Lake Norman: Statesville, Hiddenite, Mooresville & More
Statesville – www.visitstatesville.org, 1-877-531-1819
Get a glimpse of North Carolina’s interconnected moonshine and racing legacy on a visit to the headquarters of Bill Elliott NASCAR team (Evernham Motorsports, LLC) in Statesville, North Carolina, at the Evernham Motorsports Museum and Gift Shop. The Museum offers a historical tour through the careers of Ray Evernham, Bill Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne.
Next visit Images at the Crossroads, another Ben Long fresco at the Statesville Civic Center in historic downtown Statesville. Learn about the 1911 Statesville Depot or shop and dine in some of North Carolina’s most unique boutiques and restaurants.
Hiddenite – www.hiddenitecenter.com, 1-828-632-6966
Just a few miles from Statesville is Hiddenite, home to Hiddenite Gems Inc.’s Emerald Hollow Mine where visitors can search for fine gemstones in the rough. Also stop by The Hiddenite Center/Historic Lucas Mansion, a three-story Victorian mansion housing various collections and art galleries, as well as a toy and doll collection.
Mooresville – www.racecityusa.org, 1-877-661-1234
Home to many of auto racing's top programs, Mooresville is a prime destination for any race fan. Spend the day touring race shops, including Dale Earnhardt Inc., JR Motorsports, Penske Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports, many of which offer viewing rooms where you can watch crew members working on the cars, or explore the history of auto racing in one of our auto museums. In Mooresville, you can also experience the Lazy Five Ranch drive-through safari which takes you through gently sloping pastures as you watch more than 700 animals from six continents in a natural habitat.
Lake Norman – www.visitlakenorman.org, 1-704-987-3300
Not only is Lake Norman a draw for outdoor enthusiasts, it is also ideal for history buffs. Nestled on the banks of Lake Norman are the towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. A tour of Huntersville’s Latta Plantation Nature Preserve includes the historic Latta Plantation circa 1800, the Nature Center, Equestrian Center and Carolina Raptor Center. Drop by Cornelius Town Hall to visit the Heritage Hall exhibit. Based on the book “A Town by Any Other Name” by Leslie Rindoks, Heritage Hall provides a tangible overview of the town’s history. Historic Rural Hill Farm in Huntersville was the home of Major John Davidson, American patriot and signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Today the 265 acre historic plantation stands as a memorial to early American agriculture and has become a cultural center for Scottish heritage. Huntersville is only a short 15 miles north of Charlotte on I-77.
