Latta Plantation

6/16/2015

We were fortunate enough to happen across mention of this plantation on our GPS while driving through North Carolina on the Interstate 77 north of Charlotte. The roughly half-hour "detour" off the interstate would have been complicated without the GPS to guide us. The property was very well kept and gave a good flavour of plantation life in the 1800's, including the inevitable use of slaves. If you've never seen an authentic plantation, this would be a good one to start with. It's not so fancy as to be a "Gone With the Wind" Tara, rather it has the feel of being typically comon and prosperous.

6/16/2015

Great for picnics, chilling, and canoeing. Very clean and welcoming.

6/16/2015

We frequent this beautiful park! There are great trails for hiking (dogs are allowed), boating during the season. The lake is lovely and clean! There are picnic tables scattered and a couple shelters. Many hiking trails also allow horses - beware of the gifts they leave behind! You can see which trails only allow hiking and stick to those. When it's warm out it can get relatively crowded, but it's still worth it.

Visit the nature center when you first drive through the gate to get a park map, The people there are very helpful. They often have activities for the kids for a small fee. (Ask at the visitor's center.) I guess it sounds like I'm advertising, but I just really like the place and love to support it! Hope you get a chance to enjoy it!

6/16/2015

What a treat to visit. My wife and I are visiting from New Hampshire and found this tucked away gem. The staff were both friendly and informative and the plantation is remarkably maintained. A must see if you like history.

6/16/2015

It was really awesome seeing such a historic home. Tour was a bit short, and was only of the house, not of the slave bunks, kitchen, animal pens or any other area. the small gallery was nice and informative as well. Over all we had a good time.

10/20/2015

Nice piece of history! Didn't take much time to go through.

11/22/2015

Wonderful park! Lots of great hiking trails. The park also has many trails for horses too. Great views of the lake! The historic house at the end of the road is a great piece of history. Tour guides are very knowledgeable!

3/28/2016

My kids really enjoyed there self.

4/29/2016

This is a really neat place to visit. You can tour around the old plantation an see how they used to do things 200 years ago.

Secondarily, there are great trails around Latta Plantation, on Lake Norman that you can bike, walk, or run.

The Carolina Raptor Center is also located inside Latta Plantation which is one of the largest raptor hospitals in the US. Visitor can also take a tour around and see many types of raptors.

You should definitely plan a visit in the near future!

4/29/2016

Beautiufl views, good hiking, and tons of unexplored areas if you venture away from the lake path.

5/30/2016

Was pretty awsome going here will go again

7/1/2016

I loved their haunted Halloween walk. The line was a bit long but it was great fun nonetheless.

10/30/2016

I would not recommend this place for taking your children for horse back riding. We arrived on a Sun around 1pm. No one greeted us as we walked in the door or even asked if they could help us. They just looked at us like I wonder what they are here for!

My children wanted to ride the ponys as the lady clerk said there would be an hour wait. No problem i said, as my children were able to pet the horses nearby and loved it!

After I paid, the lady at the desk directed "me" to go down to the barn area and walk through to see if I could see anyone that would be directing the pony rides. How strange I thought. Don't they have walkie talkies to talk to one another to say, "we have a group of three here to ride".

I walked through the barns (three of them) and walked back to the clerk and let her know that there was no one at all in ANY of the barns. Honestly it was like a ghost town. The clerk said she would have to give me a refund as she guessed everyone had left for the day! This was unreal. I had filled out three waivers of course and had paid her in cash. She asked me for my credit card as I kindly replied that I had paid her a twenty and two fives. She offered to give me a gift card.

I am not sure what is going on here but something is NOT right. If your running a business you need professional people to assistance your customers!

We saw four other families come in before and behind us and walk out.

Having a bad experience is one thing but why do you offer and schedule rides if No One is on the property to instruct them?

10/30/2016

We love this place. Brought our dog for a walk while passing through. We met a lovely couple fishing and ended up chatting with them. The place is clean and spread out and safe.

10/30/2016

Made the house tour, takes about 30 mins, the house is air-conditioned. The guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions.

