The west side of Cornelius ends in dozens of tiny peninsulas that spread across Lake Norman like tree roots through soil. The bedroom community north of Charlotte is only 15 square miles but boasts 75 miles of lakefront, likely the most of any North Carolina community.
Around a decade ago, locals noticed an uptick in the number of out-of-town guests booking homes through then-nascent rental platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb.
They weren't pleased.
“We’re not a vacation town,” said Frances Dawson, a realtor who lives in Cornelius. “The people who spent their good hard-earned money on these waterfront properties didn’t want to listen to loud music and 2 a.m. pool parties.”