Rankin Lake Park

1750 Rankin Lake Road, Gastonia, NC 28052. Use the main park drive for the clubhouse, picnic shelters, lake office, fishing piers, boat dock, playground, disc golf, StoryWalk, paved lake loop, and Highland Rail Trail connector.

Use 1750 Rankin Lake Road and follow internal signs for the clubhouse and shelters, lake office and fishing, playground, disc golf, or trail. Large rentals and popular fishing periods can fill the closest areas.

The park is open daily 7 a.m.-9 p.m. The lake office, boat rentals, fishing permits, clubhouse, shelters, restrooms, and organized activities have separate seasonal and weather-dependent operations.

General park, playground, paved loop, boardwalk, StoryWalk, and disc-golf access are free. Daily fishing permits, boat rentals, clubhouse and shelter reservations, and organized events charge separately; anglers 16 and older also need a valid North Carolina fishing license.

Restrooms are available in the clubhouse and a separate restroom building during operating conditions. The lake office and rental schedule should not be treated as identical to park hours.

Developed parking, the paved lake loop, clubhouse, shelters, restrooms, fishing and viewing piers, boardwalks, and playground provide accessible options, while disc-golf terrain, boat transfers, and shoreline grades vary.

A 1.569-mile paved loop circles the lake and crosses boardwalks over Kaylor Creek and the spillway. A trailhead also connects toward the Highland Rail Trail; disc-golf fairways are separate recreation corridors.

Families can use the playground, StoryWalk, piers, lake loop, boardwalks, picnics, outdoor classroom, pedal boats, fishing, and disc golf. Verify the lake office before promising boat rentals.

Keep dogs leashed and controlled in allowed areas, remove waste, and keep pets away from playground surfaces, fishing activity, rental boats, clubhouse events, and disc-golf flight paths.

Two corporate lakeside shelters, one large shelter, eight small shelters, and the clubhouse support gatherings. Reserve for guaranteed use and choose the facility nearest your planned lake or play activity.

Look for the clubhouse, lake office and boat dock, two fishing piers and viewing pier, Kaylor Creek and spillway boardwalks, 1.569-mile loop, playground, StoryWalk, 18-hole disc-golf course, outdoor classroom, and Highland Rail Trail connector.

The lake office is currently closed for winter. Boat rentals require acceptable combined air and water temperature and can stop for wind, cold, storms, or other hazards; events, maintenance, and lake conditions can affect other areas.