Lake Norman Publications

Bed and breakfast to reopen after 3-year absence




By Erin OdomWhen Harold and Rusty Hansen moved to Mooresville in 1982, they took their time finding a house.Interest rates were as high as 20 percent Harold said, so the couple stayed in a hotel for three months and rented an apartment for six. But their house hunting paid off when they discovered Oak Ridge Farm nestled among a wooded area on N.C. 150, directly across from Carrigan Farms.They were only the third family to own the property since its establishment in 1871. Then, it was the home site for more than 300 workers of a tenant farm, Harold said.“We were absolutely elated and just blessed (to find this farm),” he said.They turned that blessing into a blessing for others, opening their home as a bed and breakfast for 25 years.“We really enjoyed meeting different people, and we never had a bad guest,”Harold said. “Everyone that comes thinks it is a beautiful place.”Matthews resident Norman Geisler has stayed at Oak Ridge Farm several times.“The breakfast was the best I have ever had,” he said.“It was incredible and off the chart in terms of the quality. It was an absolute delight and pleasure.”But to their guests’ disappointment, the Hansens closed the doors to the bed and breakfast three years ago. Rusty had just gone back to teaching full-time, and it was a busy time of life, they said.They couldn’t forget the memories they had made with the hundreds of guests who had stayed with them. Their daughter, whose wedding ceremony took place on the farm’s grounds a few years ago, pointed out what a beautiful location the property would be for special events, such as weddings, hayrides and bonfires.So the couple recently decided to reopen Oak Ridge Farm Bed and Breakfast.They will start taking guests Aug. 1.Oak Ridge Farm is a good place for locals looking for a “staycation,” but it’s also a place to send out-of-town guests, Harold said.“It’s a neat place for in-laws or outlaws,” he said. “We have enough room for someone you want to take special care of. We’ll take care of them for you.”The Hansens have two guest rooms, but they only take one couple or family at a time to ensure their guests’ privacy.Want to go?Oak Ridge Farm Bed and Breakfast is located at 1108 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy. The Hansens are already taking reservations for events and guests. For reservations, 704-663-7085 or information@oakridgefarmbb.net. Details: www.oakridgefarmbb.com.

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