In 1970 the Ervin Company broke ground on 1,600 wooded acres of
land on Lake Wylie previously owned by Duke Power Company. They
named the area Tega Cay, which means “beautiful peninsula” in
Polynesian. First they built the roads and the huge clubhouse, pools,
tennis courts and golf course. Then house construction began, and a
guard gate was installed at the entrance. The Polynesian theme was carried out everywhere, from
street names to home design to the clubhouse décor and even the guard shack.
The first homeowners had 10-party lines that were always in need of repair. Since Tega Cay was a
gated community, it was determined at first that neither school buses nor mail carriers could enter, so
the first residents drove their children to the guard gate to get the school bus and ask for their mail.
Depending on the section one lived in, some residents had free lawn-mowing service, and all had free
access to the golf course, tennis courts and to the massive clubhouse with its exercise room, sauna, teen
room, large formal dining room, bar and lounge overlooking the pool area, pro shop, golfers lounges
for men and women, informal restaurant open all day, offices and several meeting rooms. Liquor
lockers were available, since at that time brown bagging was in effect in South Carolina.
Various amenities such as garbage collection, water and sewer as well as security by a private
security firm were provided by the developer in return for a monthly assessment fee paid by all
property owners. The initial assessment was $35.00 per month.
The Property Owners Association was formed right away to protect the homeowners and to deal with
the developer. The POA also sponsored weekly bingo, dances, and other social events. As various
developers came and went over the years, the POA became of vital importance in protecting, not only
the rights of individual residents, but the property owners as a whole.
In1982, in the midst of the developer filing bankruptcy, Tega Cay became a city in order to ensure
the rights and protect the best interests of the Tega Cay homeowners and to better direct the
community’s future. The people chose the strong Mayor form of government, with a mayor and four
council members serving two-year terms. The first mayor, Tony Tarulli, had also been appointed by
the bankruptcy court to represent the property owners during the proceedings
With the inauguration of the elected officials, and bolstered by a strong dose of optimism and a sound
plan, the citizenry began to protect our interests into the future and chose as the Tega Cay motto, “The
Good Life.” The POA remained in the forefront of the bankruptcy hearings, working together with
elected officials to preserve the quality of life.
The first city office was located in the clubhouse. In 1984 the city rented office space in the
administration building near the entrance. These facilities were used until Oct. 14, 1984, when the
dedication of the new City Hall and Community Room was held. The city had purchased and
transformed a 7-11 convenience store and game room to house the city offices.
In June 1983 a bankruptcy plan was confirmed, with much credit given to the leaders of the POA and
elected officials in bringing this uncertain chapter of Tega Cay’s history to a satisfactory conclusion.
The plan called for a trust company to take over and operate the remaining undeveloped property,
the clubhouse, pool, upper tennis courts, and golf course.
Under the plan the city would take over the lower tennis courts, observation tower, athletic field,
skeet range, archery range, roads, trash collection, security, green areas, and parks. The monthly
assessments were phased out while the services were being absorbed by the City.
The Police Department was established in July 1983. In that same month the first session of Municipal
Court was held with the appointment of Judge Grady McMehan.
Tony Tarulli served one term as Mayor and was followed by Hubert Graham, who served two terms,
from 1984 to 1988. In 1988 Shirley A. (Sam) McDonald was elected to the office of Mayor, and in
1990 the citizens elected Ed Weaver who served two terms. Steve Hamilton was elected in 1994 and
again in 1996. Terms of office were then changed to four years and Hamilton was reelected for
another term. Bob Runde was elected Mayor in 2002 at which time the form of government was
changed to Council/Manager.
In the fall of 2000, the City annexed three new areas consisting of Stonecrest, Crescent and Nivens
Creek Landing. Stonecrest will bring the first planned retail and commercial properties to the City,
along with town homes and apartments. Crescent will consist of town homes, while Nivens Creek is
owned by Duke Power and serves as a boat ramp for area residents.
