The fishing is just one of the great things about Lake Wheeler
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Enjoy an evening of music on the verandah at Lake Wheeler
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Lake Wheeler
6404 Lake Wheeler Road • Raleigh, NC 27603
Park Office: 919-662-5704
Park Manager: Chris Murray
Asst. Manager: Ben Coats
Hours: Dawn to Dusk, 7 days a week, year round (Park may remain open longer for special facility rentals)
Holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Directions: Using Interstate 40 in Raleigh as a reference point, take exit 297 [Lake Wheeler Road] and proceed south [away from Raleigh] . Stay on Lake Wheeler Rd, passing across Tryon Rd. Continue on Lake Wheeler Rd. and you will eventually pass flashing yellow lights at Simpkins Rd [which connects to Lake Wheeler Rd. on your left]. Continue on Lake Wheeler Rd. The park entrance will be on the right side. Lake Wheeler Park is approximately 4 1/2 miles from Interstate 40. Make a right into the front entrance of the park and stay on the long winding road to the waterfront. Lake Wheeler Park can only be accessed via Lake Wheeler Rd. Although there is a small bridge that passes over Lake Wheeler by Penny Rd., fishing and the launching of boats is not allowed at that location.
History: Lake Wheeler serves as Raleigh's secondary auxiliary water supply, and this 800-acre lake park (650 acres of lake; 150 acres of park and land buffer) has rapidly become a favorite capital city getaway. Visitors often remark that Lake Wheeler tends to remind them of the scenic locales found in the western North Carolina region. In 1958, Lake Wheeler was approved for controlled fishing and other recreational activities as established by City of Raleigh Ordinance. A Master Plan was developed for Lake Wheeler Parkin 1959, noting that this reservoir would provide opportunities for fishing, motor boating, water-skiing, sailing and canoeing. Many improvements have been initiated since those early days and the current site bears little resemblance to the initial structures that were put in place in the 1950's.
Free Picnic Areas: Over two-dozen individual stand-alone picnic tables are located along the waterfront [children's playground directly behind the WPC, along the beach area, by the small observation point located between the WPC and the boat launching parking areas]. There are no fees associated with these tables, and stationary barbecue charcoal grills are located near most areas. Patrons may bring their own grills; however, they must be located by the picnic tables. Please do not dump ashes or spill hot charcoal on the ground.
Rental Facilities Include: Covered Picnic Shelters & Conference Rooms
Small Picnic Shelters (3 available at this location – each can seat 30 – 36 persons)
Quiller High View Small Shelter #1
A new shelter, paid reservations have priority at these shelters. A superb facility for kids birth day parties or seniors events. It is located directly behind the Waterfront Program Center and adjacent to the playground – very convenient to parking. Has one double commercial charcoal grill. Patrons may bring additional grills if needed, provided they are placed by the shelter area. Fees: $35/half day or $70/full day.
LakesideSmall Shelters 2 & 3
Paid reservations have priority at these shelters. Located along the waterfront. Has one double commercial charcoal grill by each shelter. Patrons may bring additional grills if needed, provided they are placed by the shelter area. Fees: 35/half or $70/full day.
Medium Picnic Shelters (1 available at this location – can seat up to 60 persons)
White Oak Medium Picnic Shelter
Paid reservations have priority at these shelters. Our newest shelter has its own separate parking area and has one of the nicest lakeside views in the park. Has one double commercial charcoal grill. Patrons may bring additional grills if needed, provided they are placed by the shelter area. Fees: $45/half day or $90/full day.
Large Corporate/Family size Picnic Shelters (2 available at this location- can seat 150 – 200 persons each)
Large Corporate Picnic Shelters #1 and 2
Paid reservations have priority at these shelters. Located in an open field area [2-3 minute walk to the lake], each shelter has two commercial charcoal grills. Patrons may bring additional barbecue grills if desired, but they must be set up by the shelter area. A restroom area is located in the center building between these two shelters. In addition, a regulation sand volleyball court is located near large picnic shelter #1. Fees: $55/half day or $110/full day.
Note:
Half day rates refer to time blocks of either 8 AM – 1 PM, or 2 PM – close. Requests for rental periods towards the middle of the day (i.e. 10 AM – 4 PM ) will constitute a full day rate for fee purposes.
Security deposits are refunded if the rental party ensures that picnic area is cleaned prior to vacating. Cleaning involves pickup of all litter by the shelter areas, restroom areas, and immediate areas surrounding the shelter. Park personnel will be responsible for emptying trash bins.
