Come lock your love in Lovelock! The small yet thriving town on Interstate 80 in northern Nevada brought the Chinese custom of securing a lock on a chain to ensure unending love to America. Miles of lock-laden chains weave through the Yellow Mountains in China and at the Great Wall, and now more than a thousand locks adorn chains at the Lovers Lock Plaza, each symbolizing true love.

Locks can be found at businesses throughout town. Then take your lock and your loved one to the Pershing County Courthouse grounds where you’ll find the plaza. Look for an empty spot on a chain and secure your love and throw away the key. The courthouse is a great place to declare your love legally, too, with a wedding in one of the last round courthouses in the nation.

Another one of Lovelock’s historic sites is the Marzen House Museum. The 1874 home now displays mining equipment, American Indian artifacts and items that belonged to Lovelock’s famous resident Edna Purviance, a silent-movie star who appeared in many films with Charlie Chaplin. Visitors can also tour the Lovelock Depot, a former Union Pacific depot that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Outside of town, there are limitless activities for the whole family at the nearby Rye Patch Reservoir. The state recreation area has a campground, boat launch and picnic area, as well as the reservoir perfect for swimming, water skiing and fishing. Rye Patch Reservoir is a welcome relief from the arid 40 Mile Desert, home to alkali flats and endless acres of sagebrush. Ancient American Indian artifacts can still be found in Lovelock Caves and in the untamed landscape.

Lovelock was named after George Lovelock, a pioneer in developing mineral and agricultural resources in the area. The town was established in 1868 and then incorporated in 1917. Today, Lovelock is a haven for outdoor recreation and, of course, “locking your love.”