Also if you take the tour they offer a discount to visit Raptor Center nearby but they don't allow pets there so we had to pass since we had our dogs with us at the plantation.

10/30/2016

This is my favorite place on the planet. Great for leisure walking, a nice jog or a day out with the dog. They also have horseback riding and canoeing. I love latta!

10/30/2016

Latta Plantation is a great place to take a step back in time and see how our ancestors lived. It is a beautiful place to take a hike, kayak, ride horseback or learn a little about our history. I strongly recommend it to everyone, especially families.

12/1/2016

This is a great maintained place to go walking, hiking, fishing, horse riding and kayaking. There is nothing negative I can say about Latta. Just make sure you bring food and beer!

1/1/2017

When there is an event--which seems to be frequent--it's a fun, educational, and relaxing place to spend a few hours. You can choose to participate in the event or just enjoy the park setting and drink a beer and picnic. (The times I've been there when there is an event, NODA beer truck always present with a food truck option.)

1/1/2017

Nice little park. There are places for fishing and trails for running/walking. Dog friendly park, but please use a friggin leash.

2/3/2017

The trails and the fishing are great. The facilities are clean and the maintenance feiendly

2/3/2017

Always a great experience. Trails are fun, love the equestrian center. Good place to picnic and tour the plantation house & grounds.

3/3/2017

I love the hiking trails and the lake! I live in the city so this is a perfect getaway on weekends

3/3/2017

Love this place. Very peaceful

3/3/2017

great place to get back to nature

4/6/2017

Wonderful place to visit. My wife and I took a Segway tour here a couple of years ago. Very interesting being able to go to places on the plantation that we probably would not have walked to.

4/6/2017

It is a beautiful hiking destination. Easy to find, lots of different trails with thier own small parking lots.

4/6/2017

Such a lovely place so close to CLT. A great place to relax at the weekend.

5/8/2017

Great place to visit and very comfortable. I like to simply ride through on occasion. Well maintained and the Raptor Center is incredible. They do a lot of good work saving those birds.

5/8/2017

Lots of trails and cool scenery for being so close to Charlotte! There are a few spots along some of the trails that you can sit and enjoy the lake/swim if the weather is good!

5/8/2017

Didn't get get a chance explore because of the weather and schedule restraints but the activities offered besides the tour of the house is exceptional. I plan on going back to horseback ride and bring my granddaddy to fish.

5/8/2017

It's by the lake and there are all kinds of things to do from fishing to boating, we all love hiking on the trails especially our dogs. Nature at its best

6/11/2017

I will forever love latta! A great place to hike or go kayaking, and I've never been there and had it been overly crowded. The Raptor Center and various horse friendly trails are also good reasons to go.

6/11/2017

Went here for a birthday trip for myself. We absolutely loved it! House tour was memorable, tour guide was very, very knowledgeable. Wish the museum had been open when we went, but I didn't mind.

6/11/2017

Peaceful and pretty. They have farm animals and host tours and reenactments. It's great.

7/12/2017

Outstanding local location for a hike...

Welcome center was full of information and we love to lace up the boots and hit the trail(s) here in the fall and spring.

The stables were under construction on our last visit, but it was a great horse ride in the past, so I bet the new stables will be even better.

Cant beat it for a close to Charlotte location to just relax and get lost in thought.

Kayaking/Canoe is great in the cove just off the landing!

And if fishing is your thing, use the fishing pier and get the line wet!

(But do the right the thing, and get your license.)

7/12/2017

Great place to hike, ride horses and kayak. Canoe rentals are there as well. Most hikes are less than 5 miles and pretty easy. Scenery is great... Lots of trees.

7/12/2017

I don't know what took me so long to visit this place. Gorgeous outside walking and neat inside history. Close to the raptor center and river so it's easy to make a full day out there.

8/13/2017

I went here with my daughter's class on a field trip. It was very fun and educational. The staff/volunteers were all very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Affordable gift shop was a plus.

