Ramsey Creek Beach in Cornelius will not reopen this summer.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation said in a statement Tuesday, Aug. 11, that the popular Lake Norman swimming spot at 18441 Nantz Road has been closed since Memorial Day weekend and will stay closed for the remainder of the 2026 season. Water levels remain too low for safe swimming despite recent rainfall, WCNC reported.
The closure caps a full summer without swimming at the 46-acre waterfront park. The county first announced in May that drought conditions would prevent the beach from opening on schedule. Three months later, the deficit persists.
As we reported Aug. 8, Lake Norman sat 3.5 feet below its seasonal target with Duke Energy's Stage 2 drought protocol still active. Water resources manager Brett Hartis said the watershed's billions-of-gallons deficit would take months of sustained rainfall to overcome.
The parks department said it will continue to evaluate conditions and reopen the beach once it is safe. Other areas of Ramsey Creek Park, including walking trails, a dog park, picnic shelters, an ADA-accessible fishing pier and a volleyball court, remain open.
Where to swim instead
For families looking to cool off before summer ends, the county is pointing residents to two outdoor pools in Charlotte:
Cordelia Pool, 2100 N. Davidson St., features a 50-yard pool, dive well and water slide. Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center, 2014 Statesville Ave., has a 25-yard pool, zero-depth entrance with a play feature and a slide. Both are open daily with swim sessions from noon to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $2 per person. Free swim lessons for children ages 3–15 are available at both locations, with registration opening each preceding Saturday.
Closer to home, the Northern Regional Recreation Center at 18121 Old Statesville Road in Cornelius offers an indoor leisure pool with a multi-story waterslide and lazy river. Summer hours run through Aug. 24: Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 1–6 p.m. Daily passes cost $8 for county youth (ages 17 and under) and $10 for adults.
A full list of water activities is available at parkandrec.mecknc.gov.
Upcoming community events
- Wednesday, Aug. 12 — Wine Down Wednesday on South Main, Davidson, 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 15 — Second Friday Breakfast, Davidson Village Network, 10 a.m.
- Fridays — Live Under the Oaks, Birkdale Village, 8712 Lindholm Dr., Huntersville, 6 p.m.
- Mondays — Music Bingo, Primal Brewery, 16432 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, 6:30 p.m.
