South Charlotte

South Charlotte is home to some of the region's most desirable neighborhoods as well as shopping venues galore. In addition, two of Mecklenburg's most historic towns Matthews and Pineville blend seamlessly with the city's southern edge.

The two major destinations for living, shopping and working on the south side of town are South Park and Ballantyne. South Park was once part of a 3,000-acre farm owned by former N.C. Governor Cameron Morrison. The farms main house, the Tudor Revival style Morrocroft Mansion, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

South Park
A prestigious address, SouthPark offers a variety of housing styles, ranging from the 1950s ranch houses of Beverly Woods to newly-built town homes and million-dollar mansions in the gated Morrocroft community.

SouthPark is a major business district, second only to Uptown. Contemporary glass and marble buildings are home to many major Charlotte businesses. The area also boasts several fine hotels.

SouthPark shopping is unmatched in the city. SouthPark Mall, Charlotte's most upscale shopping center, includes major department stores and shops such as Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Brooks Brothers and Pottery Barn. The malls newest additions include Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Additionally, an amphitheater on the property hosts the Charlotte Symphony's Summer Pops concerts.

Just down the street, pedestrian-friendly Phillips Place features high-end specialty shops, restaurants, movie theaters and luxury apartments. Sharon Corners and Specialty Shops on the Park offer local and national retail shops as well as restaurants.

Ballantyne
Ballantyne is a new live-work community encompassing 2,000 acres south of I-485. The Corporate Park includes office buildings, a resort hotel, an 18-hole daily-fee golf course and the nationally renowned Dana Rader School of Golf.

Residential options include several apartment communities and neighborhoods with single-family homes in nearly every price range. Ballantyne Country Club features custom homes and a private, 18-hole golf course. The town center has shops, restaurants and a YMCA. Ballantyne also boasts several new public schools.

Other South Charlotte Neighborhoods
South Charlotte also offers other living and shopping options. The Cotswold area offers easy access to Uptown and is known for its lovely, older neighborhoods and newly renovated shopping center. Along Park Road are several charming neighborhoods dating back to the 1950s, including Madison Park, which features brick ranches and tall trees. Nearby Park Road Shopping Center is a Charlotte landmark with the popular Blackhawk Hardware, the independent bookstore Park Road Books and Sir Edmund Halley's, an English-style tavern with a lovely patio.

Dozens of neighborhoods in a variety of price ranges are accessible from N.C. 51, as are countless shopping venues, including the Arboretum at Providence Road.

In addition to a wide variety of churches, from modern Calvary Church to historic Providence Presbyterian, South Charlotte is also home to Shalom Park. The center of Charlotte's Jewish community, Shalom Park includes two synagogues and the Jewish Community Center.

Recreation
South Charlotte also offers a variety of recreational opportunities. SouthPark's Harris YMCA and the Siskey YMCA in Matthews are family favorites. For nature walks, try one of the greenways. The McMullen Creek and Lower McAlpine Greenway feature four miles of trail and a picnic area. McAlpine Creek Greenway has 8.9 miles of greenway, cross country trails and nature trails.

The planned Little Sugar Creek Greenway will run 15 miles from North Charlotte to Pineville, right through the heart of South Charlotte. This area also has several parks with lakes, athletic fields, playgrounds and trails.

Pineville
Pineville, Mecklenburg's smallest town, is the birthplace of America's 11th president, James K. Polk. The town is proud of its success in preserving its historic downtown, where dozens of antique shops line Main Street (N.C. 51). At the same time, Pineville has embraced growth in the surrounding areas, including several hotels, shopping centers, senior residences and a thriving medical community surrounding Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville.

Although it rests on the S.C. border, Pineville will feel much closer to Charlotte when the town is connected to Uptown by light rail, expected to be completed in 2007.

Matthews
To the east on N.C. 51 is Matthews, another picturesque town that embraces its past and future simultaneously. A mixed-use development downtown houses a new town hall, library, shops, restaurants and offices, all in keeping with the towns historical aesthetics.

Just outside downtown are huge shopping complexes, restaurants, offices and Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews. In addition to the commercial development, Matthews is seeing tremendous residential growth as new communities are cropping up everywhere.

Matthews is known for its community events such as Stumptown Park summer concert and movie series; Picnic on the Green, a local summer farmers market; Fourth of July parade and fall ArtFest. Its Matthews Alive! Festival gathers more than 100,000 people each Labor Day weekend for food, fun and music.

Northern Mecklenburg/Lake Norman
also visit the Lake Norman website for more info

Long-time residents can see change all over the Charlotte area. But evidence of that change is perhaps most striking in the Lake Norman area, some 25 miles north of Charlotte.