The census for the year 2000 shows 4,040 residents. However, the planned growth with Newland
Carolina Development and the new annexed areas will more than double the population of the City
by the year 2010.
land on Lake Wylie previously owned by Duke Power Company. They
named the area Tega Cay, which means “beautiful peninsula” in
Polynesian. First they built the roads and the huge clubhouse, pools,
tennis courts and golf course. Then house construction began, and a
guard gate was installed at the entrance. The Polynesian theme was carried out everywhere, from
street names to home design to the clubhouse décor and even the guard shack.
The first homeowners had 10-party lines that were always in need of repair. Since Tega Cay was a
gated community, it was determined at first that neither school buses nor mail carriers could enter, so
the first residents drove their children to the guard gate to get the school bus and ask for their mail.
Depending on the section one lived in, some residents had free lawn-mowing service, and all had free
access to the golf course, tennis courts and to the massive clubhouse with its exercise room, sauna, teen
room, large formal dining room, bar and lounge overlooking the pool area, pro shop, golfers lounges
for men and women, informal restaurant open all day, offices and several meeting rooms. Liquor
lockers were available, since at that time brown bagging was in effect in South Carolina.
Various amenities such as garbage collection, water and sewer as well as security by a private
security firm were provided by the developer in return for a monthly assessment fee paid by all
property owners. The initial assessment was $35.00 per month.
The Property Owners Association was formed right away to protect the homeowners and to deal with
the developer. The POA also sponsored weekly bingo, dances, and other social events. As various
developers came and went over the years, the POA became of vital importance in protecting, not only
the rights of individual residents, but the property owners as a whole.
In1982, in the midst of the developer filing bankruptcy, Tega Cay became a city in order to ensure
the rights and protect the best interests of the Tega Cay homeowners and to better direct the
community’s future. The people chose the strong Mayor form of government, with a mayor and four
council members serving two-year terms. The first mayor, Tony Tarulli, had also been appointed by
the bankruptcy court to represent the property owners during the proceedings
With the inauguration of the elected officials, and bolstered by a strong dose of optimism and a sound
plan, the citizenry began to protect our interests into the future and chose as the Tega Cay motto, “The
Good Life.” The POA remained in the forefront of the bankruptcy hearings, working together with
elected officials to preserve the quality of life.
The first city office was located in the clubhouse. In 1984 the city rented office space in the
administration building near the entrance. These facilities were used until Oct. 14, 1984, when the
dedication of the new City Hall and Community Room was held. The city had purchased and
transformed a 7-11 convenience store and game room to house the city offices.
In June 1983 a bankruptcy plan was confirmed, with much credit given to the leaders of the POA and
elected officials in bringing this uncertain chapter of Tega Cay’s history to a satisfactory conclusion.
The plan called for a trust company to take over and operate the remaining undeveloped property,
the clubhouse, pool, upper tennis courts, and golf course.
Under the plan the city would take over the lower tennis courts, observation tower, athletic field,
skeet range, archery range, roads, trash collection, security, green areas, and parks. The monthly
assessments were phased out while the services were being absorbed by the City.
The Police Department was established in July 1983. In that same month the first session of Municipal
Court was held with the appointment of Judge Grady McMehan.
Tony Tarulli served one term as Mayor and was followed by Hubert Graham, who served two terms,
from 1984 to 1988. In 1988 Shirley A. (Sam) McDonald was elected to the office of Mayor, and in
1990 the citizens elected Ed Weaver who served two terms. Steve Hamilton was elected in 1994 and
again in 1996. Terms of office were then changed to four years and Hamilton was reelected for
another term. Bob Runde was elected Mayor in 2002 at which time the form of government was
changed to Council/Manager.
In the fall of 2000, the City annexed three new areas consisting of Stonecrest, Crescent and Nivens
Creek Landing. Stonecrest will bring the first planned retail and commercial properties to the City,
along with town homes and apartments. Crescent will consist of town homes, while Nivens Creek is
owned by Duke Power and serves as a boat ramp for area residents.
The census for the year 2000 shows 4,040 residents. However, the planned growth with Newland
Carolina Development and the new annexed areas will more than double the population of the City
by the year 2010.
| History of "The Good Life" |
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