8/13/2017

Kayak ramp has great access to get in and out. The views are beautiful here! I recommend sunscreen as to it being a lake and not many trees for shade. Enjoy!

9/13/2017

Great place to do some kayaking, hiking, picnic or just relax in a beautiful park. Well cared and maintained. Police patrol this park very often which makes you feel safe.

9/13/2017

This Plantation on Mountain Island Lake is a real gem. It has several boat, canoe and kayak put-ins. It is also home to the North Carolina Raptor Refuge Center, which is awesome!!

11/14/2017

Guides are very knowledgeable in the facility has been recreated beautifully. It is apparent that the staff is very engaged with the experience and ensures that children have a positive take away as well as a realistic understanding of the historical significance of the site. The mix of modern amenities along with the historically significant and recreated buildings make it a great experience for school groups as well as families.

12/14/2017

Great place to study/see circa 1800 life. Reenactments, tours of the house, open grounds in the style of the 1800's. Barn and additional period cabin's viewable by all ages. Great to bring a picnic and then use the park to enjoy lunch...

12/14/2017

I have used the hiking trails many times. This visit was for the raptor center. Beautiful birds of preybeing rehabilitated. What a gem of a place and the staff is excellent! Kids would love it. Go there!!

12/14/2017

Our family went for a photo shoot. Many places for beautiful fall photos. Clean and animal friendly.

12/14/2017

Lots of trails of varying length (anything from 0.3mi to 5+mi) with scenery ranging from a walk through the woods, to rounding a creek / gorge, to following a lake's coast.

1/14/2018

Love this place! Whether You are hiking, seeing the sights, or fishing this is a great spot. They have multiple Canoe and kayak puttins, which makes it a great place whether you own or rent from them.

1/14/2018

Beauty all around... Great please to kayak, lite hiking and just hanging out. Bring the family and your little furry friend....

2/15/2018

Great place for a walk, run, or for walking your dog. Historic site is beautiful. Great site is witness some local history. Carolina Raptor Center is fun and educational.

4/18/2018

Great place for a picnic or a light hike and definitely enjoy walking with the family and the dogs. There is also the raptor center, nature center, and of course the beautiful historic latta Plantation house.

I love walking the grounds and depending on my mood I can do a short few mile walk to up to 8 or so miles of horse and hiking trails. There is often a nice breeze coming off of mountain island lake and it's almost always quiet and relaxing.

If you want to spend a few hours or a whole day it's a great place to enjoy with the whole family and I definitely recommend it.

Just please pick up after yourself and your animals! The amount of trash I have seen on the trails and around the scenic overlook rocks has been terrible as of late and rather upsetting. So carry in, carry out and leave only footprints. Keep this place scenic and serene.

4/18/2018

i love to my kids to plantations. yes and sad time in our history but if you take the time to look you see that the slaves were craftsman that needed to know how to read and mathematics. the skills they had to built the houses, barns and any other buildings that were needed. also to know that not everybody in the south believed in slavery. well we enjoyed this site and i think everybody should see it this site and others like it

4/18/2018

Well maintained and preserved house plus out buildings. The tour is around 1 hour but runs very quickly due to interesting facts about old times. I liked the outbuildings more than the main house.

4/18/2018

Walking around seeing all the different types of birds was really fun and exciting. I live learning new things and going here is full of learning excitement.

4/18/2018

As a history lover, I always enjoy touring the house, kitchen, and slave quarters. However, I go to take my children to see the animals. Kids 5 and under are free! The Nature Center and trails are also free and half a mile from the plantation.

5/20/2018

Lakeside. Plenty of nature trails. Horse back riding. Canoeing. Fishing. No swimming. Family grilling w/covered tables. Grill out on the trail for a smaller family. Rapture Center. Nature Museum. Historical plantation to tour.

5/20/2018

I love the place! So many things to do and it's beautiful. You can tell the place is loved and cared for.

6/21/2018

This 52 acre park has some truly beautiful scenery and lots of great history! The house on the grounds is preserved from the 1800's to give you a feel for how it would have been to live during that time.

