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Enriching Your LifeWhether it's right in Troutman or right down the road in Mooresville or Statesville, there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the things that make life worth living - Arts & Sciences, History & Culture and The Great Outdoors all have attractions to offer in the local scene. Of course, even more offerings are available nearby in Charlotte, just 45 minutes south on I-77. As the 26th largest city in the country, it has everything you would expect of a major metropolitan area. You can experience the vibrancy of the local arts community every month in the Mooresville Art Crawl. Several members of the Mooresville Artist Guild and award winner Cotton Ketchie have galleries downtown. The guild also sponsors local competitions and events. Not far away in Hiddenite is Hiddenite Gems. It is the only emerald mine in the world open to the public for prospecting, and for a nominal fee you can “sluice,” “creek” or “dig” for emeralds and more than 60 other types of naturally occurring gems and minerals. The nearby Hiddenite Folk & Cultural Arts Center offers special events throughout the year, as well as pottery classes and tours of the historic Lucas Mansion. Just south of Troutman in Huntersville is the Energy Explorium. Admission is free and the center offers opportunities to learn about energy use, play interactive games, and discover local history. 2008 saw the opening of Iredell County’s Daveste Vineyards. Just around the corner from Falls Cove in Troutman, the winery's tasting room and art gallery are open year around, and are available for special events. Iredell Museums include an art gallery in downtown Statesville, Children’s Museum and Play Space, and the Heritage Farmstead & Learning Center. At the Heritage Farmstead, visitors can hike a half-mile nature trail enclosing a natural bog, and continue on to the Statesville Greenway path. At Fort Dobbs, visitors can view colonial era artifacts as well as a scaled replica of the 1756 fort. Special events are also hosted at the fort throughout the year, including an 18th Century Trade Faire and military reenactments. Military reenactments have also been held at Allisons Woods, which is just one of several National Historic Places in Iredell County. Another, Darshana Hall Plantation was the homestead of Civil War Veteran Capt. Henry A. Chambers, who chronicled local history in a series of letters published in the Record & Landmark in 1900. Allisons Woods and Darshana Hall Plantation are both available for special events. Darshana Hall can be toured by appointment. Several festivals are held in the area annually. The Carolina Balloon Fest showcases hot air balloon events every October. Balloon rides are available throughout the year. For the past 85 years, the Ole Time Fiddlers & Bluegrass Festival has drawn traditional American music lovers and performers from all over the country. The event has earned Fiddler’s Grove a Library of Congress Local Legacy Award, and is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend in 2009. For those whose interests run more to nature and the outdoors, there are some outstanding area attractions. Lake Norman State Park is right in Falls Cove’s backyard in Troutman. Boaters can launch into Lake Norman from the public ramp, or canoe or paddleboat around the park’s own 33-acre lake. Bikers can enjoy the Itusi Trail, which has just been expanded from 13 to 20 miles in length, with another 10 miles to be completed in the near future. Hikers are also welcome on the Itusi trail, or they can choose from the easy 8/10 mile Alder Trail or the moderate 5 mile Lake Shore Trail. Swimming, fishing, education programs, sheltered picnic facilities, and primitive camping sites are also available in the park. Mooresville’s Lazy 5 Ranch is a drive through safari park with animals from six continents living free in the Piedmont countryside. With petting areas, playground and picnic facilities, the whole family can enjoy up close and personal experiences with animals and nature. If you prefer to view animals at more of a distance, lake cruises – along with mini-golf, bumper boats and lake-side dining - are just down the road at Queen’s Landing. Enjoy the Catawba Queen, a replica Mississippi paddle wheeler, or the 90 foot luxury yacht Lady of the Lake on one of their regularly scheduled cruises. Or, charter them for your own special event. Both Statesville and Mooresville have strong recreation departments sponsoring adult and youth athletics, camps, civic and cultural programs, and supporting more than a dozen county and city parks. From square dancing to dog shows, the local Parks & Recreation departments have a little something for everyone. Everyday LivingShopping centers, educational institutions and medical facilities have to be of quality and they have to be close by. Less than 15 minutes from Troutman, Mooresville and Statesville have the facilities and institutions you need for everyday living.
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In addition to Iredell County Public Schools, there are private elementary and middle school opportunities available in the immediate area. Post Secondary and Continuing Education are also available in nearby Statesville.
Two large regional hospitals serve Falls Cove and the area around Troutman. Lake Norman Regional Medical Center is in Mooresville and is at the center of a very large medical complex that includes a range of specialty practices. Among them:
Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville also offers a full range of hospital services, as well as a Sleep Disorders Clinic. For minor emergencies, Lakeside Family Physicians Urgent Care, Lake Norman Urgent Care, and CVS Minute Clinic – all in Mooresville near I-77 at Exit 36 - are less than 10 minutes away. |