About the Southmont Sportsplex

Davidson County Commissioners are moving forward with plans to build a 150 acre $65 million sports complex on 358 acres in rural Southmont, NC. The proposed facility includes 4,500 parking spaces, multiple baseball and soccer fields for tournament play, a 4.5 acre water park, a 50,000-square-foot indoor aquatics and basketball center, concessions, and over 60 camping and RV sites.

To date, no traffic, environmental, or other impact studies have been completed, and there has been no transparent process for community input. A recent attempt to rezone the land to allow expanded commercial use was not approved. Despite that outcome and concerns raised by residents, the county has indicated that it intends to proceed under existing zoning.

The scale of the project raises important questions about Southmont’s current infrastructure capacity and the potential long-term effects on the area's traffic patterns, environment, and rural character.

Basic Facts & Timeline

• Land Purchase: 358 acres zoned RA-1, RA-2, RS (rural agricultural, residential) purchased by Davidson County in August 2024

• Construction funded:

• $65 million approved March 2025 via reallocation of capital improvement funds from other projects

• RFPs have gone out and closed. Status of bids or contracts is unknown

• Zoning change: In April 2025, Davidson County created a new zoning classification: Community Recreational (CR). CR would allow hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, etc on the property.

• Failed rezoning attempt: The county attempted to rezone the 358 acres to “CR” in June 2025 but the request failed after significant public opposition

• Current Plan: County Commissioners insist the project will proceed under current zoning as a “community center”

• Limited-to-no public input: Other than regular Commissioners meetings there have been no public meetings organized by the county to date, and many residents may not know what's going on

• No impact studies completed: Traffic, environmental, light, noise, or ecological

Preliminary Project Features

• 10 Soccer Fields – including a showcase field with bleachers and scoreboard

• 4,500 Parking Spaces (for comparison: Carowinds has 10,000)

• 8 Baseball Fields

• 4.5-Acre Outdoor Water Park – slides and 12-ft-wide lazy river

  • Designed for 1,600 daily visitors (Southmont’s population is under 1,400)

• 51,000 sq ft Indoor Complex

  • Olympic-size pool

  • Basketball courts

  • Snack bars

• 60+ RV/Camp Sites (Limited to one week per visitor)

• Walking Trails

• 3 Entrances:

  • Owen Road

  • Riverwood Road (dead-end residential)

  • Beckner Road (limited access rural road)

• Night Games: Fields and parking lots will be lit

• Estimated Visitors: 93,000 per year

  • (For comparison: Dan Nicholas Park = 700,000/year; a comparable water park in SC = 90,000 in 4 months)

Timeline

• Construction Start: Not announced

• Projected Completion: 2028

• Plan Finalization: No clear timeline has been provided by the county

Pros (According to County)

• Economic development: hotels, restaurants, gas stations, housing developments in the rural Southmont area of Davidson County.

• Projected $1.3M in annual revenue

• Local youth access to sports fields and pools (when not booked for tournaments)

• An “East Coast destination” would be created with the combination of water park and travel ball fields.

Cons & Concerns

• Massive Growth:

  • Could overwhelm rural Southmont

  • Risk of uncontrolled residential sprawl

• Traffic & Infrastructure Strain:

  • 15+ minute drive from I-85 via winding rural roads

  • No existing infrastructure to support heavy traffic or large visitor volumes

  • Closest hotels, restaurants, and emergency services are distant

• Light/Noise Pollution:

  • Night games with 2,000 seat bleachers

  • Water park with up to 1,600 per day

  • 4,500-space parking lot lighting will affect nearby neighborhoods, especially Riverwood

  • Homes adjoin the property on all sides

• Environmental Risks:

  • No ecological or environmental impact assessments completed

  • Land drains into High Rock Lake

  • Nearby habitat for eagles, foxes, owls, and other wildlife could be lost

• Public Priorities:

  • Reallocated Capital Investment funds took away from needed infrastructure like schools, jails, and sewer upgrades

  • No public engagement process initiated by county officials

  • According to Davidson County Parks and Recreation "Master Plan" the sportsplex was supposed to be centrally located so schools in Davidson County could use it. Southmont is not centrally located in Davidson County.

Key Takeaways

• This is a high-impact project for a small, rural community with limited infrastructure.

• Despite a failed rezoning attempt, the county intends to proceed using current zoning laws.

• No environmental or traffic studies have been conducted.

• No public meetings organized by the county have been held to involve residents in planning or mitigation efforts.

While there is potential for revenue and recreation, the risks to quality of life, environment, and infrastructure are significant.

Location

The theme park Davidson County wants to create to promote tourism is not centrally located in Davidson County, it's not convenient to the taxpayers who are paying $380 per person to construct it, and it's in the middle of a residential area.