The man-made Smith Mountain Lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia is a vacation and recreation center as well as home to more than 18,000 residents. Approximately equidistant from the cities of Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia, the lake was created by Appalachian Power Company in the 1960s to generate electricity for the region, and to maintain flood control, with the construction of the Smith Mountain Dam.

Commercial development of the area did not begin in full for a number of years after the dam’s completion. Now the 20,000-acre lake, whose surface covers some 32 square miles with about 500 miles of shoreline, has a combination of gated communities with private beaches, golf and luxury resorts, family establishments, high-rise developments, condominiums, townhouses, and vacation rental houses. Some parts of the shoreline remain undeveloped.

Five golf courses, some lakeside, cater to residents and visitors. Two of the courses are private while three of them, officially described as “semi-private,” allow public use. Those who plan to stay for a brief period can find nearby hotels, motels, or bed and breakfast inns. In addition, the lake has houseboats for daily or weekly rental. Currently, five free public-access areas with boat ramps are available.

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