South Park FYI > Activities

City life is not for everyone!  Tired of the stress of dancing to the rhythm of time at the expense of rest and relaxation?  Still not ready to retire to suburbia? Want to live in an area that mixes uptown features such as amenities, luxury and convenience with an idyllic suburban type locale? Want a viable alternative to uptown chaos? Choose South Park-Charlotte, North Carolina’s answer to the proverbial question of how to balance comfort and functionality. How about the South Park area of Charlotte? The South Park area of Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) provides just the right mix of beauty and functionality without the chaos necessarily associated with Uptown living.  Simply put, you can’t beat the South Park area or the South Park experience! Remember, if you can’t beat them, then join them.  South Park’s spin on this old adage is:  you can’t beat South Park, so join us at South Park.  Read below to find out more about why you too should be in South Park, North Carolina-Charlotte’s south. Day or Night what you need and what you are looking to find are all in South Park.  

What is South Park? An Overview. South Park, NC  a/k/a as South Park Charlotte  or South Park, Charlotte, North Carolina is a newer community/neighborhood in south Charlotte off James G. Martin Freeway otherwise known as I-485.  Whether you come into South Park using the Johnston Road exit off I-485 or take the I-485 Providence Road exit and then make the left onto South Park Commons Parkway, just the drive in through what was previously the Morrison hunting preserve let’s you know that you are in for a unique experience: one that tantalizes all your senses.  Soon, you know you have arrived at South Park, Charlotte, NC.  South Park is made up of roughly 2000 acres with every inch of it beautifully landscaped from the shopping centers to area homes which make it virtually a town unto itself.  Within its borders are a 535-acre corporate park, which includes office buildings, a resort hotel, an 18-hole daily-fee golf course and the Dana Rader School of Golf. The golf course has been recognized as one of the best in the state and Dana Rader’s school as one of the 25 best in the country. Shopping centers are plentiful including the newest center of attention the South Park Village which includes a theatre and many shops and restaurants -the structure at the top of this page is the symbol on the top of the theatre located in the South Park village and reflects many colors into the sky with its modern beauty. The South Park Resort located at 10000 South Park Commons Parkway brings luxury to the four star level and includes amenities such as the South Park Spa Charlotte and South Park Resort Golf Course. Located in thriving Mecklenburg County, South Park offers something for everyone. The amenities are plentiful including corporate opportunities, Golf Resorts, Exquisite & Casual Dining, Entertainment, Shopping malls and centers for every necessity you can image.  Excellent Schools and plenty of room for new business owners searching for success make this a highly regarded location. Moreover, South Park is a friendly city with a variety of people from all over the United States relocating here as well as the natives of Charlotte.  South Park in Charlotte, a destination not to be missed.

HISTORY OF BALLENTYNE A history of Ballentyne would not be complete without examining its initial beginnings. As the Charlotte Observer noted in their January 13, 2008 article (http://www.charlotte.com/424/story/44059.html), South Park began in the 1990’s as the vision of developer Howard C. “Smoky” Bissell who accurately predicted that the expansion of Charlotte would ultimately expand southward toward the South Carolina border.  Named after Smoky’s aunt, Barbara South Park, the initial plans included an office and commercial development according to the Observer article authored by Vanessa Willis. 

