NC State Parks: Lake Norman State Park

from LKN October 2022

The View From the Lake

“Make your heart like a lake, with a calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.” – Lao Tzu Lake Norman State Park

BY ROBIN SHUPE KELLER

Welcome back, LKN readers, as we begin our state park journey together in our own back yard. Lake Norman State Park may be a place that you have missed with the numerous opportunities on the perimeter of Lake Norman to visit. Many readers may have homes right on the lake, but Lake Norman State Park is a place everyone should visit for either quiet and welcoming solitude or active recreation with family and friends. There are many enticing trails and adventurous activities that the park offers for free or numerous activities with modest fees. The ability to support the natural and cultural resources of our great state and local community is enough incentive to visit the park.

BRIEF HISTORY

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” – Henry David Thoreau

Lake Norman, named for the Duke Power CEO Norman Atwater Cocke, was created during the years from 1959 to1964 when Duke Power Company built the Cowans Ford Dam across the Catawba River to have the ability to generate electrical energy. The creation of the lake led to increased industrialization of Mecklenburg County, while helping to establish Charlotte as a major trade center according to the ncpedia.org website.

Lake Norman State Park was formed in September 1962 when Duke Power Company donated 1,328 acres of land on the northeastern shore of Lake Norman for a state park. Lake Norman, also known as the “Inland Sea” is the largest manmade lake within the state, and the park covers about 17 miles of its northeastern shoreline. Originally named Duke Power State Park, Lake Norman State Park was opened in 1965 to the public.

RELAXATION

“Stay close to the serenity of a lake to meet your own peace of mind” – Unknown

Begin your trip at the beautiful and relaxing Lake Norman State Park Visitors’ Center where the accommodating staff offers exceptional advice on the best hikes, trails and activities for your group’s experience and ability. The visitors’ center with friendly and informative staff, has many must-see displays including interactive maps and a local arrowhead collection. While inside the center, peruse the small gift shop with naturerelated souvenir shirts, various snacks, informative maps, and a few camping necessities. The clean, climatecontrolled bathrooms are a welcome bonus, along with the huge deck out back that is lined with rocking chairs in which to relax while looking out over the northeast section of the lake.

RECREATION

“People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.” - John Wanamaker

If rocking chairs are too sedate for your taste, there are many recreational activities and numerous amenities to keep you active. While most of the activities are free, some have minimal costs that will fit into most budgets. Pricing lists are available at the visitor center for everything offered on site at the park. Below is a list of some of the many amenities and activities.

• Hiking (38 miles) • Biking (30.5 miles) • Paddling • Canoeing • Pedal boats • Swimming • Fishing • Boat ramp • Boat rentals (seasonal) • Concession stand (seasonal) • Auditorium and classroom • Community building • Picnic shelters • Beach access (lake) • RV, tent, and group camping • Camper Cabins • Bathhouse

Park Lake an unconnected 33 acres of Lake Norman State Park is separated from the larger Lake Norman by a dam and is a great place for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.

UNIQUE FEATURES

“Skip a stone. Take a hike. Sit a spell. Listen. Daydream. Just breathe. This is lake living.” – Unknown

If mountain biking is your passion, the Itusi Trail at Lake Norman State Park consists of 30.5 miles of exciting bike trails, comprising various loops which range in difficulty from easy to moderate. This Itusi trail system has meandering and rolling cross-country singletrack trails available for most riding levels. *Bike trails are closed at times for construction, poor trail conditions due to weather, or other reasons. For both visitor safety and protection of the trail and natural resources be sure to check the ncparks.gov/lake-norman-statepark website for closures before your visit.”

Another unique feature of Lake Norman State Park is the swimming beach that is one of only two public swimming areas on this huge four-county lake (Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln & Mecklenburg). It has a 125-yard-long sand beach with a large parking area, a bathhouse with comfortably, warm showers, restrooms, a seasonal concession stand, spacious changing stalls, and roomy lockers. It is open to the public April through October. A small fee is charged for swimming during the day, but only when lifeguards are actively on duty throughout the summer months.

Although most are rarely seen, the park is home to 35 plus species of mammals. What can be seen, and a unique feature of the park, is the diversity of bird species. This duo of piedmont forest and aquatic lake habitats offer visitors a cornucopia of species for every bird watcher.

Typical of the Carolina Piedmont are wild turkey, warblers, blue jays, goldfinches, wrens, and cardinals. Red-tailed and broad-winged hawks, along with various owl species, are some of the predatory birds that are common in the park. There have even been several bald eagle releases by the Carolina Raptor Center at Lake Norman State Park, with the latest bald eagle rehab release on October 15, 2021.

