Once a peaceful refuge for the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, a vast stretch of land in Mooresville, North Carolina, now faces a crossroads. Known for its woods and waters where Earnhardt hunted and fished, the property could soon transform into a sprawling $30 billion technology park. The push for development, led by his widow Teresa Earnhardt, has divided the community — and even members of the Earnhardt family. The controversy has escalated into a high-profile local fight with national implications.
Key Highlights
Teresa Earnhardt seeks rezoning for a 400-acre Mooresville Technology Park project
Proposed $30 billion investment would include data center buildings and an electrical substation
Kerry Earnhardt opposes the plan, citing environmental and community impacts
Mooresville mayor expresses doubt over moving forward without knowing the final tech company tenant
Public hearing scheduled for September ahead of a Board of Commissioners vote
Family Divide Over a Massive Technology Park
The proposed Mooresville Technology Park would stretch across 400 undeveloped acres, transforming Dale Earnhardt’s onetime private sanctuary into an industrial complex. Tract, a Denver-based developer specializing in large-scale data centers, is behind the plan. The project calls for multiple large buildings and a new electrical substation, with promises of significant local tax revenue. Teresa Earnhardt, who was married to Dale from 1982 until his death in 2001, is working to rezone the land from its current designation to industrial use to allow the build. But opposition runs deep. Among the most vocal critics is Kerry Earnhardt, Dale’s eldest son. He has joined a growing group of residents determined to stop the plan. In a social media post, he framed his stance in deeply personal terms.
“My Dad would be livid for his name to be associated with the project. Infrastructures like this don’t belong in neighborhoods where people’s natural resources will be depleted, wildlife will be uprooted, and the landscape and lives of the people that call this area home will forever be changed.” – Kerry Earnhardt
A History of Disputes Within the Earnhardt Legacy
This is not the first public clash between Teresa and Kerry Earnhardt. More than a decade ago, the two were entangled in a legal battle after Kerry launched the “Earnhardt Collection” home and furniture line. Teresa claimed it infringed on her rights to the Earnhardt name, but Kerry ultimately prevailed. Now, the Mooresville property dispute is reviving old tensions in a very public arena. While Kerry speaks out against the data center, Teresa has stayed quiet, declining comment despite repeated media requests. That silence has not slowed the growing attention on the upcoming rezoning vote.
Political Uncertainty and Community Pushback
The Mooresville Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing in September before voting on the rezoning. Mayor Chris Carney, who would only vote in the case of a tie among the six commissioners, recently cast doubt on the proposal’s prospects. His concern centers on the project’s lack of transparency over its end user.
“No matter what, you can only trust if you know who your final partner is going to be, and we just don’t know that.” – Chris Carney
Carney’s reservations echo those of many in the community, who have packed public meetings to voice concerns. Opponents cite potential depletion of natural resources, disruption to local wildlife, and the environmental risks of such a large-scale industrial build. Nationally, these same concerns have fueled resistance to data centers in rural and suburban areas from Arizona to Alabama.
Supporters See Economic Opportunity
Despite the opposition, supporters — including some local officials and business development advocates — view the data center as a potential economic engine. Tract has promoted the project as being capable of generating hundreds of millions of dollars for local government. The company insists the facility will be “a good neighbor” and an asset to Mooresville’s future.
In a statement to The Charlotte Observer, Tract described itself as “both disappointed and surprised” by recent political pushback, saying it is “carefully evaluating our next steps.” The larger debate mirrors national conversations over whether the promise of economic growth outweighs environmental and lifestyle concerns in small communities.
A National Trend With High Stakes
The Mooresville Technology Park battle comes amid a national wave of new data center proposals. Demand for computing power has skyrocketed with the expansion of cloud services, streaming, and artificial intelligence. The White House has also thrown its support behind the industry. In July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at fast-tracking federal permitting for data centers, citing the urgency of staying competitive with China in AI development.
Across the country, supporters hail these projects as job creators and tax revenue sources. Critics warn they will strain power grids, consume massive amounts of water, and alter the rural character of towns. Mooresville now finds itself on the front lines of that debate — with the added layer of a family name that holds deep meaning in both local and NASCAR history.
News in Brief: Dale Earnhardt’s Land Dispute
Dale Earnhardt’s former Mooresville property is at the center of a heated dispute over a proposed $30 billion, 400-acre data center project. Teresa Earnhardt supports rezoning for the Mooresville Technology Park, backed by developer Tract, while her stepson Kerry Earnhardt and many residents oppose it, citing environmental harm and community disruption. Mayor Chris Carney expressed doubt about the plan without knowing the final tech tenant. A public hearing is set for September before the Board of Commissioners votes.
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