Throwback: 2011’s list of The Seven Wonders of Charlotte, from a big rock to roaring rapids
This story was originally published in The Charlotte Observer on July 31, 2011.
It’d be easy to think of Charlotte as unremarkable.
We’re not surrounded by mountains; we don’t have a coastline, a Space Needle or a Gateway Arch.
Yet sprinkled around the area are some surprisingly spectacular wonders, creations so magnificent that when you behold them for the first time, they have the power to literally take your breath away.
We considered dozens of candidates, and had plenty of arguments before settling on a list of seven. A few of these landmarks you’ve probably seen a thousand times. We hope this will deepen your appreciation for them. And a few of the following treasures are probably new to you; maybe you’ll make plans to seek them out.
The 8th wonder?
After perusing our list, you might think something is more deserving. Tell us about it in an email to tjanes@charlotteobserver.com.
1. Queens Road West
What: A roughly one-mile stretch of road in the heart of Myers Park.
Why it’s a wonder: Some would say it’s because of the stately houses that line the street. Some would say it’s because of the Gothic canopy created by the seven layers of mammoth, 111-year-old trees — one row in the median, one in the strips on both sides of the road, and two each in the property owners’ yards. Cyclists love the wide lanes; runners and walkers love the wide sidewalks. The street curves and rolls in just the right places. All of these things conspire to make it a must-see on any driving tour you give to out-of-town visitors. It’s no wonder Queens Road West is sometimes described as the most beautiful street in Charlotte, because it truly is.
Where: From East Boulevard to Selwyn Avenue.
2. The Big Rock Shelter
What: A cluster of the largest-known exposed boulders in the area.
Why it’s a wonder: This mass of granite is roughly the size of an 1,800-square-foot house, roughly the height of eight Toyota Camrys stacked one on top of the other. It’s in woods between a subdivision and a highway, something you’d never know was there unless someone pointed it out to you. Historians theorize this was a campsite, rendezvous point and observation post for native peoples who moved through the area thousands of years ago. If you stand below its hill — or atop the largest boulder — you’ll be awestruck.
Where: Elmstone Drive, off Elm Lane, south of Interstate 485. Park on Elmstone across from Thornhill neighborhood rec center and look for signs marking the trail.
3. Calvary Church
What: A nondenominational church with thousands of parishioners.
Why it’s a wonder: It stands out among massive churches because of its soaring façade, designed to look like an enormous crown. Dedicated in 1989, the 10-story structure took five years to erect and is among the city’s most iconic architectural marvels. For almost two decades, it was known as the pink cathedral, until the Rev. John Munro oversaw refinishing work in 2008 that turned it to a light taupe. Inside sits one of the world’s largest pipe organs. But it’s the exterior that causes the greatest reflection, quite literally: Thousands of square feet of mirrored glass throw back — in the right light — stunning images of puffy clouds, or of a brilliant orange sunrise.
Where: 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road.
4. Duke Energy Center light shows
What: Nightly, Duke’s 786-foot headquarters offers a two-minute show every hour on the hour from sunset to midnight and 5 a.m. to sunrise.
Why it’s a wonder: The tower and its handlebar roofline dramatically changed the look of the skyline — especially at night, when 625 LED lights can illuminate the edges and peak of the structure. When the 48-story Duke Energy Center bursts into a frenzy of color and motion, the spectacle is just as dazzling whether you’re standing at its base or viewing it from the interstate. On special occasions, the light shows are replaced by themed displays — blue for Panthers games, or pink for Race for the Cure, to name a few. On Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day, the building ripples with red, white and blue.
Where: 550 S. Tryon St., part of Levine Center for the Arts.
5. ‘Metalmorphosis’
What: Artwork created in 2007 by Czech artist David Cerny.
Why it’s a wonder: No piece of public art in Charlotte is more daring, more mesmerizing, more alive, than this 25-foot, 14-ton motorized sculpture, which consists of horizontally moving stainless-steel plates that form, and re-form, a giant metal head. The piece, part of a public fountain (the head also spouts water), is tucked away in an office park in southwest Charlotte; if “Metalmorphosis” was uptown, it would be one of the city’s most popular photo ops.
Where: Whitehall Corporate Center at 3701 Arco Corporate Drive (near I-485 and Arrowood Road).
6. U.S. National Whitewater Center rapids
What: The world’s largest man-made recirculating river.
Why it’s a wonder: A mecca for outdoor adventure seekers, the park’s crown jewel is the river, which has been designated an official training center by the U.S. Olympic Committee. You can get your own feet wet — or your entire body, to be more accurate — by jumping into a raft with friends or family to try to tame the three-quarter-mile-long rapids, which can be set on mild, medium or madcap. They’re equally awesome from the safety of the shore, or the center’s restaurant patio, where you can enjoy some of the best people-watching in Charlotte.
Where: 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, on the western edge of the city.
7. Charlotte Motor Speedway
What: A 1.5-mile NASCAR superspeedway with a seating capacity of 135,000.
Why it’s a wonder: Now more than a half-century old, the sprawling, 2,000-acre complex was the first speedway to build condos for year-round living (in 1984) and the first superspeedway to install lights to host races at night (1992). In May, it unveiled the world’s largest high-definition television — 200 feet wide and 80 feet tall. During big races, the speedway’s infield turns into a small city of 50,000 race fans (roughly the population of Matthews and Huntersville combined).
Where: 5555 Concord Parkway South, in Concord.
