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Travel

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

Other Places to Visit While You're in the Area

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:

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