Additional Large Parking Field: For large groups anticipating more cars, an additional large parking field is available. Located adjacent to large picnic shelters 1 & 2, this parcel easily accommodates several hundred vehicles. Fee: $100.
Regulation Volleyball Court : A regulation sand volley ball court w/net is located near large Picnic Shelter #1. No fees are required for the use of this court; however, paid reservations for large picnic shelters 1 and 2 have priority at this area.
The Waterfront Program Center (WPC): Dedicated in May 1998, this unique facility boasts a 25' x 40' conference room with warming kitchen [max. capacity 100], a large open deck area w/covered verandah, a concessions area, waiting room, manager's office, rest rooms, outside playground [directly behind facility], and a boat rental area. The WPC lends itself well to all types of special events and various rentals [for weddings and/or receptions, business/sales meetings, faculty meetings/retreats, team building seminars, small musical engagements, birthday parties, family reunions, company parties, etc.]. Business and sales groups will find an array of audio visual equipment on hand for presentations, etc.
- $60/hour for the conference room
- $90/hour for the conference room and outdoor covered verandah
- $120/hour for the conference room, outdoor covered verandah, and entire deck area
After-Hours Rental: Rentals lasting beyond normal park closing hours [dusk], will require an additional $20.00/hour charge to maintain a part-time park employee on hand. No rentals past 11:00 PM
Price breaks: Package prices are available for rental engagements of 8 hours or more.
Deposit: A $75 cleaning/security deposit will be required on the date of event. Deposit will be returned if conference room left in the same condition as found.
Audio/Visual: There is a flat $20 per day audio/visual fee if equipment is requested. Audio/visual gear on hand includes a 35" color monitor w/VCR, an overhead transparency projector, and a 35MM carousel slide projector.
Launching of Private Boats at Lake Wheeler
Patrons may launch private boats at Lake Wheeler (either motorized or non-motorized) after payment of a mandatory launch fee. Personal Watercraft (PWC) type of boats (commonly referred to as Jetskis) are not allowed to launch at Lake Wheeler. The use of Personal Watercraft was prohibited as of January 2001 according to Raleigh City Ordinance. The fee for launching a private boat on to the waters of Lake Wheeler are:
$4.00/Raleigh Residents
$6.00/Non-Raleigh Residents
$1.75/Senior City Rate (for patrons above age 62).
Season passes are also available, allowing unlimited use of Lake Wheeler for private boat launchings (during operating hours). This season passes are issued for a calendar year only (valid from January through December). These are:
$100/Raleigh Residents
$150/Non-Raleigh Residents
Non-motorized Boat Rentals
Jonboats (two types: V-hull, or the more traditional square type): $3/hour (oars, pads, and life vests provided). One person in each boat must be at least 16 years of age. Proof of ID (drivers license or state ID card) and $5.00 refundable deposit required. Rented from year-round – depending on conditions*.
Canoes and sit-on-top kayaks: $4/hour (paddles, pads, and life vests provided). One person in each boat must be at least 18 years of age. Proof of ID (drivers license or state ID card) and $5.00 refundable deposit required. Rented from April through October depending on conditions*.
Sunfish Sailboats: $10/hour (life vests provided). Renters of this type of vessel must have demonstrated knowledge of sailing techniques aboard sunfish sailboats. Sailboats will not be rented to anyone without specific experience on this model. At least one person aboard the boat must be 18 years or age. Proof of ID (drivers license or state ID card) and $20.00 refundable deposit required. Rented from April through October depending on conditions*.
* Rental Boat Factors and conditions: Safety is our ultimate concern. Please call ahead if weather conditions are in doubt. Rental boat operations will be cancelled during inclement weather, or if winds cause slight white cap conditions. For jonboat operations during the winter months, boats will not be rented if the combination of both water and air temperatures do not reach 100.
Concessions and Other Sales: The "Lakeside Galley" concessions area sells a variety of snacks, drinks, and fast food to include: Ball Park hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels, pastries, popcorn, candy bars, flavored sno-cones, ice cream bars, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks [fountain & canned], powerade, bottled water, and our popular Island Mocktails [Lake Wheeler's versions of exotic non-alcoholic thirst-quenchers]. The Lakeside Galley is open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week, year-round
For More Information Contact:
Chris Murray
Lake Wheeler Park Manager
Parks and Recreation Department
6404 Lake Wheeler Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-662-5704
Ben Coats
Asst. Lake Manager
Parks and Recreation Department
6404 Lake Wheeler Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-662-5704
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