History
 
The Medearis neighborhood was named after Dr. William F. Medearis, a dentist, who purchased the acreage off Sardis Road in the 1930's from the James Akers family. At that time, Sardis Road was a wagon-wheel trail, a dirt road used for trade between Monroe and Charlotte, NC. The road was named after Sardis Church, where it is said that slaves and Catawba Indians are buried in the old cemetery.
 
The acreage was pretty much unused except for an old horse barn, a chicken and pig lean-to, and a few small shacks. An old log cabin, The Pine Cone, used to be located on what is now the corner of Medearis and Ciscayne. The cabin was used in the 30's and 40's for overnights and parties. A creek runs behind Ciscayne Place and traces of pyrite (fool's gold) were sometimes found in the dirt.
 
Annexed into the city of Charlotte in the 1970's, the Medearis property was developed in 1978 by Sherard/Moore & Associates. The existing dirt road into the property was paved and named Medearis Drive. Other Medearis streets were named after different Medearis family members. Streets were designed to follow the natural contour of the land and to preserve the trees. The theme was "Living with Nature, Not Working Against It." The 116 lots, averaging one-half acre in size, were offered to both builders and individuals, giving the neighborhood a custom look. Restrictions and Covenants were written by the developer to preserve the integrity of Medearis.
 
The Medearis Neighborhood Association started as a ladies' Garden Club, later became the Medearis Women's Club, much later included men, and eventually grew and expanded into its present form. "A Taste of Medearis" a cookbook of appetizers and dessert recipes contributed by the Women's Club members, was published in the 1980's to raise funds for neighborhood and community projects. In 1989, Charlotte was hit by Hurricane Hugo and many Medearis homes were damaged and trees were lost. Repairs were made, plantings replaced, and Medearis was restored to its beautiful natural setting once again.
 
Once considered "far" outside of Charlotte, Medearis is now an "in town" location in South Charlotte. Located well within the I-485 beltway, Medearis is only seven miles from downtown, three miles or less from eight private schools, and only four miles from the South Park Mall. With its mature tree canopy, Medearis is especially spectacular in the spring and fall months, and during the holidays with the lighted luminaries display.