For the past 15 years, Lake Norman’s ‘Rusty Rudder’ has hosted countless events, dinners, and parties, with some of the best food and views in the region, but in less than a month, they will be forced to close their doors for good.

They just announced they will be shutting down on October 3rd after their landlord declined to renew the their lease for undisclosed reasons.

The Rusty Rutter is one of only a handful restaurants and bars on Lake Norman that provide boat slips for customers arriving by water.

Owners Eric Paul and Brian Johnston announced the closure by releasing the following statement on their Facebook page;

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce The Rusty Rudder Lake Norman will be closing its doors on October 3, 2016. Regrettably, our landlord has decided not to renew the lease after 15 years of business forcing us to close our doors.

We would like to thank everyone that has been a part of The Rudder over these amazing years. We have truly felt like a part of Cornelius and Lake Norman Community from day one, and we will miss it deeply.

We have been fortunate and blessed to call so many people our dear friends and part of our Rudder family over the years. We feel like we have grown with each of you celebrating milestones and many occasions, some happy and some sad, but all together as a community.

You have ALL helped grow The Rudder into what it has become since May of 2002, and we cannot express how much that means to us.

We would like to thank all of the vendors, businesses and musicians that have helped us create The Rudder along the way. Our local partners and support made a huge impact on our success.

We would like to thank the numerous members of our staff over the years. We were privileged to have each of you as a part of our team and one of the ‘family’. It was truly an honor to watch you evolve professionally and as personally through your journeys with us. Most importantly we would like to thank our families. The ones that helped us get this crazy idea started so many years ago. Each of you stood by us through all of the ups and the downs and there is honestly no way we can repay you for that.

While this chapter is closing we have nothing but fond memories, grateful hearts and appreciation for everything the Rusty Rudder Lake Norman brought us. We will continue to own and run The Rusty Rudder Mt. Pleasant, and we hope that anytime your travels bring you to Charleston you will look us up and come say hi.”

The Rusty Rudder will continue to operate business as usual through the month of September, with live music every Friday through Sunday, and Panther game parties during every game this month.

Everybody raise your glasses;

Great evening with good friends and my 💙 Bobbysue! A photo posted by Live~Laugh~Love (@melissa_skrobot) on Jun 25, 2016 at 6:03pm PDT

To the Rusty Rudder

#REPOST from our awesome fan @connietrolly Roy Daye Jr show is starting at the Tiki Bar now! No one has a better Memorial Day Weekend lined up for you than us. $2.50 Corona Light drafts, $5 Fireball, & 2 live music shows tonight. Come spend this beautiful day on the lake with us! A photo posted by The Rusty Rudder (@rustyrudderlkn) on May 27, 2016 at 1:09pm PDT

The good times may be over

People! The Rusty Rudder has blue raspberry frozen Moscow mules in support of our Panthers! Everyone come see us out on the lake today! Plus it’s my last week! A photo posted by S H A N N O N O W E N S (@shannysharts) on Aug 20, 2016 at 9:04am PDT

But the memories will last forever

Cheers 🙌🏽 A video posted by Kelly 💋 (@kkowa) on Aug 14, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

We’ll miss you Rusty Rudder!

#lakenorman #queencity #charlotte #charlottenc #nascar #igers #igdaily #northcarolina A photo posted by Ryan Johnston (@brucedelareef) on May 13, 2016 at 6:05pm PDT

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