Lake Norman State Park also attracts a large variety of waterfowl. Mallards, wood ducks, teal hooded mergansers and other ducks and geese can be seen during certain seasons. Wading birds, including great blue herons, greenbacked herons, and egrets are abundant in the park’s lake area. According to their website the park has two islands that are heron rookeries which are home to over 25 nests. Heron will gather in large colonies each spring, building their nests in the safety of the treetops. In this way, they can work together to monitor predators such as eagles and owls from above and racoons and other predators from below.

AT THE END OF THE DAY

“Of all the paths you take in life make some lead to the lake.” – Unknown

I hope this article inspires you to visit Lake Norman State Park and take advantage of the beauty, amenities, and activities available at this local state park. Stop by the visitor’s center and let Jennifer and other accommodating staff offer suggestions for the trip based on your interests, especially if you have children. The Junior Ranger patch that children can earn during visits to the park is well designed and on display in the center, along with the booklets needed to complete the challenge.

Lake Norman State Park is located at 759 State Park Road in Troutman, NC. Park hours are 7am-8pm Sept & Oct, 7am-6pm Nov-Feb, 7am - 8pm Mar-Apr, and 7am - 9pm May-Aug. For more information, visit ncparks.gov/lake-norman-state-park or call 704-528-6350.

Bon voyage,

PRESERVING MOMENTS FOR LIFE

BY MARTIE EMORY

Having just celebrated her third anniversary of becoming a professional wedding videographer, Chelsea Kowalski is eternally grateful for what she calls those “beginning brides” who believed in her from the start! The chance to build her portfolio with those first magical images was one of the perfectly timed steps towards the current success of Captures by Chelsea, which she officially launched in 2019.

Originally from upstate New York, Chelsea, and her boyfriend (now husband!) Chris Kowalski, relocated to North Carolina, drawn to more sunshine and warmer temperatures. They married in September of 2021, and in 2022, Chelsea made the decision to focus solely on videography. Her marketing degree and MBA had proven beneficial in many ways, but videography had always occupied a space in her mind – and heart. Thankfully, acknowledging her true passion has come full circle!

“After filming my first wedding in 2019, I came home so giddy with happiness,” remembers Chelsea. “I realized I had truly loved every single moment of that job.”

She quickly put together a website showcasing her talents and hasn’t looked back!

While Chelsea began with a goal of only shooting 15 weddings each year, so far this year she has 17 bookings, and admits client requests are such compliments, they are hard to refuse. She still prefers scheduling only two events a month, so she can dedicate her full attention to her brides and grooms, and still remember all the special moments clearly.

“I like to start editing as soon as I’m home from the wedding,” says Chelsea. “And I like to ‘relive’ only one wedding at a time!”

Chelsea also praises the photography/ videography community in the Lake Norman and Charlotte area, as the support for fellow professionals is strong! She is lucky to have her husband as her preferred second shooter, but she knows that reaching out to others in the area is always an option. Although she doesn’t typically include an engagement option, Chelsea does offer a mixed session – think of it as a “save-the-date” video – where she might video both the bride and groom spending time together, but well before the big day.

When it comes to wedding day coverage, Chelsea is dedicated to capturing even the tiniest details – such as a personalized welcome sign or lavish dessert table –that she knows the couple may have spent a little extra money on – and would love to see as a captured memory!

“Having recently been a bride, I understand the budget constraints, too,” says Chelsea. “If they made the effort to add the personal touches, I want to capture them.”

She also loves documenting the especially sentimental times when a bride or groom pulls out all the stops for a wedding day surprise for the other. Prime example: One bride who surprised her lucky groom with an appearance at their reception by Sir Purr, mascot for the Carolina Panthers! With her expanded video package and more hours to work with, Chelsea also strives to add moments the couple may not have even seen, such as the parents’ reactions at the ceremony, guests’ reactions to a first glimpse of the reception setting, and any other highlights the couple may have missed seeing for themselves.

A self-proclaimed planner herself, Chelsea’s always eager for an event to run smoothly, but also like every recent bride, knows there can be glitches in even the best timeline. “Go with the plan, but also go with the flow!” is a motto she trusts – while making the finished product as personal as possible for the couple is always the ultimate goal. Sometimes, it’s all about timing.

“Photographers connect with couples over a longer time period – usually starting with the engagement,” says Chelsea. “I may only meet the couple that day or via Zoom or FaceTime, although I prefer at least a short meeting ahead of time to get a feel for how the couple interacts with each other.”

Now enjoying her craft to the fullest, Chelsea is happy to share her best advice for a nervous bride preparing to walk down the aisle: “Keep your eyes on your future husband!”

Reach Chelsea to schedule a consultation, at CapturesbyChelseaC@gmail.com. Visit her website capturesbychelsea.mypixieset.com for work samples and pricing!