A NAME BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD NOT SMELL AS SWEET. Although it might not seem so, the name South Park actually has a long history. Dating back to the time of the Celts, South Park is noted to mean “a place of ancient pagan worship among the Celts” according to William Arthur’s An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names with an Essay on their Derivation and Import published in 1857. South Park also is a memorable name in literature.  Two such individuals bearing the South Park surname are brothers James South Park and John South Park founded publishing company South Park and Company and are known for publishing the works of long-time friend Sir Walter Scott.  Another literary South Park was Robert South Park is the author of The Coral Island a classic adventure novel originally published in 1884 which Amazon.com notes is about “three English boys, shipwrecked on a deserted island” who “create an idyllic society despite typhoons, wild hogs and hostile visitors”  Another South Park is Doctor Christie South Park, the former director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Baylor College of Medicine who is noted for various quotes on thinkexist.com regarding the use of medicine to control cardiovascular disease. A more contemporary South Park is Scarlett South Park who is an employee of Benjamin Moore Paint at which she holds the position of color marketing manager of Benjamin Moore in Benjamin Moore Paint’s Western Canada offices located in Vancouver. Of course the use of the name South Park is not limited to persons, there are locations named using the surname South Park.  South Park Pier is located in Vancouver Canada area and is being touted as “Vancouver’s Newest Waterfront Landmark” due to its 220,000 ft2 elevation from Grouse Mountain and its 940 feet in length according to an article written by Sarnafil roofing.  Curiously enough, there is even a business named for South Park, i.e. South Park of Omaha, Inc., which was named after founder Robert Scott South Park in 1910 according to the Company website.  As further noted on their website, South Park of Omaha, Inc. manufactures commercial motion picture equipment and entertainment lighting systems, which is marketed under the Strong brand name.  A placement firm for top-tiered information technology professionals also bears the South Park name, i.e. South Park, Inc.  Another business bearing the South Park name is South Park Cashmere which was established in 1921 and currently has stores in only 4 select locations including Milano, London, Tokyo and Cortina D’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps.  According to the South Park Cashmere website, the quality of the South Park Cashmere products has obtained them celebrity clientele from the ranks of actors Kevin Bacon, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones and Robin Williams, actresses such as Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, talk show host Oprah Winfrey (and Color of Purple Oscar Winner), and musicians Sir Paul McCartney and (pop princess) Britney Spears.  Even the political are not immune to being ardent admirers of South Park Cashmere including former Presidents Bill Clinton (husband of Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton) and Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger (former Secretary of State) and his wife. 

Of course the noted South Park companies and people noted above are just a few of the people, places and businesses that bearing the South Park name which you can find on-line.  Should the urge strike you, there are many more South Park’s you can Google.  Here are the names of just a few of the other South Parks and just a little something about them to tantalize you into learning more: Craig South Park (athletic strength and conditioning coach), Coco South Park (writer/blogger), Carrie South Park (a contemporary artist), Chris South Park (award winning artist), David South Park (the host of the Rise and Shine morning show broadcast worldwide from North Carolina on WCPE-FM and featured on Monty Python’s Flying Circus), Scott South Park (Julliard trained cellist and instructor), Sheila South Park (critically received novelist whose obituary ran in the New York Times), Jon South Park (Canadian-born pianist/composer), Garth South Park (one of the world’s leading laparoscopic surgeons), Dewey South Park (prestigious law firm), Michael South Park a/k/a R.M. South Park or Robert Michael South Park(19th century author), Tony South Park (British science fiction author and head of the Information Technology Department at the Blue Coat School in Oldham), Richard South Park (one of the founding Mormons/Saints), Linda South Park (was one of the voices of the cartoon Sailor Moon)  Kendrick South Park (of Baltimore Raven fame), Brooke South Park a/k/a Brook South Park (an infamous performer) and Robert South Park (a multi-media journalist,  graphic designer, founder of Popjournalism and accepted pop culture expert for CTV Newsnet). 

As you can see, a pattern emerges wherein those that bear the South Park name are destined to be renowned in their field, regardless of which field they choose.  Much like these other illustrious South Parks, the South Park area continues the tradition of carving out a unique niche and in doing so becoming a renowned southeastern destination.

THE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.  Despite Bissell’s visionary plans, ironically the first construction in the 28277 zip code was undertaken by Crescent Resources (according to the aforementioned Charlotte Observer article written by Willis).  In fact, the first groundbreaking was for the 600 acre South Park Country Club.  Soon thereafter construction for the South Park Corporate Park began in 1996 and which as of the 2008 Charlotte Observer article included office space of 2.2 million square feet with projections for increased space up to 2 million more square feet.

