How Ballantyne came to be
Ballantyne is a neighborhood and developing edge city on the south side of Charlotte, occupying a 2,000-acre area next to the South Carolina border. It began as a large hunting tract owned by the Harris family, descendants of former North Carolina Governor Cameron Morrison. In 1992, Johnny Harris and his brother-in-law Smoky Bissell started Ballantyne Corporate Park, which has become one of the most successful master-planned communities in the United States. The 2,000 acres were rezoned, the largest rezoning in Mecklenburg County history.
Another developer, Crescent Resources, had already bought the 610 acres that became the Ballantyne Country Club and its residential development. The Ballantyne Hotel, developed by Bissell, opened in September 2001. At Johnston Road and Ballantyne Commons stand four 30-foot monuments representing transportation, technology, finance and the human spirit of Charlotte.
What the area holds
Ballantyne Corporate Park anchors business activity. The neighborhood is also home to St. Matthew Catholic Church, and in 2013 Wingate University announced it would move its Matthews campus to Ballantyne. A planner has an office on the Pineville Matthews Road corridor in the 28226 zip code, in south Charlotte.
The mix suits corporate meetings, banquets and dinners, and club and clubhouse spaces suit weddings and receptions. Clubhouse patios and lawns also suit outdoor receptions in spring and autumn.
Planning around traffic
Ballantyne combines several land uses and relies on cars, and traffic congestion in the area has been a persistent problem. For an event, that means sending guests clear driving directions, offering a range of arrival times and building a buffer into the program for late arrivals. Shuttles from parking lots or nearby hotels help with larger events.
Most events here take place inside clubs, hotels and offices, where CDOT does not issue a permit. A tent over 800 square feet on a club lawn needs a Charlotte Fire Department permit, and a tent for 50 or more people needs a site plan. Alcohol at a private event uses a North Carolina Alcohol Beverage Commission permit, and club or hotel venues often already hold what applies.
Questions about hosting here
How big is Ballantyne?
It occupies a 2,000-acre area next to the South Carolina border.
Who developed Ballantyne Corporate Park?
Johnny Harris and Smoky Bissell started it in 1992, on land that had been a hunting tract owned by the Harris family.
Is traffic a concern for events?
Traffic congestion has been a consistent problem in Ballantyne, so give guests clear directions and allow extra arrival time.
Do clubhouse events need a street permit?
No. CDOT does not issue permits for events on private property. A large tent still needs a Charlotte Fire Department permit.
What is the Ballantyne Country Club?
A country club and residential development built on 610 acres that Crescent Resources had bought before Ballantyne was established.
More neighborhoods and next steps
Read the permits guide and the tents guide before you commit to a site, then browse the planner directory.