Thirty years ago, the lake created by Duke Power Co. (now Duke Energy)was a real hideaway. Surrounded by fishing shacks and old mobile homes, and accessible by winding, often unpaved roads, the lake was a weekend getaway but nothing more.

Then I-77 came through the territory and brought people along with its ribbon of pavement. You still can find some of those fishing shacks and weekend residents. But today, more and more folks live the vacation lifestyle year-round, with plenty of shopping and restaurants nearby and direct access to jobs in Uptown Charlotte, University City, the airport area or even north Mecklenburg.

At the heart of it all is Lake Norman, with shoreline stretching 520 miles through four counties: Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln and Catawba. It's often referred to as the Inland Sea.

When Charlotteans refer to the Lake Norman area, they usually mean the area north of the Harris Boulevard/I-77 interchange, which includes Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson in Mecklenburg County and the southern tip of Iredell County, which encompasses Mooresville and its shoreline.

Growth has been huge, with some 80,000 people living here now. Because lake dwellers like their area so much, civic and government leaders are working hard to develop long-term plans and regulations to protect the small-town atmosphere.

Along the way, some are coming up with some creative ideas, including several new urban communities. Developers are increasingly seeing the promise in rehabbing old mills and downtown buildings to create unusual offices, retail centers and even residential complexes.

North Mecklenburg has three incorporated towns: Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. All have seen tremendous residential growth, and all are home to some thriving businesses. Davidson also is a college town, home to highly regarded Davidson College, which adds an ivy-league atmosphere to the community.

Shopping
Near the I-77/I-485 interchange, NorthLake Mall opened in 2005 with 150 specialty stores and anchors Dillard's, Belk, Hecht's, Dick Sporting Goods and a 14-screen cinema megaplex. The 1.1 million-square-foot facility brings thousands of new jobs to the area.

Lake shoppers now can browse unique boutiques, quaint village shops, upscale specialty stores and national chains such as Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, Stein Mart, Kohl's and Old Navy. Several Charlotte specialty retailers have opened second sites at the lake, as have a number of restaurants.

Birkdale Village, a new, 52-acre mixed-use development in Huntersville off Sam Furr Road, offers more than 60 stores and restaurants including Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, Dick's Sporting Goods, Barnes and Noble, and a 16-screen movie theater.

Health Care
NorthCross has a thriving medical community, with many physicians' offices and outpatient surgery centers. In 2004, Presbyterian Hospital opened its Huntersville hospital on Gilead Road.

Recreation
If you choose not to live on the lake, or you live there but don't have access to the lake in your community, you'll want to take advantage of the many waterfront parks and public-access areas. Jetton Park, Blythe Landing and Ramsey Creek Park in the Cornelius/Huntersville area offer boat launching ramps, paved bike and walking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts and athletic fields, fishing piers and sandy beaches.

Golfers have no shortage of links to test their mettle. From Birkdale's Arnold Palmer-designed course to Northstone's P.B. Dye course to Muirfield, Mallard Head and The Point (just over the line in Iredell County), there are plenty of courses for weekend duffers and serious competitors alike.

Charlotte Sites Of Interest (in alphabetical order)

Adventures In Motorsports - Adventures In Motorsports is a full service receptive operator. We offer a full line of motorsports products as well as a wide range of other venues for your group needs. Whether it's a group tour, race package or meeting activity, we can utilize our products to customize a tour package for you!

Afro-American Cultural Center - dedicated to the preservation, promotion and presentation of African-American art, history and culture. Located in uptown Charlotte at 401 North Myers Street (at East 7th and North McDowell Streets), the Center boasts a 300 seat outdoor amphitheater, and an indoor attic theatre that hosts an audience of 130.

Belmont Abbey College and Basilica - the college itself, the monastery and the grotto are all on the historic registry. Belmont Abbey College | 100 Belmont-Mt.Holly Rd ? Belmont, NC 28012 ? 1.888.222.0110 Located ten miles west of Charlotte, NC - the largest city in the state and one of the fastest growing communities in the United States.

Bluementhal Performing Arts Center -North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center PO Box 37322 - Charlotte, NC 28237 Box Office: 704.372.1000 You can get all the best of the performing arts without buying a plane ticket to the Big Apple! The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center ( Blumenthal PAC ) is your source for all the best performing arts events in Charlotte.

Carolinas Aviation Museum - dedicated to the preservation of historic aircraft 4108 Minuteman Drive Charlotte, NC 28208

Carolina Raptor Center - Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of birds of prey through public education, the rehabilitation of injured, and orphaned raptors and research. 6000 Sample Road Huntersville, NC 28078

The Carolina Renaissance Festival - The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 10-stage theater, a 20-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast -- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure!

