Mecklenburg County leaders unveiled new designs ahead of the 2026 reopening of the historic Latta Place, a plantation that was once used for public education. The reimagined site is anticipated to focus on truth, transparency, compassion, transformation, and unity.
The future of Latta Place
Visitors to the $11.2 million reimagined Latta Place will be greeted by a new visitor center, interpretive trail, and updated farmstead, aimed at telling the stories of all the people who shaped Latta Place.
“There are moments of public art that can tell the story of the people that might have lived here,” explained Gina Ford, Co-Founder of Agency Landscape + Planning. “There might be the removal of some of the buildings that are inauthentic to the site, or not contributing to the story, as you can see, but really an opportunity to give these a little bit more grounding, a little bit more of a place for people to pause and to contemplate.”
The new lobby will have a community space, a meeting room, galleries, and access to the trails on site. There will also be a tribute area honoring enslaved people + a quiet space aimed for gathering and reflection.
Construction is expected to begin late this year, with an anticipated opening in 2026.
How did we get here?
Historic Latta was a homestead for many Indigenous people like the Catawba, Cherokee, and Piedmont Nations. In the 1800s, James Latta and William Sample lived on the site with ~65 enslaved people. In 1981, Mecklenburg County became stewards of the land and opened Latta Nature Preserve.
In 2021, the site closed abruptly after controversy over a planned event that coincided with Juneteenth. That event was canceled and the county decided not to renew the site’s contract.
Since its closure, the county has hosted several community-led discussions on Latta Place’s future and shared potential concepts for the new space.
“We took our time to create a design and plan that reflects Latta Place’s full history with care and a deeper understanding of the strength and sacrifices of those who came before us,” said Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio.
Want to stay informed? The county can send you updates as the project moves forward.