Also on the grounds is an Equestrian Center and Raptor Center. The Raptor Center is really amazing, featuring many birds of prey who were wounded and are receiving care. When I was there, there was a bald eagle who was sitting on her eggs waiting for her babies to hatched!

The Plantation also offers other events throughout the year. I've seen Fairy Gardens, Ghost tours and re-enactments at varying times. A great place for anyone.

The preserve has many trails for hiking of varying degrees of difficulty, but most are wooded, so it is cool. There is also a picnic area right by the beach and sheltered area near the parking lot.

This place is a favorite for everyone and worth a visit.

6/21/2018

Latta is about 45 min from us but well worth the drive. Everything about it is remarkable. Our most favorite thing is they have a ramp to drop kayaks in. We love to travel to waters and the ramp makes it that much easier to get in and out. We've done photos here. Picnics. Etc. Its truly s lovely park. Enjoyed by our entire family. Us. Kids and dogs.

6/21/2018

BEAUTIFUL!!! Love walking the trails with my dog sometimes I'll tell him to go jump in a lake!! LOL seriously a beautiful Park just stunning. want to relax take your mind off of things sit on a bench by the water under some nice trees absolutely relaxing.

6/21/2018

We love this park. Its a slice of nature not too far away from the city. This is a great place to play fetch in the water with your 4 legged friend.

7/22/2018

The house tour was very interesting; the tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the plantation. Getting to walk through the parlor and bed chambers of the house and explore the grounds was a great experience! It made me feel what life was like in the 1800s. Something unique and fun was seeing the plantation animals. There were sheep just grazing on grass right next to you. There were turkeys, chickens, pigs, a cow, a horse and mule near the barn and fields. Highly recommend visiting for some local history!

7/22/2018

Great park! Love to take the dogs and walk here. Great place to launch kayaks and canoes. 52 acres so plenty of trails to discover. Highly recommend taking a walk/hike here. Paths lead through the woods, so first in the morning may get some spider webs, but not really a big deal.

7/22/2018

Love hiking at Latta! There are lots of walking trails with nice views of the lake. You can arrange to go on kayak or SUP tours. You can also rent canoes or visit the plantation or raptor center for an extra fee. There are lots of picnic tables and a few shelters. The only drawback is that people tend to litter despite there being trashcans available even at trailheads and viewpoints.

8/26/2018

went kayaking here, they have 2 awesome launch points available that I know of. We recently launched in the North side that offers handicap accessibility. Mainly to try the North side. The only negative about the North ramp is no bathroom at the parking area like the other launch site. Thank you Latta for such nice and easy launch sites my kids love it

9/26/2018

The Latta family ran a very successful plantation raising cotton and we are lucky the place has been preserved. Our family bought the planation tour and really enjoyed it. Our host was bubbling with energy and told us great stories. The house is cool in the summer.

10/28/2018

The Nature Center has some great information on the park, free to rent adventure backpacks for kids to make exploring fun for the whole family. Great hiking trails, fishing areas, quiet tranquil areas, also near equestrian center and raptor center.

Tours of the plantation house and property are very informative and fun, lots of interesting stories and antiques.

Definitely recommend checking out any part of Latta!

10/28/2018

Nice get away from the city hustle and bustle. Our dogs love it and especially get excited when some big horses cross our paths. Usually super quiet and not too crowded. The trails are not difficult but great for outdoor adventures.

10/28/2018

I absolutely love coming here. Whether by myself or with the children. It's so peaceful out here. We also come here to see and feed the horses. The kids absolutely love that part. The horses are so beautiful. You can take rides or just sit back and watch them. They also have a lil gift shop that is so cute. You can purchase all sorts of things and not very expensive either. We've been here so many times I've lost count and I will continue to come in the near future also.

12/3/2018

Went here to go kayaking. They have a nice put in area. Parking could be a bit better. The cove where you put in is quiet and peaceful for paddling. Fising was good too. The Raptor center is a nice place to take your children to for education and fun.