Carowinds - 108 action-packed acres featuring more than 60 worldclass rides, shows and attractions. New in 2007 - Carowinds Endless Summer on Ice. The park's first ice show in 10 years features a salute to the summertime experience. Boomerang Bay water park, a 16-acre, Australian-themed Outback oasis of wet fun featuring more than 25 water activities, opens May 26. Nickelodeon? Central, loaded with more than 20 attractions that kids and parents can enjoy together. Concerts in the Paladium Amphitheatre. I-77 & 14523 Carowinds Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28273

Charlotte Comedy Theater - Charlotte's only professionally trained improv theater and training center.

Charlotte Convention Center - The Charlotte Convention Center opened in 1995 as the perfect venue for conventions, trade shows, banquets and theater-style conferences, attracting more than half a million visitors each year. From its gracefully arched entrances to the glass concourses beyond, the Center was designed to be elegant and inviting. 501 S. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202 Phone 704.339.6000 Fax 704.339.6024

Charlotte Museum of History - The Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite comprise multiple venues on an eight-acre wooded campus in east Charlotte. 3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts. The Charlotte Symphony, founded in 1932, is the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the central Carolinas. It is dedicated to providing artistic excellence, community service, music education, and a wide variety of performances. 300 East 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-973-2800

Children's Theatre of Charlotte - The Children's Theatre of Charlotte specializes in professional adult theatre for youth and educational programming reaching ages 3-18. Productions include classics, innovative new works and issue-oriented productions dealing with topics like substance abuse and violence prevention. The Children's Theatre is also home to the Tarradiddle Players, a professional touring company that performs throughout the Carolinas.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden - a 111 acre botanical garden located just west of Charlotte in Belmont. 6500 South New Hope Road Belmont, NC 28012-8788

Discovery Place - Discovery Place is the South's premiere hands-on science and technology center. Featuring over 300 exhibits, a live rain forest and IMAX Dome Theatre, one of only two large format theatres in NC, Discovery Place has something for everyone! Plan your visit today.

Historic Latta Plantation - Historic Latta Plantation, once a successful cotton plantation, is now an historic farm. Costumed interpreters, historic displays and hands-on activities allow visitors to experience what life was like for the planters, yeoman farmers, and enslaved African- Americans of the North Carolina backcountry in the early 19th century. Historic Latta Plantation features the home of James Latta, built ca. 1800, as well as original and replica outbuildings and historically appropriate farming practices and livestock. 5225 Sample Rd Huntersville, NC 28078

Historic Rosedale Plantation - 3427 N. Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28206

ImaginOn - a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County and Children's Theatre of Charlotte. With cutting-edge services and library collections, award-winning professional theatre and innovative education programs, ImaginOn brings stories to life through extraordinary experiences that challenge, inspire and excite young minds.

Kings Mountain National Military Park - the site of a decisive Revolutionary War battle, located approximately 30 miles west of Charlotte in Blacksburg, SC

Museum of the New South - located in Uptown Charlotte, focusing on Charlotte's post-Civil War growth from a textile mill town to a financial hub

Lowe's Motor Speedway - Located 12 miles northeast of Uptown Charlotte, Lowe's Motor Speedway is truly the "Mecca of Motorsports". The speedway annually hosts NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series races; gigantic AutoFairs, a 10-week Legends Car Summer Shootout Series, stock car driving schools and a variety of annual events at The Dirt Track. Tours are available daily at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Gift Shop (704) 455-3202.

The Mint Museums - Originally serving as a branch of the U.S. Mint, the Mint Museum of Art was North Carolina's first art museum and is home to collections of American art, pre-Columbian art, historic costumes, contemporary art, ceramics and others. The museum complements its impressive collection with traveling exhibitions and hosts a wide variety of educational programs and outreach activities throughout the year.

Reed Gold Mine - site of the first gold find in the United States 9621 Reed Mine Rd. Midland, NC 28107

U.S. National Whitewater Center - The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is the world's premier outdoor recreation and environmental education center. Alongside mountain-biking and running trails, a climbing center, and challenge course, the park's unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and canoe/kayak enthusiasts of all abilities. The USNWC is only 10 minutes from downtown Charlotte and provides over 300 acres of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. Olympic-caliber athletes, weekend warriors and casual observers share this world-class sports and training center. This State of the art facility opened in August 2006. 820 Hawfield Rd Located @ the intersection of I-85 S & I-485 Charlotte, NC 28214

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens consists of a notable combination of outdoor and indoor garden facilities on campus. McMillan Greenhouse 9201 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223

Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary - Wing Haven has been a special part of Charlotte since its creation by Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson in 1927. The gardens, enclosed on all sides by brick walls, encompass almost three acres in the heart of Charlotte and include lovely vistas, formal gardens, and woodland areas. Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
248 Ridgewood Avenue Charlotte, NC 28209