djefferis

Ok , so it looks like this is actually happening.

My work has approached me with an opportunity in the Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro area. Basically can move anywhere in the triad area. We are leaning towards Guilford County at least initially.

We have a relatively new Pontoon- and I'd like to bring it with us. Recommended areas to look at for boating nearby. I looked at High Rock lake and certainly looks large and not too bad of a drive. Anywhere else I should be looking at?

Because this has moved pretty quickly - haven't been able to do much research..too busy doing everything else that comes with a big move and trying to pull it off in 30 days.

2Smoker119

High Rock and Badin are the closest. I live on High Rock. The main consideration at HRL is the low bridges. One bridge basically cuts the lake in half. The "big" side has 2 good restaurants and a marina and the main party island of the lake. The "small" side has a smaller campground/restaurant/marina and less traffic, but better for water sports IMO. All of the ramps are easy to use and never fill up completely. High Rock is a relatively shallow lake, so local knowledge is helpful, but if you stay in the main channel no worries. Our water level fluctuates a lot. Sometimes a couple feet swing in a day. Lake activity really dies off after Labor Day. This year I noticed a lot of new boaters and people were staying out much longer into the evenings than I can recall in the past.

Property prices vary widely. You have +1M homes all the way down to trailers/camper lots. Are you looking at waterfront property? Davidson county taxes are SUPER cheap compared to Forsyth and I think Guilford. I have a 30 mile commute to work in High Point.

Badin is even more out in the sticks. Wouldn't consider living down there unless I was retired or worked remotely. Even then, basic civilization is pretty far away. High Rock is bad enough.

Lake Norman is about 1 hour from the Triad area. I go a couple times per year. Big and rough, plenty to see and do there. Belews lake is also an option, only been there a couple times. Don't recall seeing much to do.

Where are you relocating from?

N2theblue

Plenty of lakes on the Pee Dee chain like High Rock and Badin as mentioned, Badin in particular is an absolutely gorgeous lake. I don't know anything about Belews Lake to the northwest. You are also close to the mountains with access to Kerr Scott Reservoir, known for stripers and huge catfish,

MikeSW

Unfortunately, the triad area is really "lakeless". If you include some near, Belews is small and remote. Randleman doesnt allow like anything over 10hp. High point has a small reservoir but it is really small and shallow. Nearest lakes are probably Badin, High Rock etc. but take a look at the river that feeds them...constantly red clay coffee colored water---the lakes on the chain are smallish and water clarity poor. You do have norman within an hour or so..biggest lake in NC but crowded, raucous at times but really nice if you avoid the weekends. To the east you have jordan lake near pittsboro..pretty big lake but again ugly water and can get crowded but really no development on the shore like norman. Good luck

Capt Andrew

Guilford County has 3 city lakes. All of which are Boatable...

slow1

One correction on a previous post, Randleman Region Reservoir doesn't have a HP limit, but does have a 25 mph speed limit and doesn't allow swimming/water sports.

Also, taxes are double in Greensboro / Guilford County....between that and the ever increasing crime, I moved to Randolph County about 20 years ago.

N2theblue

Crime has been falling in Greensboro since the 1990s. Rates are now below what it was in the 70s. Just like pretty much everywhere else

https://data.greensboro-nc.gov/Publi...r-10/vvhg-2y6g

Total Crime, if you want to look at that even as deceptive as it is with a hugely growing population, has remained mostly stable over the last 25 years
https://data.greensboro-nc.gov/Publi...e-Ch/er5k-pmk7

MikeSW

ok true but ponds are boatable too. just trying to paint a realistic picture for OP

Spooledrotten

Oak hollow lake, Lake Townsend(Bryant park) High point city lake(shallow) Randleman res High rock, Badin ,,,,2 and a half hours north, Gaston and Kerr Res. 1.5 hours east ,,Jordon and Sherron Harris

djefferis

Thanks for info

Moving from Central Ohio - 2 beatable lakes here - 1 completely overcrowded all summer and one shallow (9') party lake filled with algae, rednecks and people putting boats way too big for the lake on the water - so yea...when you come from a desert - most any lake looks good.

Good info to know. Ideally we just keep a slip at a marina - i hate the thought of trailering a boat regularly. Again - coming from a mud puddle with shallow canals and crap everywhere...and people who acts as if a boat dock is a multi thousand dollar yearly piece of property. We pay a grand and were basically there due to no other option.

Hopefully there's enough rental operators down there and I'm not tempted to start doing rentals again. It was financially lucrative - and I had fun....but 5% of the people were 99% of the problems and it got REAL old by end of this year.

slow1

Greensboro ranked as number 39 in the murder rate per capita cities with over 100k population last year, there were 317 cities in the US with a population over 100k in 2019.

There are shootings every day, often 3 or 4.


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KingRanch

I’ve live in the triad my whole life. Grew up in trinity and now live in high point (but fortunately Davidson county, not Guilford). If you need help with anything during your move or once you get here let me know.

If if you have kids or kids are in the future I would strongly suggest looking for something on the Davidson county side of Winston or high point. Very good public schools.

We we mostly go to Norman just due to size and bridge clearances but frequent Badin and high rock. Spent my childhood summers on high rock.