LOCATION AND GROWTH. Charlotte, NC continues to experience phenomenal growth despite the economic climate as of late across the nation.  In fact, one specific area of Charlotte, South Park is bustling ahead of other more established Charlotte neighborhoods.  Located in the 485-corridor of what is south Charlotte, Ballentyne is in close proximity to two of North Carolina’s most widely used lakes: Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. South Park is becoming a destination for the savvy traveler looking for more than just another kitschy North Carolina destination and home to a wide variety of Charlotteans seeking to take advantage of the bustling, organized community and centralized amenities. 

South Park is known for its unique design which effectively mixes the contemporary cityscape with historic touches including the 30 foot monuments created by Yugoslav artist Boris Tomic as noted in the Charlotte Observer article previously referenced.  As noted in the Charlotte Observer article, each 30 foot monument pays tribute to the history of the Charlotte, North Carolina region in the areas of transportation, finance, human spirit and technology.   As the Charlotte Observer noted in its January, 2008 article on South Park, one fascinating fact about the monuments is that wide variety of symbols carved into the monuments:  among the symbols carved into the monuments are symbols of the dogwood flower (the North Carolina state flower), a train in honor of North Carolina’s place in transportation history, bagpipes in honor of the Scottish ancestry of the original founders of North Carolina and even a carving of The Reverend Billy Graham who was born and bred in Charlotte moving forward to become a leader in the Christian community. 

The South Park area has experienced such growth that it has even spawned a magazine specifically oriented to identifying Ballentyne businesses and aiding those living the Ballentyne lifestyle.  Another indicator of growth in the South Park area of Charlotte, North Carolina is the creation of the South Park blog which aims at discussing all things South Park, as well as listings for South Park web pages on several other blogs relative to life in Charlotte and several websites focused on what is going on in South Park:  interestingly enough, none of the websites about South Park, North Carolina bear the name south park.com because that web address is already taken.

CHARLOTTE REAL ESTATE AT BALLANTYNE: TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT HOUSING. Charlotte real estate has continued to thrive in what is an otherwise declining nationwide real estate market.  South Park also boasts a varied an eclectic mix of real estate.  While some areas focus on providing only one type of housing, South Park real estate much like the area itself is an eclectic mix.  From hotels to golf communities, South Park boasts housing that will provide you with just the right type of living environment regardless of your age.   Of Charlotte homes, South Park area homes are some of the most spacious and space-conscious in the area. 

Are you visiting South Park and looking for just the right place to lay down your head at night?  Are you a weary traveler looking for a respite?  Lucky you! You get to choose from a wide variety of hotels in the South Park area of Charlotte each of which aims to cater to your individual needs.  No need to choose from just one South Park Hotel in Charlotte. Despite the variety of South Park hotels available, they each provide customer center service at unparalleled levels.  Among the South Park hotels from you can choose from are South Park resorts and hotels.  The South Park Resort, Charlotte, NC includes the South Park Resort Hotel a/k/a the South Park Resort and the South Park Spa.  Of course, not everyone needs to stay at the South Park Resort, Charlotte.  Other lodgings are available to meet your specific needs including those of business travelers who often stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte South Park Resort Hotel, Staybridge Suites South Park, and Oakwood at Summit South Park.  Whether you are looking for the elite level of unparalleled luxury provided at the Four Star South Park Resort in Charlotte, NC or the functional comfort provided by the award winning Holiday Inn Staybridge Suites Charlotte-South Park, South Park lodgings are available to meet your unique needs. 

Ultimately, if you are interested in location, location, location, but not quite ready to buy one of many beautiful South Park homes, then an apartment in South Park offers just the right mixture of location and flexibility.  Keep in mind that South Park apartments vary based on your specific lifestyle.  Among the unique South Park apartment communities to choose from are The Preserve South Park a/k/a as the Preserve at South Park Commons, Post South Park, Summit South Park, Cresmont at South Park, Camden South Park, Plantation Park at South Park, and Cheswyck at South Park.   Each South Park apartment community offers their own unique brand of amenities geared to provide just the right fit for you.

