Lake Norman’s Best Kept Secret, Sherrills Ford Set To Grow
4 03 2008
Sherrills Ford on the Northeast Corner of Lake Norman
What was once one of the best-kept secrets on Lake Norman is growing; its population stands to double with new developments off Molly’s Backbone and Slanting Bridge Road slated to begin in the next couple of years. While lakefront residents might be hard-pressed to find neighbors who grew up here, go a mile or two inland and you’ll find plenty of old-timers eager to impart the area’s history.
HISTORY: Adam Sherrill, the first white settler of Catawba County, crossed the Catawba River in 1747 and built a homestead here. You will still find many roads and facilities named for Sherrill. Sherrills Ford’s historical pride is in the camp meeting tradition. Balls Creek Camp Ground near Bandys High School meets for two weeks during August, and Mott’s Grove Camp Ground, the oldest black camp meeting in the county, gathers in August as well.
LANDMARKS: The Adam Sherrill burial site on Sherrills Ford Road, the old country store (now Racing Realty) at Highway 150 and Sherrills Ford Road, and any of the numerous campgrounds — Wildlife Woods, Camp Dogwood, Cross Country Campgrounds.
WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW: Two gas stations that flank Sherrills Ford are major watering holes. On the north end, The Gold Mine 66 & Grocery serves up “Miner Boys” and “Miner Girls” along with Mello Yello slushies. Located at Sherrills Ford Road and Bandys Crossroads, The Gold Mine is a favorite among Bandys students — mostly because the grill will deliver take-out to campus. Details: (828) 241-2439 . On the other end of Sherrills Ford going toward Denver, The General Store is a gas station, grocery store, camping outfitters, bait and tackle shop and hardware store. Details: (704) 483-2686 .
NOTABLES: Elliott Forbes-Robinson, sports car driver in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, calls Sherrills Ford home, as does NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip. Douglas Keever, the real-life race fan who was the inspiration for the tow truck Mater in the film “Cars” also lives here.
ON THE JOB: Take a drive down Sherrills Ford Road around 4 p.m. and you will probably have to wait for traffic coming from the Marshall Steam Station, Duke Energy’s plant in nearby Terrell.
CHOW: Head to Cap’n Pete’s on N.C. 150, 704-483-9711 . The prices for fried seafood are cheap and the hushpuppies are hard to resist. To keep it extra casual, try Butcher Boy’s, also on N.C. 150 just by Mount Pleasant Road. They offer huge buttermilk biscuits (try the livermush if you want a local favorite), along with buffets at breakfast and lunch. Come hungry. Details: 704-483-5995 .
SEE THE SIGHTS: Bird Brain Ostrich Ranch on Little Mountain Road (www.birdbrainranch.com) features a tour of the farm and samples of dishes prepared with ostrich meat.
SCENIC QUALITY: Everywhere you go are beautiful vistas: rolling fields, Little Mountain, shimmering lake, and you can always catch a glimpse of the Marshall Steam Plant.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Sherrills Ford is still very much rural, and many families are still devoted to agriculture. At the same time, it’s close to the convenience of larger cities.
FAMILY FRIENDLY: The local branch library has programs for children of all ages, the school system is top-notch, and the Optimist Park offers programs year-round.
SHORELINE: If you look at a map, Sherrills Ford seems to have more coastline than most Lake Norman communities.
Sherills Ford Quick Facts
FOUNDED: 1747 (not incorporated)
POPULATION: 4,155
AVERAGE HOME COST: $184,800
AVERAGE INCOME: $45,045
LOCAL TAX RATE: 54 (49 county plus 5 fire district) cents per $100
COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION: 828-465-8200 ; www.catawbacountync.gov
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Catawba County Sheriff’s Office,828-464-5241; www.catawbacountync. gov/depts/shf
SCHOOL DISTRICT(S): Catawba County Schools,828-464-8333; www.catawba.k12.nc.us
