by Joyce Deaton
Weekend boaters on Badin Lake know the bright, colorful flags on the waterfront at Fish Tales Marina and Grille mean a warm welcome and a good meal.
Tucked away in a quiet residential cove on the New London side, Fish Tales is a labor of love for owners Faye and Richard Henning and Kaye and Charles Norfleet. The two couples had long owned the property and leased it to another marina. When the docks needed replacing in 1997, they decided to take over the marina themselves. Newly retired, sisters Faye and Kaye delighted in decorating and learning to cook restaurant-style.
The result is a cheery, tropical look with lots of color inside. Large plate-glass windows overlook a waterside patio filled with flowers. The dining room features walls of yellow, periwinkle and teal and a multi-colored floor hand-painted by the sisters. 
And learn to cook they did. Open for breakfast and lunch on weekends only, Fish Tales features spectacular Western, cheese, spinach and fresh mushroom omelets. “People bring their friends here to try our grits,” says Faye. “My son, who graduated from culinary school and has worked as a chef, helped us get them just right.”
Lunch offers more variety than you’d expect, including burgers and hot dogs, cheese steak, grilled chicken, grilled ham and cheese, tuna and club sandwiches, chicken tenders, French fries and onion rings, as well as salads with grilled or fried chicken. “We do it the way we like it,” Faye explains. “We use only good, fresh products. We’re pretty picky, so if we can satisfy ourselves, we can satisfy anybody.”
Fish Tales’ ice cream counter features sundaes, shakes and homemade ice cream sandwiches made with chocolate chip cookies. There’s also a game room and a playground near the picnic area that overlooks the water.
A full-fledged marina with 30 rental slips and fuel service, Fish Tales reserves enough slips for boaters to park while they eat or buy takeout lunches. On the street side, there’s also a boat launch with space to park for the day. And pontoon boats – complete with box lunch for 12 – are available for rent by advance reservation.
Located at 700 Lake Forest Dr. in New London, Fish Tales is open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends until Memorial Day, then from 8 to 7 weekends through the summer. Breakfast is served from 8 till 11. From U.S. 49 North, take N.C. Highway 8 (Blaine Road) toward Uwharrie Point, turn left at the fork, then follow the signs. You’ll probably find Richard and Charles working, too. Though the couples live in Winston-Salem, they increasingly enjoy summer weekends at the lake. “Our husbands say we work too hard, that we keep things up just like it was our house,” says Faye. “We’re like a couple of grandmothers running the place. But we’re particular, and that’s the way we like it.”
