Lake Wylie news

Scarowinds Open Now

September 27, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Once again, a Halloween tradition is open to the public. Scarowinds, or the scary Halloween version of Carowinds Amusement Park is open on select nights to scare you and thrill you with mazes, rides, attractions, shows, food, and more.

The park will be open for limited hours for the event with rides and attractions in the dark for some extra spooky adventure. The scary event is not recommended for patrons under 13 years old. The park is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the end of October, but be sure you have the correct ticket, the park is open during the day, but you need separate admission for the Scarowinds event after dark. Season pass holders can get some extra perks as they can bring in guests for a discounted admission price.

On opening night, real world scares got in the way of the imaginary ones at the park. Unfounded rumors of shots being fired at the park quickly led to the park closing early. This prank is the cause of some new rules at the event including a brand new chaperone policy. Be ready to bring your ID and know that anyone under 18 has to be with an adult that is at least 21 years old. One chaperone can only be responsible for up to 4 other people so plan your group accordingly.

In addition, there is a no bag policy. You cannot bring in a bag or purse or backpack. If you have a medical necessity, you are allowed to bring in that medically necessary equipment in a small bag which is subject to a search. See the Carowinds website for more information including hours and tickets here.

If you want to know more about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

New Restaurant Coming to Belmont

September 23, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

For those of you who live in the Lake Wylie area, you know that there are some tried and true choices for eating out. We are about to get another option that is sure to be a fun night out. Belmont is about to have a new pizza parlor and arcade sure to bring nostalgic vibes.

106 North Main Street in Belmont is the new home of Stone Fired Social, a pizza place taking the spot where Johnny B’s Pizza used to be (it closed in 2021). It is right next to sister restaurant The String Bean.

The menu is still being refined, but we know for sure that the pies will offer a selection of toppings, and customization options. There will be appetizers, wings, salads, sandwiches, pizzas with red sauce, pizzas with alternative sauces, and a kids menu. There will also be more interesting offerings with fun names like the Hulk Smash Pistachio and the Red Corvette Red. All pizzas will be available in 12 inch, 16 inch, or grandma style. The grandma style is a rectangular Sicilian style.

The restaurant, once open, will be available for lunch and dinner six days per week. They will be closed on Mondays. Patrons can eat, play arcade games, order 12 different flavors of gelato, or make use of the full bar.

The restaurant should open in the next couple of weeks. They are hiring for all positions right now and are finishing all of the final details. Stone Fired Social will soon be hosting families, happy hours, team celebrations, parties and much more.

If you want to know more about buying and selling homes in the Lake Wylie Area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Farmer’s Market Returning to Belmont

August 25, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Fresh locally grown produce, honey, and local meat are about to be available once again at the farmer’s market in Belmont. This great event is perfect for connecting with the community, being entertained, and getting yummy treats to last the whole week.

The farmers market is located on Glenway Street next to the railroad tracks. Opening date should be Thursday September 22nd from 3:30 – 7 pm. Of course, with any outdoor event, weather can cancel the event.

There has not been a farmers market in Belmont for more than five years. Many local farmers are already busy on the weekends with markets in surrounding towns. This makes a Thursday market good for farmers, and is hopefully great for buyers as they come home from work and can grab fresh foods to last them through the weekend.

At this time, there will only be food vendors at the market, but there could be an arts and crafts component in the future. Live music and entertainment could also follow as is typical at a lot of farmers markets. Tote bags will be available for purchase if you forget your reusable bag at home.

The farmers market will run through the fall, then return in the spring when farmers have produce available again. Tentative dates through the fall are September 22, October 20, and November 17. This last date is just in time to stock up before Thanksgiving.

To learn more about the Farmer’s Market or to talk about buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Toll Lanes Could Come to Lake Wylie Area

August 18, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

A recent proposal could bring more toll lanes to the Lake Wylie area. The proposal calls for toll lanes on the southside of Charlotte, running from Brookshire Freeway (I-277) all the way south on I-77 to the South Carolina State line. Cintra, the company behind the toll lanes on the North stretch of I-77 from Brookshire Freeway to Moresville submitted an unsolicited proposal for the project.

Toll lanes can be controversial, especially when the rates for the lanes vary with the density of traffic. They can feel like “highway robbery” and at times are not any faster than the non-toll lanes. But, for those with the money, toll lanes can get you where you want to go a lot faster. Getting rid of toll booths in favor of rfid tags or pay by plate options became the norm during the Covid pandemic and have made toll lanes even faster and more convenient.

It remains to be seen if this unsolicited proposal becomes a big construction headache. There are many steps to the process before any project would begin. NCDOT or North Carolina Department of Transportation needs to review the proposal and funding would need to be arranged before any work would be completed. After that would be planning and measuring and design before they ever break ground on a project. Cintra estimates that if they clear all of those hurdles, they could begin work in the middle of 2024 with a completion estimate of mid-2029. But the toll lanes on the northern stretch were plagued with cost and time overruns so the mid-2029 timeline could be optimistic.

