John H. Kerr Reservoir or Buggs Island Lake--By Any Name, It's Fun!
By Donna Dunn
When a visitor asks Linda Williams what there is to do around Buggs Island Lake, she just smiles.
"How long do you have?"The long-time resident and Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director makes a great case for coming out to "Lake Country" this summer. Buggs Island Lake, Virginia's largest lake with 50,000 acres of fresh water, offers more than 800 miles of shoreline and a myriad of recreation and entertainment--on and off the water.
Water skiing, boating, fishing, hiking, horse-back riding and camping are just a few of the many reasons people love to visit the lake, which extends from Clarksville east toward South Hill and south into North Carolina. But once you cross the state line, you'd best call it Kerr Lake...more on that later.
If you've not taken this trip on 58 East, you're in for a treat as you pass through Virginia's only incorporated town on a lake, Clarksville, and discover the interesting historical and cultural offerings of the sparkling landscape.
LakeFest
The Virginia Lake Festival (known to locals as LakeFest), provides the perfect opportunity to discover the Buggs Island area. Held this year from July 15 to 17, LakeFest attracts nearly 100,000 visitors a year and has been consistently voted by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the "Top 20 Festivals in the Southeast."
LakeFest includes hot air balloons, arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, a "Gathering of the Boats" and a fireworks show. It also offers an antique auto show, children's entertainment, helicopter rides and hydroplane and flatbottom racing boats.
"It is quite an adventuresome weekend," said Williams.
Begun by the Chamber 33 years ago, the festival "started out very small but it's amazing how it has grown," she explains.
One of the highlights of the festival is the hot air balloons. On a perfect day, the balloons fly over Main Street in Clarksville and dip their baskets in the lake before soaring over the countryside, Williams said.
The streets of the town close down to allow for more than 200 vendors to line the streets. Events are free and open to the public. The festival concludes Saturday night with a fireworks show over the lake.
"If you've never watched fireworks over water, it's a double whammy," Williams said, referring to the fireworks' reflection in the lake below.
Occoneechee State Park Visitor Center & Museum
Summer also provides the perfect time to explore the Occoneechee State Park near Clarksville because of the variety of children's programs, guided tours and special programs offered.
"Being outdoors and the scenery and the lake and the woods" make this park a special place to visit, said Brian Detweiler, the park's Chief Ranger. He encourages visitors to check out the park's three boat ramps and 19 miles of trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
For those looking for a unique overnight experience, the camp has 13 "housekeeping cabins," each with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area.
"All the comforts of home," said Detweiler.
For those looking for a more outdoorsy overnight experience, the park includes 88 campsites, some right on the lake.
"They have done such a great job out at the Occoneechee State Park," Williams said. "It is such a beautiful state park with so many elements to enjoy."
The park is named for the Native Americans who once lived in the area, and the visitor center houses a replica Native American lodge and museum with authentic artifacts found near the lake. For more details on park events, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
Just go fishing!
Home to John H. Kerr Dam, the lake area offers what locals say is the best bass fishing in the state. Listed as the number one crappie fishing lake in the United States by In-Fisherman magazine, the lake is host to state and national fishing tournaments.
With the addition of fishing lights on the local bridge, Clarksville is now "the premier location for nighttime fishing activities and tournaments and the only location in the country with this unique feature," according to the town's Web site. The bridge lights apparently attract millions of tiny feeder fish, which then attract the larger game fish, adding up to--you guessed it--great fishing!
Remember to get your fishing license. And check out fishing regulations at www.virginia.gov. If you'd like to fish from a boat, you can rent one at Clarksville Marina or Occoneechee State Park.
Town on the Lake
Downtown Clarksville has been named to the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places. The town's walking tour features more than 60 churches, homes and businesses that date back to the late 18th century, with architecture ranging from Queen Anne to Greek Revival to Victorian, according to the town's Web site.
"All of our stores and restaurants are one-of-a-kinds," said Williams. "They're privately owned...people can't go anywhere else and find these specialty restaurants and shops. Great places to eat inside and out."
Is it Buggs Island Lake or Kerr Lake?
Whether the lake is called Buggs Island Lake or Kerr Lake has been an ongoing debate for decades. The right answer usually depends on which side of the state line you call home.
The lake, created when the John H. Kerr Dam was constructed from 1946 to 1952, is called Buggs Island Lake by most Virginians and Kerr Lake by most North Carolinians. Its official name is John H. Kerr Reservoir, named for the U. S. Senator from North Carolina who was a prominent supporter of the project.
Virginians who didn't care for a North Carolinian getting credit, preferred the name Buggs Island, named for an island visible from the viewing platform below the dam at Tailrace Park. The island was named for Samuel Bugg, an early settler.
As for Williams and other locals, they have another name for it: Paradise.
"I have heard so many of our visitors refer to this area as paradise," she said, "and they do return again and again."
Lake Fun Facts
- If you're going to call it Kerr Lake, make sure you don't say "Kerr" in a way that rhymes with "were." Go for "Kerr" that sounds like "car."
- If you can't make it to the lake this summer, the water typically stays warm through October. That means great fun on the water with fewer crowds.
- Some restaurants in Clarksville will deliver food right to the boat dock. Just call ahead and dinner will be waiting.
- There are 11 equestrian campsites at Occoneechee State Park, so take your favorite horse camping!
- Clarksville holds a special Independence Day parade and fireworks display in July. The parade will be held this year on July 3, at 11 a.m. Read more at www.clarksvilleva.com.
- The Wildlife Exhibit, located at the Model Railroad Museum in South Hill, features animals from bobcats to bald eagles and hoot owls to woodpeckers. Read more at www.southhillva.org.
The Buggs Island Lake area offers a number of interesting and unique places to visit. Here are a few to consider while you're in the area:
- Prestwould Plantation. Built between 1794 and 1795 by Sir Peyton Skipwith, the stately house is just one of the reasons to visit the plantation. With one of the largest collections of slave writings in the country, the property still retains a two-family slave house and many original outbuildings. The house is open April 15 to Oct. 31, Thursday-Saturday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by appointment, (434) 374-8672.
- MacCallum More Museum and Gardens. Spend a leisurely morning or afternoon in Chase City among organically maintained botanical gardens, an arboretum and wildlife sanctuary. Meander along paths lined with boxwoods, dogwoods, statues, fountains and other eclectic works of art. Find out more at www.mmmg.org.
- South Hill Model Train Museum. The South Hill Model Railroad Museum, located in the restored South Hill Depot at 201 S. Mecklenburg Ave., features the Atlantic & Danville Model Railroad, which is the focal point of the museum. Other highlights of the museum include old toy trains, historical documents, photographs and artifacts from South Hill's past. The exhibits are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. Learn more at www.southhillchamber.com.
- Virginia S. Evans Doll Museum. The museum, also housed in the South Hill Depot/South Hill Chamber of Commerce, boasts a collection of more than 500 dolls dating back to the 1800s. The museum also offers a wildlife exhibit. The exhibits are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free.
- Tobacco Farm Life Museum of Virginia. This museum, located just up the street from the South Hill Depot at 306 West Main St. in South Hill, allows visitors to discover the family farm heritage of Southside Virginia from the period of 1935 to 1950. Check out the farmhouse and one-room schoolhouse. The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- John Kerr Dam. The Visitor Assistance Center for the Corps of Engineers in Boydon is located adjacent to the dam, next to North Bend Park. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. except for holidays. For maps of the projects, hunting area maps, brochures, or other information, contact jhkerr@usace.army.mil or call the Visitor Assistance Center at (434) 738-6143.
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