With over 150 miles of shoreline, Lake James provides a wide variety of opportunities for everyone to enjoy the watery outdoors. It is a rare commodity filled with heart-warming history, adventure, and beauty. To that end, the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop makes every visit a picturesque adventure.
Also boasting some of the cleanest water around, our lake is well known throughout the Southeast for great swimming and boating. Spend a day here, and you’ll quickly see why it has become one of the most highly preferred destinations for living, vacationing, and even film-making – including The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunt for Red October. Lake James is also home to NC’s largest waterfront state park, Lake James State Park.
James B. Duke, founder of Duke Power Company, create Lake James between 1916 and 1923 as part of a hydroelectric power project. This project involved building two dams across the Catawba River and two of its tributaries – Paddy Creek and Linville River. Then, these impoundments were connected by a broad canal to form what we all enjoy today as Lake James. As originally created, this water body continues to serve as a hydroelectric unit for the power company.
Prior to the creation of Lake James there existed a small farming town by the name of Fonta Flora. This town was spread out over a wide area at the base of Linville Gorge where the Linville River now flows into the lake. Over the years, many have speculated that the town met its demise by the flooding of the Lake. While there is some truth to the town being at the bottom of the lake, this myth is not entirely accurate. To learn more about this unique story, check out this fun article detailing the history.
1 – The lake encompasses approximately 10.2 Square Miles, or 6,812 Acres of water.
2 – Maximum Depth lies around 120 feet.
3 – Elevation is around 1200 feet.
4 – There are 25 miles of trails, including the commemorative Overmountain Victory Trail, with 15 of the 25 miles open to biking.
5 – The Catawba River, Linville River, and Paddy’s Creek all work together in feeding water to the lake.
6 – It is one of 7 lake in the Catawba River Chain of Lakes.
7 – Locals found several bald eagles nesting at Lake James in 1999.
8 – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Association named Lake James one of the Top 10 Family Fishing and Boating Spots in America.
Since the 1980s, Lake James has become one of the most highly sought after living destinations in Western NC. Residents have confidence in keeping it’s beauty knowing that nearly half of it’s 150 miles of shoreline will never be developed. However, this also makes for a very competitive housing market. So, for prospective buyers, it’s important to get ahead and be ready when your time comes. One of the best ways to stay ahead is to connect with us through a quick message. We can be your local eyes and ears to keep you informed of new/upcoming listings, as well as get set up with instant automated search notifications right to your inbox!
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