with beach entry and waterslides, outdoor sports fields, racquetball courts, and drop-in childcare. Each year, it also hosts one of the most popular 4th of July celebrations in the area.
Farm Fun Carrigan Farms is a fifth-generation family farm specializing in growing fruits and vegetables, providing educational school tours and field trips, swim parties and other special events. It also offers visitors the chance to pick apples, strawberries and pumpkins on a seasonal basis. For those who enjoy the spooky side of Halloween, visitors 12 and older can brave a “Haunted Trail” at Scarrigan Farms during select dates in October at the farm. Just down the road, Patterson Farm Market & Tours, Inc. welcomes groups for a variety of offerings, such as Pumpkin Patch Tours, Spring Pizza Tours and the ever-popular Strawberry Tours. The farm also offers party packages, where children can visit the petting zoo, gem mine, play on the large playground, pick their own produce and sample ice cream from the market store.
Animal Experiences Located just a few miles away from Carrigan Farms, be sure to plan time for a visit with the adorable animals at Lazy 5 Ranch. Owner Henry Hampton opened the doors to the Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville in 1993 and has been entertaining visitors with more than 750 animals from six continents ever since. Hampton and other members of his family operate the ranch in Mooresville without federal or state funding. Giraffes, rhinoceros, camels, zebras, ringtailed lemurs, water buffalo, ostrich and pot-bellied pigs are just a few of the animals that can be found on the ranch. Visit an antique horse barn, blacksmith shop, gift store, several petting areas and a wooden playground set during a family visit, field trip or birthday party. You can ride through the 3 1/2-mile safari ride on a horse-drawn wagon (buckets of feed are provided). Lazy 2018
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5 Ranch does not accept credit or debit cards, so plan accordingly before your visit. Located in nearby Troutman, Zootastic Park, the brainchild of North Carolina resident Scottie Brown, opened to the public in 2010 and is also privately funded. Visitors to the park will find everything from snakes and tortoises to the more exotic red kangaroos, camels, zebra, bison, tigers, as well as a barnyard petting zoo with cows, horses and chickens. Zootastic is open seven days a week and offers educational tours, birthday parties, summer camps, as well as the annual Christmas Wonderland of Lights event. There are also picnic areas and a playground. The General Store is stocked with gifts and souvenirs from around the world, as well as T-shirts, hats and treats.
Start Your Engines If your children are 16 and older and have a valid driver’s license, GoPro Motorplex is for you. Located on a 30-acre campus adjacent to the athletic fields at Mazeppa Road Park, GoPro Motorplex is the only outdoor karting venue in North Carolina and is centered around a 0.7-mile, 11-turn world-class race track built by industry professionals with a meticulous emphasis on safety and usability. GoPro Motorplex’s fleet of 25 rental karts provides an adrenaline rush like no other, reaching speeds up to 55 mph. The karts feature cutting-edge technology to offer both a fast and safe racing experience. Each kart is accommodating with adjustable seating for driver comfort.
Play at the Parks Want to get outside and play? Mooresville is home to 15 parks and four recreation centers. Here are just a few of the local facilities and their most attractive features. Adjacent to Liberty Park, the War Memorial Building has three lighted tennis courts, a gymnasium and also provides residents the opportunity to splash and cool off during the summer months.
Getting Out Carrigan Farms 1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy. Mooresville 704.664.1450 www.carriganfarms.com Cliff Hangers 326 Oates Road Mooresville www.cliffhangersclimbing.com GoPro Motorplex 130 Motorplex Drive Mooresville 704.696.2926 www.mooresvillemotorplex.com Lazy 5 Ranch 15100 Mooresville Road Mooresville 704.663.5100 www.lazy5ranch.com Lowe’s YMCA 170 Joe V. Knox Avenue Mooresville 704.716.4001 www.ymcacharlotte.org/lowes Patterson Farm Market & Tours, Inc. 10390 Caldwell Road Mount Ulla 704.797.0013 www.pattersonfarminc.com The Pit Indoor Kart Racing 346 East Plaza Drive Mooresville 704.799.3470 www.meetatthepit.com Town of Mooresville Parks http://www.ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/ recreationparks Queen’s Landing 1459 River Hwy. Mooresville 704.663.2628 www.queenslanding.com Zootastic Park of Lake Norman 448 Pilch Road Troutman 888.966.0069 www.zootasticpark.com
GOPRO MOTORPLEX IS THE ONLY OUTDOOR KARTING VENUE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Making Waves • Mooresville
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