Castle Bridge Marina owner frustrated by construction delays

Two years ago, when I sat down for a conversation with Castle Bridge Marina owner Larry Davis, he was a happy man in an expansive mood.

When we talked again this week, his mood was one of frustration and aggravation.

His marina is just off the northern end of Castle Bridge on Connelly Springs Road on the Caldwell County side of Lake Rhodhiss. Thanks to satellite annexation, however, it is a part of the town of Rutherford College.

In 2024, we were sitting in comfortable chairs on the deck outside the marina’s small store, the May sun warm on our faces, and the placid waters of Lake Rhodhiss stretching off to the west.

Davis was telling me, in eager and enthusiastic tones, about his plans for future development of the marina he had then owned for about two and a half years.

Chief among those plans was the building of a small brewery and a restaurant which would offer waterfront dining on lazy summer evenings.

A small wading beach for kiddies would be placed here. A miniature golf course would be placed over there.

Near the bottom of my story in 2024 about Davis and his plans for expansion was this paragraph:

“All of those plans are on hold for the moment, however, due to the uncertainty over when, or if, the existing Castle Bridge will be replaced by the N.C. Department of Transportation.”

And a very long moment it has turned out to be.

Turns out the DOT did decide to build a new bridge, at an estimated cost of $32 million, and awarded the contract in September of 2025 to Balfour Beatty Construction of Wilmington.

Preliminary grading on the project on both sides of the lake began soon afterward, with the DOT hopeful that the project could be finished by the end of March in 2029.

And then, as noted in a story in The Paper last week, all work on the project abruptly stopped just after it began.

Those with close knowledge of the situation say N.C. DOT overestimated the water levels of the lake when seeking environmental permits, an overestimation compounded by the ongoing drought.

Others say there were issues with the expected length of the bridge, while others say the pilings as originally designed were of insufficient strength to support the bridge.

Whatever the reason, Davis today is one frustrated fellow.

“I can’t do anything,” he said in a phone conversation this week. “The DOT tells me the delay could be three months or it could be 18 months. That’s a pretty wide window. And that’s just for getting started.”

The DOT had previously estimated actual construction of the bridge would require three years. If that timeline still holds, it pushes the opening of the new Castle Bridge into the next decade.

“It’s frustrating,” said Davis. “Right now, I don’t know what to expect. The DOT easement takes up a big chunk of my property, a chunk that I cannot put to use until that bridge is built.”

Davis said he is also frustrated because the small bit of site prep the DOT did on his property last autumn before the project was halted makes it look like the marina is no longer open for business.

“The weeds and briars were so high, people couldn’t see how to get in here and I’ve had calls from folks wanting to know if I’ve shut down,” he said.

Davis said he wants potential customers to know that he is still open and is indeed gearing up for the summer boating season, which customarily begins with Memorial Day weekend.

The marina’s hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

As Davis noted, the marina is the only spot on Lake Rhodhiss to buy gas at a dockside pump.

Short and long-term boat slips are available for rental and boat owners have access to their vessels at all times.

The marina has several Bennington pontoon boats available for rental on a full-day or half-day basis. Each boat has a capacity for 10 passengers and is equipped with a 115-horsepower Yamaha engine.

Full-day rentals for the pontoon boats are $399 while half-day rentals are $259. The boats are pre-filled with a full tank of gas before they launch.

A person must be at least 26 years old to rent a pontoon boat. Children under the age of 13 are required to wear life jackets at all times.

Standard or fishing kayaks are available at $70 per day or $40 per half day. Life jackets must be worn at all times and are furnished with the kayaks.

The marina also has three small cabins that are available for rental at $125 per night with a two-night minimum. The cabins include linens and towels.

The small store on the marina grounds offers ice, soft drinks, ice cream, snacks, fishing, and boating supplies, as well as souvenir hats and T-shirts.

“We’re going to hang in here,” Davis concluded. “We’re here. We’re open. And we want to see you this summer.”