WillMurray wrote on 09/26/13 at 3:03pm:


I've heard about it from someone that has the ability to control the weather, however pics would be cooler.

Wow. This is such a cool thread. My family moved to Charlotte in '87 but I remember a lot of these places. I remember driving past the soap box derby track where Queens' facilities are now, and seeing the signs for it. Grew up in Beverly Woods and saw the area change a ton. Mostly, I miss the way it used to be. I miss the HT where we bought ice when Hurricane Hugo came through, and the 2-screen cinema at Southpark. 

Does anyone remember when the helicopter crashed on the lawn at Coca Cola, across the street from Southpark Mall? Not to derail the thread, but everyone talking about the area reminded me. 

Mark, every time I drive by that Burger King at Fairview and Sharon I marvel that it's still there. Looks a lot different than it used to though!

Never knew all the history about the BYT trail area. I just grew up familiar with the water treatment facility stink in the air at certain times of day when the wind was right. 

lcogginz wrote on 09/26/13 at 7:12pm:


I remember being with my dad and going over there after it came down. We were across the street at Sears and heard about it.

Little bit more for you. We used to have a trail that cut through the fence and you rode down the old derby track long after it had been abandoned. I think we started building about 2 years before Renni was started. Where we met Jack going to town on mars (some of you know of what I speak) with a weedeater and it all went down hill from there and throw in Frankie. We grew up in Fairmeadows and used to run around the same exact area, mainly on bikes. Man did we used to ride all over sharon golf course and the trails on the backside. My brothers and I helped make the dirt jumps behind the church on Sharon rd and the bmx track at the Moravian church on old Park rd. We were there when the chopper had BIG trouble. The BYT was made with many many hands over the years. It used to go all the way down to Celebration Station in Pineville way back when. I have one for you. Who remebers the haunted house on the corner of old Park Road where the retirement home is and it was moved to where or the arcade in Sears/South Park? Your Turn.

Got one better. Who remembers the "Little Store" on Park Rd Ext. where Sharon Rd connects?

I used to walk to that store from Huntingtowne Farms all the time.  to get all the way to Celebration Station you had to cross over to the PRP side at Archdale, go past Spring Valley swim club, hop on a couple of roads in Huntingtowne Farms, jump back on the long running Ramble wood park that past Huntingtowne swim club and Starmount swim club.  When you got to the end of Ramblewood park, you had the option to cross back over the foot bridge and then continue down the creek on either side.  I don't recall going past Sharon Rd West, but I guess you could.  My parents were friends with the folks that lived in the house on the corner of Park Rd and old Park Rd ext.  Speaking of haunted things, how about the old wooden church on the dirt road that Quail Hollow Jr High is on? We called it "the devil's church". Who here used to walk the pipes that crossed Sugar creek? 

The Cycle Path wrote on 09/26/13 at 1:01pm:

Yep. I remember that.    Your dad had a blue Escort wagon. I also remember  meeting you for the first time at the Park Rd. Exon station. You were working on cars then. Heard a thousand great stories from your dad about young Mark!

The Cycle Path wrote on 09/27/13 at 2:46pm:


is there any other kind?!?

We are creating history everytime we ride the BYT...The End