Smith Mountain Lake

is a beautiful man-made lake about 30 miles southwest of Lynchburg. Covering 20,000 acres of land, the 40-mile long lake was created by the damming of the Roanoke River at Smith Mountain Gap. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, restaurants, golfing and a state park with beaches and camping. Much of the 500 miles of shoreline has been developed with houses, townhomes, and condominiums, making the lake a premiere resort and retirement area.

History Of The Smith Mountain Lake Dam

In the late 1920's, Appalachian Power Company began buying land and planning a hydroelectric dam at the Smith Mountain gorge on the Roanoke River. Late in the summer of 1960, after numerous studies and delays, construction finally began on the 816-foot wide and 227-foot tall Smith Mountain Dam. Further downstream, work also commenced on Leesville Dam to create a smaller and narrower flood control lake. Both dams were completed in 1963 and the lakes began to fill. It wasn't until March of 1966 that Smith Mountain Lake reached its normal water level.

Hollywood on the Lake

During the fall of 1992 the movie "What about Bob?," starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus, was filmed on location at the lake and in the nearby town of Moneta. The signs and buildings in Moneta were repainted to portray the town of "Lake Winnipesaukee". A home on the lake was used as a set and a 3/4 scale duplicate was constructed on a similar point of land nearby, and ultimately was blown up for the film's finale.