Duke Power State Park is now known as Lake Norman State Park. It's a popular park in western North Carolina and has the largest man-made lake in the state, which covers 32,510 acres. The shoreline is 520 miles long, 13 miles of which are in the park. There is also another 33-acre lake that is entirely within the park.
The area was home to Catawba Indians more than 400 years ago. They left the area in 1762 because disease and warfare with other Indian tribes. Fort Dobbs was built on the site around the same time to protect settlers. Skirmishes during the French and Indian Wars and Revolutionary War were fought there. When Cherokees attacked the fort one time, Daniel Boone was among the defenders.
Duke Power Company built Cowans Ford Dam across the Catawba River to create hydroelectric power. The dam helped create Lake Norman from 1959 to 1964. The lake is named after Duke Power’s president Norman Cocke. The lake Duke Power donated 1,328 acres on the northeastern shore of Lake Norman to the state for use as a state park.
Plants and Animals
The forests around Lake Norman Stake Park are made up of pines and hardwoods (hickory, sweet gum, red maple, dogwood and oak). Along the water, you will see ironwood, sweet gum, beech and river birch. Closer to the ground, you will find mountain laurel, wild hydrangea, box elder and strawberry bush.
At least 35 different mammals have been identified in the park. These include coyotes, opossum, eastern cottontail, gray squirrels, red foxes, gray foxes, moles, shrews, mice, muskrat, raccoons and white-tailed deer. Amphibians include frogs, turtles and water snakes. Chickadees, pine warblers, osprey, mallards, egrets and blue herons are just a few of the bird found in the park.
The Lake Norman State Park campground has 33 sites for tents or trailers. Each campsite has a picnic table and grill. Once the park is closed, the gates are locked. Campers cannot leave the park after closing time or before 8 a.m. in the morning unless there is an emergency, as of 2010. The campground is open from March 15 through November 30. The park also offers group tent camping for groups no larger than 25 people. This area is open from April through November.
The park has a community building that can be rented. The building has a large meeting room, kitchen, restrooms and a fireplace. It can only be used from 8 a.m. to a 30 minutes before the park closes. The building near the swimming area has a concession stand, rest rooms, changing area, showers and lockers.
Paddle boats and canoes are available for rent. Private boats can be used on Lake Norman. You can also fish in the lakes for crappie, bass, bluegill and yellow perch. Park rangers hold interpretive programs at various times throughout the park. Hiking trails of various lengths criss-cross the park. There is also a trail for mountain bikers. The park has three picnic areas, including one near the lake swimming area with a 125-yard-long beach along the lake.
As of 2010, in March, April, September and October, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May through August the hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and in November through February, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The only day of the year the park is closed is Christmas Day.
Lake Norman State Park
159 Inland Sea Lane
Troutman, NC 28166