Making a Home in Lake Wylie

The residents of this area have come together in lieu of a city government to preserve and
improve the vacation atmosphere that comes with living on the lake.

Charlotte workers who like to get away from the bustle of in-town life after a long day at work might want to consider the resortlike lifestyle found in the Lake Wylie area, which starts in the southwest corner of Mecklenburg County and extends across the S.C. state line into Gaston County.

The community of Lake Wylie - on S.C. 49 just across the Buster Boyd Bridge - is not an incorporated city, but a collection of neighborhoods and businesses around the lake’s 327-mile shoreline. The lake was created in 1904 and named for Dr. W. Gill Wylie, who helped persuade his patient, J.B. “ Buck” Duke, to dam the Catawba River to generate hydroelectric power. The move sparked a wave of textile manufacturing in Mecklenburg, Gaston and York counties.

Today, the residents of this area have come together in lieu of a city government to preserve and improve the vacation atmosphere that comes with living on the lake. But they take their slice of heaven seriously, too. Citizens raised the seed money to establish the Lake Wylie branch library, and they have rallied to keep or bring businesses to the area, regulate growth and acquire government dollars for infrastructure improvements.

One such improvement is the widening of the Buster Boyd Bridge. The commute from Lake Wylie to Charlotte along N.C. 49 has long been a popular but congested route. It’s about to become an easier drive as a project to widen the bridge and a five-mile stretch of N.C. 49 to four lanes will soon be completed.

On the Mecklenburg County side of Lake Wylie is McDowell Park, located on N.C. 49 just as you approach the bridge. The park offers a sweeping view of some of the most scenic areas of Lake Wylie accessible by car. The 1,108-acre, countyoperated nature preserve offers hiking and camping. You can also rent canoes and paddleboats or enjoy the nature center’s displays.

On the Fourth of July, Lake Wylie is a popular place to see a patriotic display of fireworks. Boats assemble near the bridge and landlubbers park their cars nearby to see the colorful display. During the Christmas season, boaters decorate their rigs with lights and wreaths for the annual Christmas boat parade.

During the summer months, the lake is a big draw from around the region. Camp Thunderbird, a YMCA-operated summer environmental camp, attracts hundreds of school-age children for fun and learning. Boaters and water skiers also flock to the lake. If you plan to go boating or skiing, check the safety regulations imposed by the Lake Wylie Marine Commission. Among other things, the rules require a third person aboard each boat pulling a skier (the third person serves as an observer) and set restrictions on bloodalcohol content for water skiers.

Depending on which portion of the Lake Wylie area you’re looking at, you’ll find real estate listings in areas 7, 15, 16 or 17. To support the growing number of homes, commercial development has sprouted in the area in recent years. River Hills at Lake Wylie, on S.C. 49, is one of the most established neighborhoods in the area, with homes ranging from condominiums to mansions worth well over $2 million. The neighborhood of cedar and cypress-framed homes includes a gated entry, tree-lined streets, an 18-hole golf course, 10 tennis courts and a 221-covered- slip marina.

There is plenty of new construction on Gaston County’s Belmont peninsula, including waterfront communities and less expensive contemporary housing.

Tega Cay, another established upscale lakeside community, is off I-77 and Gold Hill Road on a peninsula of Lake Wylie in South Carolina. The neighborhood was begun in the 1970s and was originally modeled after a Polynesian resort.

The new Waterstone community, a 590- home subdivision that offers a variety of home styles and prices, is located behind Tega Cay Village Shopping Center. Lake Shore is a new community composed of 1,200 single-family homes and townhomes located on a Lake Wylie peninsula. Lake Shore boasts of a golf course, beach club, parks and walking trails as well as lakefront property. Prices for Lake Shore range from the $140,000s to the $350,000s.

Located a mere 20 minutes from Charlotte, The Landing offers a peaceful atmosphere of nature and waterfront living in addition to its walking trails and park. The developer, Crescent Resources, is well known for its custom designed homes and wooded lots. Another Crescent development, The Sanctuary, is spread over 1,300 acres in southeastern Mecklenburg County along the shores of Lake Wylie. In relationship with Audubon International, The Sanctuary seeks to maintain the natural beauty of the lakefront property, offering massive lots that average 5 acres in size.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located on 450 lakefront acres on South New Hope Road in Gaston County. The property is the former home of Daniel Stowe, a textile businessman, and his wife, Alene. The couple gave the property, along with $14 million, to establish an endowment to develop the garden. Currently, 110 acres have been developed, but operators have plans to develop the entire property into one of the premier gardens of its kind in the country. The garden recently opened a grand, 13,500-squarefoot visitors’ pavilion and extensive new gardens. The attraction includes themed gardens filled with plants that thrive in Piedmont soil and weather, accented with a dozen sparkling fountains and canals. The garden is open seven days a week.