|
Welcome
to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia online virtual visitor center, Bedford/Franklin
county.
Indulge in over a half a thousand miles of pristine shoreline gently
nestled in Virginia's Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountains. It's jaw
dropping, awe inspiring panoramic views and temperate climate along with its bluish water has long since
catapulted Smith Mountain Lake into motion picture history.
Smith Mountain Lake is
the film location for
two motion pictures; "What About Bob" staring Bill Murray, and
"Lake Effects" starring Jane Seymour along with two episodes of the
modern day version of, "The Twilight Zone". The surreal lake is also home to
the fifty
plus pound striper fish, and ESPN's International Bassmasters Elite
as well as the Wakeboard Nationals.
Now the imaginary town from the hit television show, "Andy of
Mayberry RFD" is being replicated and is now in its 8th year construction
phase.
The new town already features
Mayberry Hills, a neighborhood community
modeled after the Andy Griffith Show with the spacious
neighborly front porches and the traditional street lights to match. Mayberry
Hills (now half finished) is less than three minutes from
downtown Mayberry, just a five minute drive to Smith Mountain Lake
and under a fifteen minute drive to the award winning Smith Mountain Lake State Park!
From golf to
striper fishing, sailing to swimming, tennis to fine art, mouth
watering restaurants, and awesome homes to breathtaking mountain
lake views and more awaits you here at the lake. Don't take our word
for it, watch the Smith Mountain Lake video now playing here and
see for your self! Go back to the top of this page and
hit (F5) on your keyboard or press "Ctrl and R" at the same time
to restart the video.
Did you know that aside from the Washington DC area, Smith Mountain Lake is the
fastest growing region on the east cost of the United States.
This
website is dedicated to bringing you helpful and diverse information about Smith
Mountain Lake along with breaking
news, and breathtaking pictures
and signature prints and
lake videos of this incredibly
surreal
mountain lake!
"Smith Mountain Lake, excitement for
those who want to chase it, a gentle life for those who choose to embrace it." -
James B. Roney
About This Website
Here you
will find Smith Mountain Lake Webcams,
Free Smith Mountain Lake
Wallpaper
& Videos. And best of
all, lots of incredibly beautiful
Picture
Galleries of Smith Mountain Lake.
This website (shortcut www.SMLVC.com)
is
an online virtual visitor center about Smith Mountain Lake
(SML) itself, an ever growing pectoral guide of the lake and
its immense beauty! This online visitor center is owned and operated
by, The Visitor Center Alliance, LLC
which handles
our
Smith Mountain Lake
Online Advertising.
Area Attractions
There is a
little bit of everything here to do and lots more within a short drive for those
who love day trips! Such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Appalachian Trail, James
River Park, The Peaks of Otter, Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge Caverns, Luray
Caverns, D-Day Memorial, Big Meadow Lodge, Stony Man Mountain, Skyline Drive,
Massanutten Caverns and Massanutten Mountain Ski Resort to name a few.
Smith Mountain
Lake Souvenirs!
Here you
will find genuine Smith Mountain Lake souvenirs. From coffee mugs to playing
cards, t-shirts to posters, mouse pads to ultra high quality, exclusive jumbo
size Smith Mountain Lake Prints up to
five feet wide.
Smith Mountain
Lake Real Estate
Unlike
any other east coast destination, Smith Mountain Lake has become an all time favorite long
term destination. Its temperate climate, surreal mountain sunsets with
four beautiful seasons, along with wide water views continues to drive the real
estate market here at Smith Mountain Lake despite the tough real-estate market!
Compared
to other scenic coast hot spots and major U.S. cities where real
estate cost an arm and a leg, real estate at Smith Mountain
Lake costs a third less, if not more in comparison, and you get can
get twice the amount of property.
In
alignment with national home prices falling in 2007-2013, and it's
now 2015, many home
sellers at Smith Mountain Lake have since come down on their selling
price; but lookers beware. Since Smith Mountain Lake is such a hot
spot for growth, the real estate market on and around the lake
should be among the first to rebound quickly. Thus
for 2015-16, you may want to lock in on any realty deals soon while it's still a buyers market.
Sports!
Fishing
has become a huge sport here as ESPN now holds their televised National
Bassmasters Elite at Smith Mountain Lake. The national wake tournaments are held
here as well and the 2014 SML Triathlon, which is now the 17th year, is held inside the
Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Each year two sailing regattas are also held here at
the lake, as well as different pro golf tournaments.
Weather at the lake!
Smith
Mountain Lake weather offers a temperate climate year around rarely ever seeing any
significant snowfall at the lake. Daytime temperatures rang from the upper forties
to the upper twenties during mid-winter and the lower seventies to the upper eighties during the summer. Sunshine is plentiful with frequent breezes,
ideal
for sailing and staying cool in the summer.
4th of July Fireworks!
Each year
thousands of people come to enjoy Smith Mountain Lake fireworks. A long held
tradition held at Saunders Parkway Marina. Gate opens at 3:00 PM fireworks start
between 9-9:30 PM and last upwards of a half hour. Come at least two hours early
if you want a parking space or enjoy it by boat on the Virginia Dare 4th of July
Cruise!
Smith Mountain Lake Weddings!
Lakeside
weddings at Smith Mountain Lake are very popular with the options to move a ceremony inside at the
last minute in the event of bad weather. With more and more places to get
married, where to get married at Smith Mountain Lake offers quite a few
choices. It's scenic backdrop and ideal weather makes for a romantic, storybook
wedding.
Lake Life!
Unlike
years ago, Smith Mountain Lake today is a year round community from the very
youngest to the elderly. From all over the United States many have moved to
Smith Mountain Lake, from celebrities to tycoons to your everyday family man.
Nearly every week there is an event taking place, many of which are listed here.
History Behind The Lake
Smith
Mountain Lake is a man made hydroelectric freshwater lake built in 1963 and came to full pond in the summer of 66. Water from the lake is
released into Leesville Lake to generate electricity and most of the water is
then
pumped back up to Smith Mountain Lake. It is the largest lake contained entirely
within the state of Virginia. Initial proposals were made in the late 1920s to
dam the
Roanoke River and the Blackwater River at the Smith Mountain gorge to
generate electricity. Construction on the Smith Mountain Dam began in 1960 and
was completed in 1963. The lake reached its normal water level in March 1966.
The lake covers 20,600 acres (83 km2) and has well over 500 miles
(800 km) of shoreline. The north shore of the lake lies entirely in Bedford
County. State Route 122 is the only primary highway that crosses the lake,
though State Route 24, State Route 116, and State Route 40 are nearby..
Water Levels
Water is
released to make power on a regular bases, lowering the water as much as
eighteen inches at a time. During dry spells the water level of the lake can
drop an additional three feet and even more during prolonged dry spells.
Smith Mountain Lake Current Water
Level Here
|
