City of Kannapolis - Economic Development

With a mild annual temperature of 61 degrees, Kannapolis offers a small-town lifestyle with all the benefits of major-city attractions. There are parks and greenways, a minor league baseball team, quality schools - both the Cabarrus County System and the City of Kannapolis System - and ample new neighborhood developments.

"My family and I moved to Kannapolis, N.C., for a number of reasons," says Mike Minter, strong safety, Carolina Panthers. "Our initial attraction was the opportunity for more acreage for our home and less taxes. What really impressed us was the idea of living in a community that has traditional family values but also the foresight and vision to grow and expand. This is also where I plan on having my businesses established."

Kannapolis' award-winning summer concert series, festivals and other events harken back to a simpler era. Meanwhile, Kannapolis' neighbor Charlotte offers the NFL, NBA, and a strong arts community with the #1 per capita in giving to the arts and sciences in the nation. Kannapolis also sits square in the middle of NASCAR country, with nearly every team's headquarters a short drive away.

The region surrounding Kannapolis is home to four universities, 11 liberal arts colleges and ten community colleges. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Carolina beaches are a day's drive, and other outdoor activities include boating, hiking, and playing on some of the nation's most famous golf courses.

Kannapolis has many attractions, sites and events and is also well positioned geographically to enjoy events in other parts of the Charlotte-metro region. From Cannon Village, which is Kannapolis' Williamsburg-style downtown known for its furniture market and various festivals to a Panther's game in uptown Charlotte, there is always something going on.

Kannapolis Attractions
Kannapolis Events
Regional Attractions
Recreation

Kannapolis Attractions

Cannon Village Home Furnishings Marketplace offers 34 furniture, home décor, clothing and gift shops, a textile history museum and an annual traditional Christmas celebration.

Dale Earnhardt Tribute, a hometown tribute to the legendary stockcar driver.

Kannapolis Intimidators, the class A affiliates of the Chicago White Sox.

The GI House, the only remaining prefabricated homes built by Cannon Mills for returning World War II veterans, is filled with 1945 to 1950 artifacts and heirlooms. The museum located at 905 King Street is open to the public the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 5 pm, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Group tours available by request. The Kannapolis Branch of the Cannon Memorial Library offers a history room highlighting the growth of Kannapolis from a textile village to the city of today. Kannapolis photographers, painters, potters and musicians represent an array of artistic talents. For more information on the arts, call the Cannon Village Visitor Center at 704-938-3200 or the Cabarrus Arts Council at 704-782-6610.

Kannapolis Events
Throughout the year, Kannapolis hosts various events. From the Cool Car Cruise and Show the fourth Saturday of April, to the annual Cottonstock Festival in May, to the Summer Concert Series in Village Park, Kannapolis comes alive with residents and visitors.

For more information on the various events in Kannapolis, please visit Kannapolis Parks & Recreation or contact the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitor's Bureau or the Cannon Village Visitors Center.

Regional Attractions

North Carolina is one of the most visited states in the country, and for good reason. Known for its temperate climate, mountains and beaches, Kannapolis' home state offers recreational activities for everyone - no matter what your interest. With Pinehurst #2, the site of the 1999 and 2005 US Open, and the Blue Ridge Parkway less than two hours away, residents of Kannapolis and the greater Charlotte metro region can play golf on a Saturday and picnic in the mountains on Sunday. The famous North and South Carolina beaches are also within a days drive.

Charlotte is home to the NFL Panthers, AAA Charlotte Knights baseball team, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, and the Mint Museum of Art. Nearby institutes of higher education include the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Davidson College, Johnson C. Smith University, Rowan Cabarrus Community College and Wingate University. The area is served by Charlotte-Douglas international Airport, a USAirways hub offering hundreds of daily national and international flights.

Also nearby is Lake Norman, with approximately 600 miles of shoreline offering an abundance of recreational and sporting activities. The Appalachian Mountains and Great Smokey Mountains National Park are within a couple hours' drive. The coast, including Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina, is less than five hours away.

In Cabarrus County, Kannapolis is minutes from Lowe's Motorspeedway, home to NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 and The NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. Cabarrus County also offers Concord Mills Mall, Carolina Mall, Reed Gold Mine, Backing Up Classics Race Museum, Concord Motorsports Park, Old Courthouse Theater and the Eastern Cabarrus Historic Museum. For more information, contact the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-848-3740 or www.cabarruscvb.com.

Rowan County offers downtown historic Salisbury, the North Carolina Transportation Museum, Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Orchestra and Rowan Museum. For more information, contact the Rowan County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-332-2343 or www.visitsalisburync.com

Parks and Recreation Departments
Kannapolis- five parks, ball fields, an amphitheater, and greenways

Kannapolis Country Club
The Kannapolis Country Club offers golf and dining along the scenic shores of Kannapolis Lake.
1196 Fairway Dr
Kannapolis, NC 28081
704-933-4336
www.kannapoliscc.com

Golf
There are many golf courses in the area, and Kannapolis' temperate climate allows nearly year-round play. A few local courses include:

Rocky River - Concord municipal course located a few minutes from Kannapolis
www.rockyrivergolf.com

Warrior - Located just north of Kannapolis in China Grove
www.warriorgolf.com

Skybrook - located in the Highway 73 corridor in Huntersville
www.skybrookgolf.com

Lake Norman
Lake Norman has a little more than 500 miles of shoreline and is the largest lake in North Carolina.