Why Smith Mountain Lake?

Today, Smith Mountain Lake offers water sports and relaxation activities to match anyone’s idea of fun. Whether you enjoy fishing, swimming, or sunbathing, Smith Mountain Lake has a little something for everyone. The area offers challenging mountain hiking and biking, camping, golfing, fireworks displays, and an array of shopping and antiquing opportunities. In addition to its year round entertainment, the lake is also host to many seasonal festivals, such as: the annual wine tasting festival; the SML fall festival; and, a particularly hot event, the SML Fall Chili Festival.

Smith Mountain Lake is also considered one of the top-rated fishing spots in the country. The area consistently produces some of Virginia’s largest freshwater stripers, which includes Virginia’s state record of over 50 pounds. Fishing aficionados will be pleased to find a stock of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, blackmouth bass, crappie, catfish, walleyes, and muskellunge.

Smith Mountain Lake is a man made lake (see the satellite map of Smith Mountain Lake) created by Appalachian Power Company, which is now known as American Electric Power. The gap between Smith Mountain and the winding Roanoke River offered a perfect site for a hydroelectric and storage pump facility. The Smith Mountain Lake Dam was completed in 1963. Three years later the lake reached its mature capacity--producing a spectacular residential location on a breathtaking water basin.

• Information page on the dam sponsored by American Electric Power
• Smith Mountain Lake water levels provided daily by The US Army Corps of Engineers

 Bed and Breakfast, Hotels and Motels:

• Lake Inn Motel - 888-466-5253
• LoveStone Inn (B and B) - 540-296-0510
• The Claiborne House (B and B) - 540-483-4616
• Westlake Waterfront Inn - 540-721-3307

Smith Mountain Lake Information:

• Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
• Shopping at Bridgewater Plaza
• Roanoke Times' Newcomer Guide

The Surrounding Counties:

• The Official Bedford County Website
• The Official Franklin County Website
• The Official Pittsylvania County Website

Area Public School Information:

• Bedford County Public Schools
• Franklin County Public Schools
• Pittsylvania County Public Schools