N2theblue

And falling. Not rising.

Clarkspoon

Definitely want to stay out of Greensboro proper, wife and I rode through downtown a few weeks ago on the way to a candy shop for the kids and was afraid to get out of the car, just kept driving. Downtown had been on the way to recovery until the recent riots, those set the area back decades. Same for Winston as far as that goes. Local gov'ts are terrible so stay out of their jurisdiction if possible.
There are some nice suburbs outside of town, Oak Ridge on the N side has good school systems. I'm in Jamestown (between GSO and HP) and schools are OK at elementary level.
As far as boating, I keep a boat at the coast, the 4 hour drive is worth the effort if that tells you anything. The area is a desert for hunting and fishing unless you have access to private land, and God help you if you are a duck hunter.

slow1

Sorry to the OP for the sidetrack.

I too have lived in the area a long time, since 1988, I would also be glad to help you with any information you may need to help you get settled.

From 2008 until 2015 the murder totals were under 30 per year (mostly low 20's), since then it's been over 30 per year including 44 in 2019 and 39 year to date this year.

I do agree that the overall crime rate has gone down, mostly driven by a "diversion program" started by a former Chief where Shopliftings stopped getting reported along with other smoke and mirror tricks to lower reported property crimes, which are included in Part One offenses, which is how the overall rate is calculated. According to that Chief, "if it's not put in a report, it didn't happen".

Another thing affecting the overall rate is the manpower shortage at the Greensboro PD, when people have to wait 2-3 hours to report shoplifting, car break ins, larcenies, they tend to just forget it and go on with their day.

Cregeis

I have lived in Greensboro for over 30 years and we do have many boating opportunities from Belews Lake which is only 20 minutes to the north or High Rock or Badin to the south. If your pontoon is trailerable, you will have fun going to each lake and deciding which you like best. We bought a house at Badin Lake because of the relatively clean water, beautiful views and was only an hour from our house in Greensboro.

Greensboro, like most major cities, is giving in to political correctness and has gone soft on crime. Schools don’t report fights anymore, burglaries are on the rise and homicides are definitely up. We live in Irving Park and it is very convenient to everything but I would recommend Lake Jeanette or Summerfield to get better schools and have less burglaries.

BentHooks

Check out Smith Mountain Lake - 90 miles from Greensboro

djefferis

No worries about the sidetrack on crime. Its everywhere these days.

Coming from Columbus, Ohio - I get the crime issues. For whatever reason - there's a push for newcomers and millennials moving to town to head to the "hip" neighborhoods closer to downtown here - and its a nationwide trend. Of course these areas got "hip" 10 years ago because you could buy a house for less than a used Honda. Well those days are long gone and now that the houses cost more than a McMansion in the burbs in many cases - the problems are becoming apparent.

I mean seriously - you move into a former ghetto. Fix up a century home and add a security system and expect the homeless. Drug addicts and prostitutes to move out - your just kidding yourself. Shockingly a ring doorbell and BLM sign doesn't deter junkies from stealing your 60" plasma to pawn it. I see it daily in my job.

I'm pretty set on the burbs. When you look at crime stats for a city - you also need to look at it in terms of a map. Some areas are going to be hot spots...the key is to avoid them. Of course with suburban living comes commute time and traffic. Its one of those relative things - like taxes.

I see people complain about taxes down there and its a non factor to me - a 250k house here - taxes are around 4250 yearly with a Columbus address. Do a mid-higher end suburb that's closer to a 5500-6k yearly bill. Oh. 1% city income tax too...but the burbs are 2% - so work in a high tax city and your paying both.

Of course I tell friends in Philly, NYC or even Chicago my woeful tax tale and they laugh. My taxes are pitifully low compared to them. Sure - they make more, but remember federal income is a graduated scale and more you make - more you pay.

Crime is everywhere - its a fact. As to murders - its more a case of putting yourself in wrong spots. B/E's are a matter of opportunity - make yourself a target and chances of being a victim increase.

jack13

I live in northern Guilford co, Greensboro is a dump. You will regret moving within the city limits, there are plenty of very nice options in the county. I work in Winston and with the new I-73 the commute isn't bad at all. As for boating opportunities, Belews is close and easy to access from the northern part of the county and the others that have been mentioned previously are all good, just depends on how far you want to drive.

Little Scout

He asked about boating lakes, but we have three topics going here.
1. Lakes to put your pontoon: options have been listed from Baden to High Rock to Smith Mtn. Many options, but unfortunately non real close. I’d determine where you live first then decide.
2. Close by small lakes: Townsend, Bryant, Higgins, Jeanette (use to have great fishing in Jeanette, not sure about now).
3. Crime and Greensboro being a dump...what! Craziness. Yes, there are areas I would not want to live, as there are in any city. Depends on where you are. Irving Park (old and new), Latham Park, Starmount, Sedgefield, New Garden, Fisher Park, Brown Town, Sunset Hills, Westridge, etc are all nice neighborhoods. Yes, some are pricey but there are affordable areas in that list. Even around Irving Park.
Quality of life in the area can be high.

Enjoy the move.