12/3/2018

Latta Plantation is a nice area to escape for a short time. During the Easter Holiday they have a nice little Easter Egg hunt with a big group of children. There are a few animals on the site which is nice for younger city children that maybe don't have the chance to see farm animals. The House itself is fairly small so don't expect some kind of Plantation style property. There are other things to do very close by such as horseback ridging, kayaking, canoeing and some very light hiking. I have seen people fishing during some walks in the area. As always, the worst and the best part are the other people the come to the area.

1/4/2019

This is a wonderful Park hidden in Huntersville. There are plenty of hiking slash running paths for you and the family. You can hike for a mile or 20 (the most I've ever done in the park) and have a great time. There are plenty of places to picnic around the park and plenty of access to mountain island Lake. The grilling spots are set up super nice. I would suggest reserving a shelter during the summer months. There are some really cool spots to take a dip in the water and to jump off of some really cool rocks near the lake. During the summer the snakes and spiders are a beast.

2/4/2019

A collection of tortoise and snakes in the center. There is a bird center a little bit away. Interesting place for kids. In the summers , one can pack lunch and have it in the picnic tables all around. My son loves to go to this animal center.

2/4/2019

This is a wonderful nature preserve with beautiful long and well maintained hiking trails. I typically take my dogs for a hike and let them cool off in the crisp cool water of mountain island lake. The cove trail seems to be the least travelled. If you are looking for a wonderful spot to catch the sunset with the backdrop over the lake, I recommend taking Buzzard rock trail to the overlook.

2/4/2019

Fantastic park and super pretty! I enjoy bringing my clients here for photographs such as engagements and couples. It's always clean and there are many places to chose from for photos.

3/5/2019

Awesome trails with well designed niche to have family gathering and barbecue...! Highly recommend for family and friends get to gather or just tracking..

4/5/2019

The plantation also offers different workshops which one of I attended. It's a great place to meet other people in the community and learning new skills, while at the same time, supporting the plantation in the process which is a non-profit organization. Volunteering is also available if one is interested in helping preserve this historic location.

5/8/2019

the receptionist over the phone was very helpful, although first walking up, they weren't very friendly and a bit evasive ... the pricing was a bit excessive just for a "tour" - which wasn't a tour of the whole grounds just the home. To enter the property was free although the home had the tour of the inside. The volunteer on the plantation experience a whole different story they made you feel welcomed and made it a great introductory to welcoming you to NC. It was an awesome educational experience. the staff I cant say the same unfortunately.

5/8/2019

Latta plantation is a little known gem. Beautiful park on mountain island lake. Kayak and canoe only access areas. Plenty of fishing spots from the bank. Great trails. Picnic areas. Home to the raptor center. Alot of improvements are underway to make it even better.

5/8/2019

I love owls so this was worth the time to walk through. They have all kinds of birds of prey including owls, eagles, falcons and vultures! Take the time to walk through it is worth it!

6/8/2019

Always love to come here. They have tons of weekend events throughout the year, the house and nature center. Trails range from easy to difficult. Dog friendly.

6/8/2019

LovesWonderful place!! Took the kids and they loved it. Nice to be away from all the busyness of the rest of the world for a day! We Loved the raptor center!!!

Unfortunately, we didn't know it closed that early so we didn't get to stay very long and just kind of had to rush through. I wish that we would have had more time there. Again, the kids had a great time!!

6/8/2019

Very interesting plantation visit. Went with my daughter's class field trip. Great learning experience for them about a working plantation and the life and times during the slave trade.

7/9/2019

I have been going to Latta Plantation since I was a little boy. I now take my children and there's no dull moment. There is canoes, horse riding, bike/hiking trails, a museum, fishing and much more! Great place. Very peaceful.

7/9/2019

Wonderful historic site with lots of things to see. Good for kids and pet-friendly. We attended a civil war reenactment and were impressed. You can buy membership and attend all types of events, workshops and the like, all free with membership. Get out if the house and teach your children history! (And you might learn a few things yourself...)

7/9/2019

Beautiful, well maintained piece of history. Sheep graze on the front yard as you walk up. Be sure go through the property in a tour. The guides are extremely informative.

