Wading into Watauga Lake
BY LUKE BARBER
O
ne does not need to travel five to 10 hours to the beach to soak up some sun, instead a waterfront adventure can be found right here in the High Country by taking a day to visit Watauga Lake. Situated just over the Tennessee border, Watauga Lake rests amidst sprawling mountain tops and forested banks where boaters and fishermen can become acquainted with their sea legs in the middle of the
maintained areas, click to fs.usda.gov/main/cherokee/home or call the Watauga Ranger District office at (423) 735-1500.
Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors to this pristine location have a variety recreation options available to them, including swimming, camping, hiking, biking and much more.
SHOOK BRANCH BEACH
HISTORY
Situated in the Cherokee National Forest, Watauga Lake is actually a manmade reservoir, even though its inherent beauty would leave one assuming that its pristine shores were shaped by nature. The lake was created in 1948 as part of the Watauga Dam in
PHOTO BY MATT DEBNAM WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO JEFF WILLIAMS OF JOHNSON CITY, TENN. Lakeshore Marina, pictured here from the water, is one of three public marinas on Watauga Lake. Along with Mallard Cove and Fish Springs Marina, these marinas are the ‘go-to’ location for visitors who want to rent a boat. Boat owners can also launch from three US Forest Service access points around the lake.
order to control flooding
Experience
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Learn about our history and more at tourcartercounty.com 112
in the Tennessee River Watershed. In order to complete the project, an entire town had to be relocated. Much of Butler, Tenn., known affectionately as the “Town that Wouldn’t Drown,” had to be relocated to higher elevations, thus staying true with the mantra. The town’s population of 600 people, as well as many of the town’s homes and businesses, were relocated to a location that is known today as “New” Butler. All in all, 55 miles of new road had to be constructed and approximately 1,000 gravesites had to be relocated. Today, the relocated Butler is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tenn., along the northern shore of Watauga Lake.
Visitors can explore the area’s history at The Butler Museum, located at 123 Selma Curtis Road in Butler, Tenn. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, click to thebutlermuseum.com or call (423) 768-3880.
ON SHORE
Watauga Lake has five U.S. Forest Service-maintained recreation areas where visitors can picnic, sunbathe, grill and even dip their toes in the water. Within the vicinity, there are many options families can enjoy to spend a fun, relaxing day together. Sites requiring reservations and fees can be reserved by clicking to recreation.gov. For more information about USFS
Located on the southwestern corner of Watauga Lake, this 20-acre site is a great location for family fun and recreation. The site features a large, enclosed swimming area, a sandy beach, 24 picnic tables and a large grassy field fit to let the kids loose in. Shook Branch Beach offers opportunities for individuals or families to enjoy, and visitors may even see dedicated hikers going by, as the Appalachian Trail passes through the area. The beach is open from sunrise to sunset through Sept. 13. Activities and amenities: beach area, swimming, picnic areas, grills and restrooms. Cost: the fee for vehicle access is $2 per vehicle per day or $30 per year with a Cherokee National Forest Pass.
WATAUGA POINT PICNIC AREA
This recreation area offers sprawling views of the lake, while visitors can relax underneath the shaded trees as they SEE WATAUGA ON PAGE 114
SUMMER TIMES 2021