We would assume that the same company will take care of payments on any future lanes so once again people can sign up for a NCQuickPass. The pass will work on all express lanes around the area including the Monroe Expressway, I-77 toll lanes, and any future projects like toll lanes on I-485.

To learn more about this issue or to learn about buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Restaurant Week Coming To Lake Wylie

July 20, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Charlotte Restaurant Week has become a yearly tradition that we all look forward to because it is a delicious chance to try a new, new to you, or an old favorite restaurant. This year, there are many choices close to Lake Wylie so you don’t have to travel far to check out some great food for dinner.

Restaurant Week occurs two times per year. Participating restaurants prepare special three course prix fixe menus for $30, $35, $40, or $45 per person, depending on the restaurant, not including taxes and gratuity. Reservations are recommended. This July’s dates are the 22nd to the 31st so book your reservations now to ensure you get a table for the feast. Reservations need to be made with each restaurant separately.

Participating restaurants in the Lake Wylie area are:

Belmont
- The Bottle Tree
- Drift on Lake Wylie
- Estia’s Kouzina
- Heirloom Restaurant
- Old Stone Steakhouse
Fort Mill / LakeWylie / Rock Hill / York County
- FishMarket Bar and Grill
- Lily’s Bistro
- Napa at Kingsley
- Old Town Kitchen and Cocktails
- The Pump House

If you want to know more about Restaurant Week, check out the official website for the event here. To learn more about buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Carolina Thread Trail Expanding

June 27, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

For all of you outdoors enthusiasts, the Carolina Thread Trail is about to expand. The governing board announced 16 new partner grant recipients including the Abbey Creek Greenway in Belmont, and the Jack White Trail in Rock Hill. The expansions total $752,500 which will provide infrastructure for expanding trails throughout the region.

The Abbey Creek Greenway is located near Wilkinson Boulevard and will ultimately connect the Catawba River to Loftin Park. The Carolina Thread Trail approved $30,000 for the purpose of acquisition of land for the construction of the greenway trail.

The Jack White Trail is located along Dave Lyle Boulevard in Rock Hill. It will connect the Manchester Creek Trail from downtown Rock Hill to the Catawba River. $30,000 was approved to design the extension.

In addition, there will be more extensions built by Catawba Lands Conservancy, Cramerton’s Rocky Branch Trail, and more in surrounding counties. In all, there are currently 350 miles of greenways and trails, and 170 miles of blueways already open to the public, with many more in the plan. There are many access points so you can enjoy exercising in nature from lots of locations near Lake Wylie.

If you want to know more about any of these upcoming projects or want to schedule a showing on a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. We can help you with anything you need to buy or sell a home. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

CLT Airport to Expand

May 21, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

It was announced that the Charlotte Douglas International Airport will once again be under construction. This time, the expansion will bring 10 more gates to help ease travel and possibly offer new destinations for travelers.

The project is expected to cost $231 million and will also include as part of the 10 gates, three common use gates. The new gates will be numbered A31-40. Currently Charlotte airport is the fifth-busiest in the world for arrivals and departures and the sixth-busiest for passenger traffic. These numbers are from the Airports Council International 2021 preliminary rankings.

In addition to the gates, the project will bring 191,848 square feet of space with automatically tinting windows, high ceilings, and scenic windows. Passengers will delight that they can charge devices at your seat at the gate. A new store, restaurant, and two bars should help fill in the space as well.

The new space will also boast many new works of art to proudly display the culture of the Piedmont. Two of the new pieces of artwork have been commissioned in part with the Arts & Science Council by artists Benjamin Ball and Val Britton.

The new expansion is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024 so we will have to deal with the sounds, and dust from construction for a while. It should be a showplace that will signal to travelers what Charlotte is all about.

If you want to know more about any of this upcoming project or want to schedule a showing on a home in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Drift Restaurant Lake Wylie Opening Next Week

May 6, 2022 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The long wait is almost over. The day after Mother’s Day is the official opening of Drift restaurant on the waterfront of Lake Wylie. Drift will bring steak, seafood, and pasta to a great large space with a dining room, two patios, and drive-up boat access.

We first told you about Drift in February of this year in this post. We detailed the two story space that will have a modern farmhouse style featuring craft beer and a selection of over 1,000 bottles of wine. The upstairs will be an event space available to reserve for private parties and corporate events.

Drift is brought to you by the owners of Pump House in Rock Hill and Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill. This dinner with a view will be great for local residents, but will also be a draw for anyone in the Charlotte area with only a 30 minute drive to be back Uptown.

Drift will seat 280 people and has an indoor/outdoor dining experience due to glass walls that can be moved out of the way to take advantage of east-facing waterfront views. In inclement weather, you can watch a storm roll in through the glass wall, but be snug inside.

Drift is located in the McLean development close to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. For directions, the address is 315 Lanyard Lane, Belmont, NC 28012. Initial hours will be M-Th 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-11pm, and 3pm-9pm on Sunday. As the restaurant is more established they may begin brunch on the weekends and start lunch service during the week.

If you want to know more about homes in the Lake Wylie area, call us at 803-831-8588. We can help you with anything you need to buy or sell a home. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.