapter Three: now

The rebuild

In their words: “the search is on for people who’d like to help with rebuilding the old and bringing in the new, with plans to make Rapunzel’s even better, with more programs and more hours, but with the same community spirit.”

The building needs significant attention before the doors reopen. The goal is shows again in December.