Thinking about moving to Lake Norman? Here’s what you need to know
North Carolina’s largest man-made lake is home to many of the fastest-growing communities in the Charlotte area.
Lake Norman covers more than 32,000 acres and has 520 miles of shoreline in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba and Lincoln County, according to VisitLakeNorman.org, a tourism website for the lake.
The lake, named for former Duke Power President Norman Atwater Cocke, was completed in the 1960s to supply power to residential communities in the area. It is home to three power stations, including Duke Energy’s second-largest coal-burning plant, McGuire Nuclear Station.
If you’re thinking about planning a visit to the lake, or looking to relocate, here’s what you need to know.
Communities on Lake Norman
Since Lake Norman flows into four counties, there are several towns and communities that border it:
Huntersville: Many homes on the southern shore of the lake are in Huntersville
Cornelius: On the southeastern portion of the lake
Davidson: Just north of Cornelius, home of Davidson College
Mooresville: Most large peninsulas on the lake are in Mooresville
Troutman: A small town north of Mooresville, home of Lake Norman State Park
Statesville: A small part of southern Statesville borders the lake
Sherrills Ford: A community in the southeastern corner of Catawba County
Catawba: A census-designated place just north of Sherrills Ford
Terrell: A community best known for the Terrell Country Store, which was recently demolished
Denver: Most homes on the western shore of the lake are in Denver
Stanley: Much of the Cowan’s Ford lakefront community is in Stanley, just south of Denver
Lakes within the lake
Though Lake Norman is known as the central body of water in the area, there are a couple of offshoots that are separated from the main channel.
Lake Davidson is a body of water in Davidson adjacent to Lake Norman, separated by Interstate 77, and a prime spot for canoeing and kayaking, according to the Davidson Lands Conservancy.
Like Lake Davidson, Lake Cornelius is a body of water next to Lake Norman, divided by I-77.
School systems in the Lake Norman area
There are four school districts that serve communities in the Lake Norman area:
Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Mooresville, Troutman, Statesville: Iredell-Statesville Schools
Sherrills Ford, Catawba, Terrell: Catawba County Schools
Denver, Stanley: Lincoln County Schools
Major roadways around Lake Norman
Traveling around the Lake Norman area often involves these major roadways:
N.C. 73: A highway that connects Lincoln and Mecklenburg County along the southern border of the lake
N.C. 16 Business: Denver’s main street, sometimes referred to as “old 16” by locals after construction of the N.C. 16 Bypass was completed
N.C. 16 Bypass: The main route used to travel to and from Charlotte by residents on the west side of the lake, connects to Brookshire Boulevard
N.C. 150: A highway that connects Lincoln, Catawba and Iredell County and passes through the northern part of the lake
Interstate 77: The main route used to travel to and from Charlotte by residents on the east side of the lake
Catawba Avenue: The main road that runs through Cornelius, often used to access I-77
N.C. 115: A highway that connects Statesville, Mooresville and north Charlotte
Where are the waterfront parks on Lake Norman?
There are six waterfront parks on Lake Norman:
Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Rd., Cornelius, NC 28031
Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Rd., Cornelius, NC 28031
Blythe Landing Park, 15901 N.C. 73, Huntersville, NC 28078
Beatty’s Ford Park, 8335 Shipley Ln., Denver, NC 28037
Lake Norman State Park, 759 State Park Rd., Troutman, NC 28166
Mountain Creek Park, 6554 Little Mountain Rd., Sherrills Ford, NC 28673
RELATED: Want to go hiking? Here are 6 state parks to explore within 2 hours of Charlotte
Lake Norman attractions
Lake Norman has many attractions that families can enjoy. Here are a few of them:
The Quarry at Carrigan Farms: A natural spring open for swimming in spring and summer
Carolina Raptor Center: An educational center featuring outdoor trails with birds of prey
Discovery Place Kids: A learning-focused children’s museum with interactive exhibits
GoPro Motorplex: A 0.7 mile, 11-turn karting facility with karts reaching speeds of up to 55 miles per hour
The Pit Indoor Kart Racing: An indoor kart-racing facility that includes laser tag, axe-throwing and escape rooms
Frankie’s of Charlotte: A fun park with go-karting, mini-golf, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag and arcade games
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This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 10:43 AM.
