A 300-acre forested property
1149 Lake Rhodhiss Dr NE
**Park Construction has started**
Parking is now at Lovelady Road for limited access to the park.
What can you do at the park (after construction)?
- Hike & Mountain Bike – 7 miles
- Picnic at the tables
- Launch a kayak from the shore
- Fish from the bank
- Enjoy the views
Owned by the Town of Valdese & maintained by Friends of the Valdese Rec, the park is open dawn until dusk for you to explore at your own risk. This park would not exist without funding from grants and community donations, plus all the volunteer hours.
Phase 1 Construction Summer 2021
4000 linear ft of greenway, restrooms, dog park, wildlife viewing platform, kayak launch, parking and entry road.
What else is coming? A 150-foot bridge over McGalliard Creek to complete the 2-mile greenway from Valdese Lakeside Park to McGalliard Falls Park.
Donate Today to help with the bridge and amenities.
Driving Directions & More Maps
Trails that run through Valdese Lakeside Park or are one trail away!
- Wilderness Gateway State Trail (in progress)
- Catawba River Trail (in progress)
- Upper Catawba River Paddle Trail
- Fonta Flora State Trail
- Overmountain Victory Trail
Other items of interest
- Master Park Plan
- Timeline of FVR Starting and VLP Project
- Aerial Video of 300 Acres by Tony Lee Glenn
- The early Valdese Lakeside Park Plan covers the history of this project, benefits of the park and details of the park. It was created by FVR and used to generate initial interest in the project.
Lake Rhodhiss – From the Duke Energy Shoreline Management Plan
The Rhodhiss Development is a relatively small development within the Catawba-Wateree system, located northeast of Morganton in Burke and Caldwell counties, North Carolina. The development includes a reservoir, dam, powerhouse, and transmission line. The reservoir (Lake Rhodhiss) has a surface area of about 2,724 acres and approximately 106.8 miles of shoreline at a Normal Full Pond Elevation of 995.1 feet (AMSL).
Rhodhiss Dam – Built in 1925