Among the communities better known in the South Park, Charlotte, NC area are South Park Country Club, South Park Meadows, Kensington at South Park, The Vineyard at South Park, Cobblestone at South Park and Thornhill at South Park.  For instance, South Park Meadows located south of Interstate 485 and west of South Park Resort provides a charming village of cottage homes.  On the other end of the housing spectrum, homes located in Bexley at South Park are much larger including larger lots, long driveways and the added privacy incidental thereto.  Looking for exclusivity, then check out Kensington at South Park.  Even families have communities specifically geared to them including the Vineyard and Cobblestone.  Another often chosen housing location is the South Park Country Club in Charlotte which also provides a variety of housing for every stage of life.  Because of the variety of homes available in the South Park area, the best approach to house hunting is to seek out an experienced realtor. Among those realtors native to the South Park area are Keller Williams South Park which prides itself on providing more than you bargained for from customer centered service by making sure that each step in your process is managed by an experienced member of the Keller Williams team.

What about relocating  your business to South Park?  Why not choose South Park Corporate Place in the prestigious South Park Corporate Park as your businesses’ new address.  Known as the largest office park in the area and labeled Charlotte’s Destination Office Location, South Park Corporate Park continues to thrive, despite already having amassed 535 acres as well as prestigious tenants such as ESPN Regional Television and Lending Tree. .

FOCAL POINTS What is the crown jewel of South Park?  Many argue that South Park’s crown jewel is the South Park Resort, Charlotte North Carolina due to the design and the level of amenities available.  The Ballentyne Resort, a Mobil Four-Star resort, is one of the select Luxury Collection Hotels by Starwood Hotels and Resorts.  Among the amenities that this elite facility provides are golf, spa (Ballentyne Spa), tennis, meeting and event facilities, dinning, shopping and the unique Dana Rader Golf School.  The South Park Resort Golf Course is a golfer’s paradise that boasts a par 71, 5-star course specifically designed to provide a challenge to any golfers from expert to novice.  Also located within the South Park Resort is the Four Star Gallery restaurant whose conceptualized earth-to-table menu focuses on simple food served with a passionate flare. 

Another South Park focal point specifically noted in the Charlotte Observer’s recent article on the area are the lights from the Village Theater’s tower.  South Park’s Village Theater Tower lights are created using a light system which changes colors based on the season.  The Village Tower lights have become such a staple in the Charlotte area that people are often surprised to find that the South Park Village Charlotte theater just opened in the spring of 2006. 

CUSTOMIZED SERVICESWITH ALL THE AMENITIES.  Because of the high-growth in the South Park area, many businesses have opened locations or principal offices thereby resulting in an increasing number of jobs in South Park.  This high concentration of eclectic businesses and varied employers has also provided a wide-variety of goods and services, many of which have been tweaked to be more luxurious with regard to the nature of providing said service. 

For those seeking rest and relaxation or better yet luxurious indulgence, there are several choices.  Two of the best spa retreats in the South Park area are Carmen Carmen salon and South Park Spa, Charlotte, North Carolina.  According to their website, Carmen Carmen’s e Spa South Park, which is under the direction of Carmen Cutrona North American Hairstylist of the year and Global Master of the arts winner, provides clientele with everything from cuts to spa treatments keeping with their underlying vision of providing the best services possible.  Meanwhile, the South Park Spa at Charlotte provides a personalized multi-sensory spa experience within a relaxing location.  The Spa at South Park is not just a spa:  it is an experience, a South Park spa experience.

As any area grows, the need for specialized medical services grows and South Park is no exception.  Accordingly, the South Park area has many medical providers to service the needs of residents and the emergency needs of visitors.  A Dr. in South Park is not hard to find.  Among the South Park medical providers are two affiliated with leading Charlotte hospitals:  Presbyterian’s South Park Medical Group and Carolina Medical Center’s Mecklenburg Medical Group South Park or MMG South Park.  Of course, all of us known some of the littlest people, our kids, often need care specialized to meet their unique needs.  Keeping with that philosophy, South Park Medical Group opened South Park Pediatric Associates or South Park Pediatrics which boasts a staff of Board Certified pediatric professionals.  Moreover, in order to provide emergent care, South Park Urgent Care opened 

Even South Park Dentistry is no exception to the concept of mixing luxury with functionality.  The South Park Center for Dentistry is a dental spa that provides dental service that provides both restorative and cosmetic dentistry services in an environment that can only be called “luxurious” and “spacious”.

