Welcome To The Southwest Corner!
Lake Norman’s Southwest corner is primarily made up of the communities of Denver, Cowan's Ford, Westport, and a small sliver of Stanley...all located within Lincoln County. Downtown Denver is one of the most picturesque southern towns in America and has received international recognition for community planning and functionality. JUST KIDDING! Denver is unincorporated and has no official downtown area. However, what used to be considered a quiet, remote area has turned into a bustling town full of major retailers (think Walmart & Lowe's) and new residential developments.
Lincoln County - It WAS The Sleepy Side Of LKN - But It's Been Waking Up.
Through most of Lake Norman’s history, the western side of the lake has always been considered the “sleepy” side. In fact, “peaceful” and “relaxed” were words most often used when describing Denver. Years ago there weren’t many restaurants or amenities, just a line of industrial type businesses and strip malls filled with small boutiques stretching along Highway 16 (now referred to as “Business 16”). And it’s also where people who couldn’t afford the rising property values in the SE and NE corners would eventually turn their search. A few years ago, after touring a million-dollar property in Denver, one of our clients sarcastically said, “Sure the house and waterfront are nice…but it’s still ‘Denver’ when I pull out of my driveway.”
Well, the days of Denver being synonymous with sleepy and slow are rapidly changing. Yes, the main thoroughfare of Denver’s Business 16 still has that industrial vibe with multiple strip malls, but the types of restaurants and shops moving into those buildings are catering more to residential services. Several new housing developments, two new breweries, various great new restaurants, medical facilities, grocers, farmer’s markets, and charter schools now dot the landscape. Denver Days, a monthly concert/festival-like series that runs from May through October entertains residents of all ages. The Cowan’s Ford Country Club is also in this corner of the lake and it’s one of the best private courses around.
The land surrounding the lake in the Southwest corner offers more mature trees and larger lots, but with fewer rolling hills and not the coastal vibe of Cornelius and Huntersville. The water views in this quadrant are some of the best and many locals swear that Lake Norman’s water is clearer on the west side. Not sure about that claim, but the water is nice out west!
Denver is a short drive to Huntersville and Cornelius on Highway 73 (15 minutes or so depending on traffic) as it sits just west of those two towns. The recent completion of Highway 16, running north/south along the entire west side of Lake Norman, makes getting south to Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport very convenient. Several of our clients work in the airline industry and specifically chose to live in Denver due to the close proximity to work. Highway 16 also allows for easier northern access to the towns of Hickory and Newton which will take you to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also, don’t forget that property taxes in Lincoln County are some of the lowest around Lake Norman…so there you go.