Living Here Guide 2009
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Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

Cabarrus County comes with speed — and science

By Karen Sullivan - ksullivan@charlotteobserver.com
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    The lobby of the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building at the North Carolina Research Center in Kannapolis.

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    Sullivan

  • Hot Picks

    Landmarks

    The Gem Theatre, on West First Street in Kannapolis, claims to be the oldest single-screen movie theater in operation today. It originally opened in 1936 but was gutted by fire in 1942. The 916-seat theater with a balcony was rebuilt in 1948 and has been open ever since. Today, the Gem is a cash-only operation. www.gem-theatre.com.

    Dining

    Emma's Carolina Cuisine offers a taste of the region's Southern culinary traditions and a chance to take a stroll along Concord's main street. It's known for meals such as pecan-crusted rainbow trout, crab cakes, baby back ribs and fried catfish. Lunch specials available weekdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 11 Union St. S., Concord.

    Best Bets

    If you want excitement, Concord Mills Boulevard/Bruton Smith Boulevard is the place to go. It's got Concord Mills mall and other retail sites, dining to fit every budget and a racetrack for novices at NASCAR SpeedPark. It's also got Lowe's Motor Speedway, home to world-renowned professional NASCAR racing.

    Why You'd Want to Live Here

    Despite its growth, Cabarrus hasn't lost its small-town charm. Most places offer a relaxed, casual atmosphere and activities geared toward families.

Cabarrus County is just a half-hour drive northeast from Charlotte and has benefited greatly from its proximity.

But Cabarrus has much to offer on its own within communities such as Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mount Pleasant and Midland. Each has a distinctive suburban persona.

Concord is the most populous of these, with more than 71,000 residents. Visitors stream in from other areas each day to visit Concord Mills mall, the most popular visitor attraction in North Carolina, according to Cabarrus officials. The property has more than 200 stores, including manufacturer and retail outlets and interactive stores such as Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. NASCAR SpeedPark offers racetracks for novices and rides for children. Carolina Mall and historic downtown Concord also are popular visitor attractions.

Yet, many would argue that Concord is best known for Lowe's Motor Speedway, home to NASCAR, IROC, IRL, World Karting and Legends racing. Both the speedway and Concord Speedway offer stock car, Legends and Bandolero racing.

zMAX Dragway is a new addition at the speedway. Its quarter-mile, four-lane concrete drag strip opened in 2008 to host National Hot Rod Association events.

Race shops and motorsports museums are other attractions that draw racing fans.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt was born in nearby Kannapolis, population 42,000. The city's Dale Trail, which incorporates Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, allows visitors to learn about “The Intimidator's” family history and life in racing. In Cannon Village, see the Dale Earnhardt Tribute, which includes a nine-foot statue, granite memorial and Sam Bass art exhibit.

Once primarily a textile manufacturing town, Kannapolis is in the midst of a rebirth as a biotechnology hub. The North Carolina Research Campus is a $1.5 billion public-private venture devoted to nutrition and disease research. The campus ultimately could offer more than 1 million square feet of laboratory and office space for universities and private businesses.

Great Wolf Lodge opened in April at Interstate 85 and Bruton Smith Boulevard, near Lowe's Motor Speedway. It features 11 water slides, four pools and a four-story interactive treehouse water fort in an indoor water park for lodge guests. The outdoor water park has a pool, spray fountain and other activities. Additional amenities include adult and kid spas, a video arcade, a tech center and outdoor mini-golf.

Some of Cabarrus' older attractions still hold charm.

Visitors can see the site of America's first gold discovery in 1799 at Reed Gold Mine. Tour underground tunnels, pan for gold and watch an ore-crushing stamp mill in action. Other historical attractions include Bost Grist Mill and Memorial Garden in downtown Concord.

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