Neighbors near Renaissance Festival want something done about ‘traffic nightmare’

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Traffic at the Carolina Renaissance Festival off Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville has been a nightmare for years, but neighbors tell Channel 9 it is even worse this fall.

Residents nearby have said they cannot get to their homes or leave them because of the gridlock.

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People in the area told Channel 9 the situation has gotten worse and they want something done about it.

Sam Barnett lives in the Skybrook community.

“It’s taken more than two hours just to get home from the grocery store,” he said. “A mile away can take you over an hour.”

Barnett said a few weeks ago he flew a drone over the festival to get a better look at the backups.

“The issue at that point appeared to be the traffic management was just a disaster, three rows of cars merging into one with no organization whatsoever,” he said.

A meeting was held in late October when residents and festival owner Jeff Siegal talked about the traffic problems and possible solutions. Barnett said there have been some improvements, but it has not been enough.

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“At this point, we really feel capping the attendance is the only solution that is going to work,” Barnett said.

Festival organizers added staff members and signage at the entrance of N.C. Highway 73.

(Watch the video below for coverage of the meeting held in October)

Residents speak with Renaissance Fest leaders about traffic problems

The festival grounds are in Mecklenburg County, and the roads surrounding it are in parts of Concord, Cabarrus County, and Davidson.

Huntersville has zoning purview over it so Channel 9 contacted the town of Huntersville.

A spokesperson said there’s nothing it can do and it’s Siegel’s responsibility to submit a traffic management plan to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for approval.

That is something the agency said Siegal hasn’t done since 2013. There is no requirement for an annual submission.

Siegel said he’s working on a new plan to address the traffic problems.

“We fully understand the concern, and we intend to take every effort to address it,” he said.

Siegel said that he wants to find solutions.

(WATCH BELOW: Some residents say Renaissance Festival traffic problems still persist)

Some residents say Renaissance Festival traffic problems still persist

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