7/9/2019

Went horseback riding and this place was great. The trails are well maintained and wide. There was very few big hills and only one creek. I highly recommend

7/9/2019

Beautiful space. Great for photos, adventures, and getting in touch with southern history. It's important to remember the South's past and whose dark skinned hands built it.

8/10/2019

The tour was informative and entertaining. Great place to visit with family or alone. The house is big and well kept. I really love the surroundings too. I will suggest adding cold beverages and some tables outside the plantation welcome center.

8/10/2019

Love how calm this place is. Plenty of trails to run or walk on. Good family environment too. Some lake access, but mostly just for canoeing and kayaking. Beautiful spot just to get into nature for a bit.

8/10/2019

Very informative tour guide fo the house tour. I loved that you could walk the grounds around the house at your own pace. Great picnic area and I saw there were horse trails and plenty of walking trails. Fun place to go for the day.

8/10/2019

Awesome place to go! You can go for a walk or a hike or simply read by the water. Or see the sunset. Or take a class of stand up paddling or kayaking. Highly recommend.

9/12/2019

The Latta Plantation is a great place to go to hear not only about Civil War but about the time before. The guides are extremely knowledgeable about not just the history but the architecture, furniture and art. It’s very comprehensive and they encourage all visitors to ask questions and engage in conversation rather than just running visitors through a rehearsed tour. The grounds are beautiful but it was a little too cold to walk them and I was there later in the day and they close at five so I didn’t have enough time to see everything. I plan on returning and would definitely recommend this for anyone at any age.

9/12/2019

I love this place. Great for kayaking because there are no jet skis or speed boats allowed on weekends. One of the area you can paddle to has a picnic table and shade for a perfect day of picnicking and paddling.

9/12/2019

Love Latta. Tons of things to do. You can launch your own Kayak (also rent-able) , hike, people ride horses and bikes, they have Volleyball (beach) courts, fishing, Latta Plantation, and of course the Raptor Center. The trails have always been maintained and even after bad weather debris is typically picked up quickly. Definitely worth going and getting lost for a couple of hours.

10/12/2019

What a great place to visit. It's not as grand as some plantations...but interesting all the same. There is also the raptor center close by so you could make a nice day of it.

The employees seem to genuinely care about the plantation and provided good information.

10/12/2019

Excellent! Well-maintained plantation. Very educational. The main house is not handicap/stroller accessible. I loved the docents in period dress!

11/13/2019

Free access to hiking and scenic areas. Raptor sanctuary was worth the entrance price. Plan on a leisurely stroll under the trees. Didn't make it further in to the plantation or the lakes shore. Would have needed the full day for further touring and walking.

11/13/2019

Always a beautiful option for local hikes. Good choices for length and difficulty around Mountain Island Lake in North Charlotte. Easy access, well groomed, lots of parking and the Raptor center is a must see.

11/13/2019

There are a few different trails to run here.

I used the all trails map in order to map my location because the maps and signs there are helpful but do not really give an accurate distance

Hill trail is where I start and is a nice trail mostly fairly flat gravel so very nice and easy to run

I usually split off into split rock after and would be a great trail with a gorgeous view of the lake in order to stop and look at but be VERY careful of the rocks if you choose to run/jog this part (which I do) it's a fun run but you have to watch your footing or you will roll an ankle easily

12/15/2019

Beautiful park with a large trail network. Even on the weekends there is plenty of space to hike without a lot of others around. Nature center is nice...the staff are great with kids.

There is a pay section where you can tour the old plantation grounds. It's nice but not really worth the price of admission unless you're REALLY into plantations.

1/15/2020

A fun little field trip. We went on a homeschool day and it was a great learning experience. Too many people let their kids run completely out of control but the experience from the actual plantation itself was good. Story times in different buildings. The map could have been better labeled and the event online didn't mention extra costs for the horse drawn wagon so we just opted out of that.

6/10/2018

This 52 acre park has some truly beautiful scenery and lots of great history! The house on the grounds is preserved from the 1800's to give you a feel for...read this and 27 more