Search continues for two missing boat renters at High Point City Lake Park

Drones and firefighters searched High Point City Lake Park late Friday after two people who rented a boat around 3 p.m. did not return it by sunset, turning a routine recreation outing into an urgent safety response.

Park rangers could not locate the boat before dark. When drones were deployed, crews found the vessel partially ashore in the lake area with no one on board. Rental items were still inside, and authorities tried to call the renters but reached voicemail. The High Point Fire Department was alerted around 9:30 p.m. and joined the land search.

As of late Friday night, no injuries had been reported, but officials said the search was still underway to make sure the two renters were safe. The episode highlighted how quickly a missing-renter report at one of High Point’s busiest public recreation sites can pull in multiple agencies, from park staff to fire crews and drone support.

High Point City Lake Park Marina rents canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and it also sells fishing licenses, bait, tackle, snacks, drinks and water. City fee schedules list fishing boat rentals at $10 and fishing boats with motors at $30, prices that keep the lake accessible for casual users while putting a premium on clear return rules and sunset deadlines.

The park has deep roots in High Point’s public works history. City records show High Point City Lake Park first opened in 1933, the pool opened in 1935, and the site was initially built in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration. The park’s development was part of New Deal-era recreation planning, and it remains tied to the High Point Greenway and the Bicentennial Greenway, with the Piedmont Environmental Center nearby.

For people in High Point and Jamestown, the search was a reminder that City Lake Park is more than a summer destination. It is a heavily used public space where a late return can quickly become a safety operation, and where any review of boating procedures will now carry added urgency.