Lake Norman is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but a question has forever lingered: What is the actual date of the lake’s founding? After much internal discussion, Duke Energy settled officially on Sept. 30, 1963, the day its Cowans Ford Hydro Station off N.C. 73 in Huntersville began commercial operation, said Tim Gause, Duke Energy’s district manager for the Charlotte region.
When Duke Energy dammed the Catawba River and began the slow and steady process of filling Lake Norman in the early 1960s, much of what slipped underwater was open, rural space.
Lake Norman festival The Lake Norman “50 Years” festival, sponsored by Duke Energy and organized by SOLO (Save Our Lake Organization) will held 2-11 p.m. June 22 at Queen’s Landing, 1459 River Highway (N.C. 150 West), Mooresville. Free admission. The festival will include a 2 p.m. Blessing of the Lake, live Christian music from 2 to 6 p.m., educational activities for families, displays by lake-related organizations, and live blues music from 7 to 11 p.m. provided by the Charlotte Blues Society. Details: 704-458-1163; 704-724-2852; [email protected].