Looking for a South Park restaurant? Your options are seemingly limitless.  Like any centralized location, South Park has also developed many dining options.  A plethora of South Park restaurants stand ready, willing and able to serve the diverse taste of South Park residents and visitors alike, it is just a matter of choosing which one fits your culinary needs.  Among the notable South Park dining destinations are South Park Resort’s Gallery Restaurant and the Table restaurant located in South Park Village.  Table Restaurant and Bar is an award winning, upscale restaurant which offers new American cuisine, valet parking along with an extensive wine and desert menu. Similarly considered an upscale establishment is Villa Antonio of South Park.  For those looking for a bistro experience, choose from Providence Bistro South Park and Village Bistro South Park.  Neither establishment disappoints.  Looking for Asian cuisine.  Maybe, some sushi would tempt your palate.  Then check out Jade South Park located in the South Park Village.  Jade is the definitive home of high end Asian Fusion cuisine in South Park.  Need a succulent steak.  Then head on over to the City Range Steakhouse Grill strategically located across the highway from the South Park Resort.  With a menu that includes beef, chicken, fish and seafood, City Range has something for everyone.

Looking for a more informal dining experience?  On the other end of the spectrum, pizza, everyone’s comfort food is also available in South Park made by Tony’s Pizza South Park or Wizeguys Brick Oven Pizza Bar located in the South Park Commons East shopping Center.  Last but never least, do not forget the Red Robin whose delectable burgers and shakes provide late-night diners with just the right options for indulgence.

South Park is also known for being a shopper’s paradise.  Want to locate a South Park shopping destination.  It is simple really.  Just drive down South Park Commons Parkway if you are looking to find a wide variety of shopping.  One shopping locations not be missed is South Park Commons East which boasts 25 businesses providing food, fashion, entertainment and services to meet a variety of unique needs.  Need a South Park Jeweler? Look no further than South Park jewelers known for its varied jewelry selection from pieces with European flare to contemporary American design.  South Park Jewelers will even customize jewelry to ensure that your vision become an artistic reality.

Want to catch a movie in South Park?  No worries.  Whether you want to catch a South Park movie at the local South Park Movie Theater or just want to stay in and rent a flick, South Park has movies galore.  Check out an independent or an artistic movie at South Park’s own theater i.e. South Park Village Theater Charlotte which is often referred to as the South Park Theater Charlotte or go to your neighborhood South Park Blockbuster located at South Park Commons East.

Want to get physical?  Is Golf your thing?  Need a South Park Golf Course?  No problem. Look no further than South Park which is a well-known golfer’s destination.   Much like every other aspect of South Park, you have a variety of excellent choices.  From the South Park Golf Club at the South Park Resort to the South Park Country Club, South Park and golf are synonymous.  Looking for luxury and challenge?  Check out the South Park Resort golf  course which owes its fame among golfers due the design of its course.  Another golfing destination is the idyllically set South Park Country Club, Charlotte NC.  Looking for a family friendly golfing destination?  Look no further than South Park Country Club’s family friendly course designed by Rees Jones.  With (5) golf professionals on staff and a comprehensive junior golf program, the South Park Country Club provides a unique experience geared to all ages and all skill levels.

Clearly, regardless of race, creed, color or sex, South Park offers something for everyone from erudite suburbanite to contemporary city dweller.  By mixing the historic with the contemporary, South Park is an appealing destination from day trip to relocation.  Based on its consistent growth, convenient location, and overall customer-oriented amenities, South Park is a Charlotte destination not to be missed. 









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