Whether you have kids, fur-babies, or both— you can find the perfect environment for your family right here in South Charlotte's best suburban districts. Thomas Rackley is a realtor located in the Tega Cay area, and he can’t help but recommend the very community where he has found a place for his own family.
“Well I guess I am kind of partial to it since I live in Tega Cay,” Rackley said. “But I would definitely say with all of the walking trails we have, the lake access, and the golf course community– it is really special for kids.”
Tega Cay is separated into two sections. One section is known as Old Tega Cay, and the other is called New Tega Cay. Old Tega Cay makes up the original water-front community that is characterized by the peninsula it's built on and Lake Wylie, which surrounds it. New Tega Cay expands south-eastward inland, and has a variety of newer infrastructure. Each section of the small, residential town has its own benefits according to Rackley.
“ [Old Tega Cay] has parks like Windjammer,” Rackley said. “In Windjammer park there is actually a beach access on the lake and then they do ski shows on the weekends. There is a lot of attraction to that area.”
Old Tega Cay provides a friendly, walkable environment. New Tega Cay resides slightly closer to the city making it a higher traffic area. Despite this, it maintains the same family-oriented feel as its older counterpart.
“[The] new area of Tega Cay that they’ve built up now [is] called Lake Ridge. They’ve built a huge outdoor park there called Catawba.” Rackley said.
Catawba Park is within walking distance from Lake Ridge residences. The park hosts celebratory functions and concerts throughout the summer. Catawba Park has well-kept fields for soccer and baseball, and it hosts sporting events frequently. The park provides a playground and walking trails, making it a great public area to spend time with your family and furry-friends.
Tega Cay’s sister-village sits just east of it and provides its own perks. With its quaint town-center and family-centric foundation, Fort Mill is a great place to call home.
“Downtown Fort Mill is a really, really cool place to take your kids,” Rackley said.
From artisan markets, seasonal events, park access, and more— Fort Mill has a variety of ways it builds the strength of its community. Rackley recommends Fort Mill’s Crossroads Sports Bar & Grill because of its unique pet-friendly atmosphere; his own dog seconds this recommendation.
“[Crossroads] is a cool little restaurant with a huge fenced-in backyard and there are always a lot of dogs out there,” Rackley said. “ I’ve got a german shepard and I love to take him.”
Above all, both the Fort Mill and Tega Cay area offer one thing that remains of utmost importance for most families who are looking to settle down— the school systems.
“Our schools are great, especially being located near Charlotte,” Rackley said. “Year after year we have the best schools [in the state] and that is a huge attraction to this area.”
Working in real estate, Rackley continues to find himself recommending the area to clients because of its unmatched atmosphere.
“Every time I meet families that are looking to move to the Charlotte area, I point them to this area because of the school systems and the quality of life down here,” Rackley said. “We don't have all of the traffic that Charlotte has, and it is not as cluttered yet.”
If you are ready to create memories in your forever home, you might just find the right place in Tega Cay or Fort Mill.
“Downtown Fort Mill is a really cool place to take your kids”