MARION, NC
AREA ATTRACTIONS

Lake James State Park - A beautiful park amid the rolling hills of North Carolina's Piedmont. Lake James is a 6,510-acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline. This is also where much of the film, Last of the Mohicans was filmed.
  Swimming or sunbathe. Or enjoy a picnic beside this beautiful lake. Boating, water skiing, fishing and hiking are the prevailing activities enjoyed by the Park's visitors.

Park hours:

• November-February, 8a to 6p.

• March and October, 8a to 7p.

• April, May, September, 8a to 8p.

• June-August, 8a to 9p.

• (Closed Christmas Day)

Park office hours: 8a to 5p weekdays; closed NC State holidays.
  For more information, phone the park ranger: 1-828-652-5047 or visit their web site: LakeJames.
  From I-40 eastbound, take exit 90 (Nebo/Lake James) and head north. After a 0.5 miles, turn right onto Harmony Grove Road and follow it for 2 miles to a traffic light. Proceed straight across the intersection and past Nebo Elementary School to the stop sign. Turn right onto NC 126, and follow the signs to the park entrance (2.3 miles) on the left.
  From I-40 westbound, take exit 94 (Dysartsville/Lake James) and head north for 0.5 miles to the stop sign. Turn left onto US-70 and follow it for 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Bridgewater Road and drive to Benfield's Landing Road (1.2 miles). Turn left and follow Benfield's Landing Road for 2 miles to the stop sign. Turn left onto NC 126, and follow the signs to the park entrance 1.7 miles on the right.