From Charlotte you can take I-77 (towards Statesville) to I-40 or you can take1-85 to Hwy 321(towards Hickory) to I-40. Either are about the same time frame give or take a few minutes. Once on I-40 west take the Nebo/Lake James exit (Exit 90). At the off ramp go right on Harmony Grove Road and Follow the signs to Lake James. You will go approx. ½ mile and take your first right. Go approx. 3 miles and go straight through the red light as you cross over Hwy 70. Go approx. ½ mile to stop sign and continue straight onto Old #10/Memorial Park Road. Go approx. 1.5 miles and you will see Forest Lake Heights Road on your right. Forest Lake Heights Road will lead you to the back entrance and into phase 1 and 2 areas of The Arbor on Lake James. To go to the main entrance of The Arbor go approx. 300 yards past Forest Lake Heights and you will see the large columns on your right marking the main entrance. The Arbor on Lake James is one of the newest developments on the lake, and was started Spring 2002. This development offers spectacular mountain views as well as amazing views of the lake and surrounding areas. There are still a good number of lots available for purchase while the development is in its early development stages. We are the exclusive broker for this property, and would be able to give you a personal and detailed guided tour of the property. If you continue on Forest Lake Heights past the Arbor entrance you will see one of the older developments on Lake James. This development began in the 1970s.

After leaving The Arbor and Forest Lake Heights road, turn right onto Old Hwy. 10. You will go approx. 300 yards and come to the main entrance of The Arbor. This will lead you to the majority of the development. After exiting the main entrance of The Arbor you will take a right onto Old # 10 heading west. You will then come to Upton’s Landing Road about three miles on your right. This will lead you to Plantation Point. Plantation Point has several off-water homes and lots for sale with and without boat slips and some waterfront property available. After viewing Plantation Point you will want to take a right back onto Old Hwy 10/Memorial Park west until you come to Hwy 70 intersection. Take a right on Hwy 70 west heading towards Marion. This will lead to and through the small downtown area of Marion. You will want to travel approximately 1. 7miles and take a right on Main Street /Business Hwy 70,221,226 North. This will lead you to a five lane highway and a portion of shopping areas of the county. If you follow the highway, you will be able to get onto the Hwy 221/226 Bypass and take a right heading north. The Wal-Mart shopping center is visible now on your left. You will only go about ½ mile on the 221-226 bypass North before you see the signs for Lake James. Take a right at the next red light and go approx 150 feet and then take a left onto Hankins Road. This will lead you again to the north-side of Lake James. Continue on Hankins Road for approx. 3.5 miles until you come to a stop sign and the Lake is in front of you. This is the upper end of the Lake referred to as North Fork landing area. You will be facing a campground area. Turn left onto Lake James Road and travel approximately 2.5 miles and you will come to a new landing, called Black Bear Access Area. On your way to this landing as you cross over the North Fork of the Catawba River, that will be the start of Crescent’s newest development (October 2003), Black Forest. The entrance is approximately ½ mile beyond the river on your right. This is the newest developed area of the lake and this road was just recently paved and the landing finished in 1999. If you continue the tour around the north-side of the lake, you will want to take a right out of the new landing. After exiting the landing you will cross a one-lane bridge and then the next entrance on your right will be the future entrance of the Bear Cliff development/campground. Waterfront lots are already sold and infrastructure will be developed in the near future.

Continue approximately one mile and you will come to the main entrance of the Sunset Point development (developed 2002/2003). Sunset Point is a smaller, private, gated community that is in its early stages of home construction. If you continue on Lake James Road for approximately 7.9 miles from the landing and/or approximately 6.5 miles from the Sunset Point entrance, you will come to South Mountain Road. Take a right on South Mountain Road – from there it is approximately 1.1 miles to Hwy. 126 West. After turning right onto Hwy. 126 West, you will soon pass the Canal Bridge area and Mountain Harbor Marina. From here you will turn left onto Benfield Landing Road, where you will begin to see the Burke County side of the lake.

If you go about ½ mile, Mallard Pointe is on your left (on Lake Forest Cove Rd). Upon leaving Mallard Pointe, turn left and go approx. 1 mile and Take a left onto Holiday Shores. This will lead you to one of the older developments and a pretty drive around the Lake. After your drive through Holiday Shores go back to your left and you will pass Benfield Landing (a campground and Marina Area).

From here on you will see more of the Lake as you drive than from any other area. At the stop sign go left for approximately 1.5 miles. This will lead you to one of the largest development on the Lake (East Shores). It will be on your left and you will notice several homes and some lots for sale. After East Shores exit to your left. You will travel approximately 4.5 miles until you come to a stop sign. Take a left onto Hwy. 126 West and follow the signs to Southpointe.

Southpointe is one of the more recent and larger developments on the Lake. It lies right across the Lake from East Shores, but it is a 10-minute drive by land, approximately 5.6 miles. It will be on your left. Southpointe is a large development with several lots still available and is located on what is considered the backside or Linville side of the Lake.

After viewing Southpointe you can turn left on Hwy. 126. This will allow you to see the rural, undeveloped land surrounding the lake. From here, your next point of interest is the Lake James State Park – it is approximately 13.1 miles from the Southpointe entrance. While traveling Hwy. 126, you will once again pass over the Canal Bridge and Mountain Harbor Marina leading you to the State Park and the Marion Lake Club Golf Course. The Marion Lake Club Golf Course is just ahead beyond the entrance to the State Park. As you near the Golf Course (but before you come to its entrance) take a right onto Lake Club Drive and you are able to see a lot of the lake and some other homes and lots that exist. This road will also allow you to drive through a portion of the golf course, marina, and clubhouse area of the Marion Lake Club. Follow the way you entered on this road, and you will return to the intersection of Hwy. 126. Take a right at this intersection back onto Hwy. 126. After passing the golf course, you will come upon two smaller developments, called Lake View Drive and North Shores on your right. From here, you will go approximately ½ mile and come upon a large turn/intersection – go STRAIGHT at this intersection onto Wildlife Road. While continuing on Wildlife Road, you will come upon one of the more recent developments on Lake James – Waterglyn. Waterglyn was built in 1995 and is located near the midsection of the lake. When leaving Waterglyn you can take a right on Wildlife Road and go approximately 1 mile and you will pass by the gated entrance of Lake View Heights. Continue ½ mile past that and you will be at the intersection of Old #10. You can go right here and return to The Arbor, or you can take a left and follow your directions back to the interstate.

These directions will allow you to fully travel around the lake by automobile. The lake is much more desirable and visible by boat, due to the limited visibility of water portions by automobile. Again I will be glad to schedule a tour by water for interested buyers. I hope you find these directions helpful in your desire to see and learn more about our beautiful Lake James.