Fence erected in parking spat between Duke Energy, Lake Wylie restaurant

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — Some people at a popular boat landing and restaurant on Lake Wylie are furious after a fence suddenly popped up there this week.

For decades, the Buster Boyd Boat Landing on Lake Wylie has been more than just a slope into the water. It’s a gathering place, to fish, picnic, or just enjoy the view.

This week, a long-running dispute between Duke Energy and a lakeside restaurant has led to a dramatic change in the scenery there.

For years, Duke Energy had posted signs warning people about illegal parking at Buster Boyd, and even had sheriff’s deputies cruise the parking lot. It hasn’t made much difference.

“I’ve seen the patrol come through. We still park illegally, honestly,” said Triva Delaughter. “I just feel like it should of been addressed beforehand, years ago.”

On Monday, Duke installed a very long chain-link fence that spans the entire distance from the water to the entrance road for the Buster Boyd Landing. It cuts off the parking lot of Papa Doc’s separating the two areas, and also wipes out parking spaces that face the restaurant.

Duke told Channel 9, people going to Papa Doc’s are parking illegally, taking up spaces meant for boat trailers, and boaters are complaining about it. They have no place to park and it limits access to the lake.

Duke officials said they’ve tried to work with Papa Doc’s about where their customers park, but have had no success.

One boater, Ed Parker said Papa Doc’s should have worked with Duke.

“I think maybe the restaurant played their cards wrong. I just think that they brought this on themselves,” he said.

Parker and others said back when the restaurant was T-Bones, and even before that, none of this seemed to be a problem.

However, the area has exploded in growth, and the boat landing is busier than ever, especially on summer weekends.

Now, anyone parking inside the fence to eat at the restaurant faces a long walk around it, and risks getting towed. Some boaters think the fence will only make the overcrowded area crazier. Jacques Woods saw it Friday for the first time.

“It looks like it’s going to be kind of hectic out here, even a little worse than what it’s been,” he said.

Papa Doc’s told Channel 9 it is not their fault that the place is so popular and there’s no room to park, and that they plan to fight this.

Charlie Holley doesn’t like it at all. His kayak rental business is now on the other side of the fence from the parking lot, and it’s suddenly a hike to get there.

“We’re a small business being rolled over by a fortune 500 company at this point, so all we can do is cross our fingers and hope,” he said.

Both Duke Energy and Papa Doc’s gave written statements to Channel 9. Here are parts of both statements:

Duke Energy’s statement:

“Over the past several years, we have received many complaints about restaurant patrons parking illegally at the access area. Duke Energy staff have attempted, without success, to resolve this issue with the restaurant owner.”

Papa Doc’s statement:

“This is a solution that nets no winners.” … “We’re certain no one feels that essentially eliminating access to the area is the best fix here, and that less expensive and less drastic measures could be explored.”

Some boaters, seeing the fence for the first time, gave it a big thumbs-up, saying it was long overdue. Papa Doc’s told Channel 9, they’ll add dozens more parking spaces on a grassy area across the street, so their customers will have more options, and won’t be towed.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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