AHOY, THAR MATEY

WELCOME TO LAKE NORMAN

LAKE NORMAN WAS FLOODED IN 1963 TO PROVIDE HYDROELECTRIC POWER FOR THE CHARLOTTE AREA.

LAKE NORMAN WAS NAMED FOR NORMAN ATWATER COCKE, THEN PRESIDENT OF DUKE POWER.

LAKE NORMAN SPANS FOUR COUNTIES:  MECKLENBURG, IREDELL, LINCOLN, AND CATAWBA.

LAKE NORMAN COVERS 32,500 ACRES, IS 33 MILES LONG, IS 8-MILES AT IT'S WIDEST POINT, HAS 521 MILES OF SHORELINE.

COWAN'S FORD DAM IS ONE MILE LONG AND 130 FEET HIGH. IT IS 760' ABOVE SEA LEVEL.  FLOOD INSURANCE IS NOT REQUIRED SINCE THE LAKE LEVELS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE DAM.

INTERSTATE 77 WAS COMPETED IN 1977.

THE WATER LEVEL IS LOWERED IN THE FALL AND WINTER TO DISCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF ALGAE.  IT IS RAISED IN SPRING BEFORE THE FISH SPAWN.

SEA WALLS FOR SHORELINE STABILIZATION ARE RECOMMEND.

TYPICALLY, YOU WILL SEE A LOOSE ROCK SEAWALL; IT IS CALLED "RIP-RAP".

A LOT HAVING LESS THAN 75 FEET OF SHORELINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR A PRIVATE PIER OR DOCK (unless it was sub-divided before June 1, 1996).  THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR PIER PERMITS IS: 1-800-443-5193.

WATERFRONT PROPERTIES MAY BE DREDGED TO ADD DEPTH FOR BOATING, BUT TO BACK FILL LAND IS NOT ALLOWED.

ALL WATERFRONT PROPERTY CAN BE ACCESSED FROM I-77, HWY, 150, HWY, 16, HWY. 73 (now called Catawba Ave.), and BRAWLEY SCHOOL RD.

ON SOME MAPS, THERE IS A SECTION OF LAND DOWN BRAWLEY SCHOOL ROAD FORMERLY IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY CALLED "MECK NECK." THAT LAND MASS IS NOW A PART OF IREDELL COUNTY.

A COMPLETE TOUR OF THE LAKE, BY LAND, WILL TAKE FROM SIX TO EIGHT HOURS.

LAKE ACCESS AREAS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.  SEE THE LAKE NORMAN MAP.

THE LAKE NORMAN MOTEL IS THE ONLY MOTEL ON THE LAKE. IT IS RATHER HUMBLE, BUT CLEAN, SERVES GREAT PIZZA AND CHICKEN WINGS!

FISHING IS GREAT ON THE LAKE: BASS, CRAPPIE, CATFISH, STRIPERS, etc.

THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SAFETY RECORDS IN THE WORLD. OUR ENGINEERS WERE SENT TO Chernobyl TOURS OF THE POWER PLANT, CALLED "MCGUIRE" ARE WELCOMED.

SAIL BOATS CANNOT PASS UNDER THE HWY. 150 BRIDGE; THEREFORE, AVID SAILORS PREFER SOUTH OF THE 150 BRIDGE.

DUKE POWER IS VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS; THE WATER IS GREAT FOR SWIMMING AND IS TECHNICALLY DRINKABLE.  YOU WILL SEE WATER SAMPLING BUOYS AROUND THE LAKE.

CAMPING IS NOT OFFICIALLY ALLOWED ON THE ISLANDS.  THERE IS ONLY ONE PRIVATELY OWNED ISLAND ON THE LAKE AND IT IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM WINDEMERE SUB-DIVISION.  A BRIDGE HAS BEEN BUILT TO THE ISLAND AND LOTS ARE BEING SOLD.

SANDY BEACHES ARE A GIFT FROM MOTHER NATURE.  THEY CANNOT BE CREATED, THEY WILL SIMPLY WASH AWAY.

THERE ARE MANY WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS WITH BOAT SLIPS.  ENJOY!

TAKE A RIDE ON THE CATAWBA QUEEN, PADDLE RIVER BOAT, OR THE LUXURY YACHT, LADY OF THE LAKE.  THEY WILL POINT OUT THE HOME THAT BURT REYNOLDS OWNED. LUNCH AND DINNER CRUISES ARE AVAILABLE.

LIFE ON LAKE NORMAN IS RELAXED AND CASUAL; LEAVE YOUR TIES AND HIGH HEELS IN CHARLOTTE!