When they say ‘out of sight; out of mind’ they’re perhaps not speaking about the tunnels found deep below this popular lake in South Carolina. But it’s certainly true. So true, in fact, that most people don’t know that hidden in those gorgeous, lush mountains that surround Lake Jocassee are gargantuan tunnels large enough to house an army.
And although it's certainly not a secret, it will be a rare day when you hear someone speak about the tunnels in the steep mountains, or the tunnels that run under Lake Jocassee. Today... is a rare day.
First, the entrance: Seen below is the road that leads to the entrance to the said underground tunnel complex. It's only a stone's throw (as the crow flies) from the busy shores of Devils Fork State Park.
Still not convinced? Here's the entrance. Twenty seven years ago, in 1991, Duke Energy built this underground wonder known as the Bad Creek Hydro Plant. Its tunnels are massive and long — and they even run under Lake Jocassee at one point.
But who would guess, except locals, or others who were here when it was built, that there is an entire underground hydro plant pumping station with cavernous sections as much as 150-feet wide and longer than a football field? Not us!
It does so by jumping into action when power demand is low. Bad Creek pumps excess water from Lake Jocassee up inside the mountain and out the top to an overflow reservoir. The giant turbine shown below spins 300 miles per hour and vertically moves the water 1500 feet up inside the mountain. In a sense, it acts like a battery. The excess water is stored in the reservoir on top of the mountain and then released again when the power grid needs more energy.
Although the entire facility is housed within the mountains, you may be able to get glimpses of the Bad Creek Reservoir during certain seasons if you're traveling on Whitewater Falls Road (SC-130).
Did you know about these massive tunnels around and under Lake Jocassee? The Bad Creek Facility is a man-made and engineering wonder. If it had not been placed deep within the mountains, it's very likely National Geographic may have reconsidered naming Jocassee "One Of The World's Last Great Wonders" in 2012.
Want to learn more? In 2016, Duke Energy published an article written by Shirley Moore on their blog, “Illumination” for the 25 year anniversary of Bad Creek Hydro Plant. It contains a wealth of wonderful information about how the facility was built, what it does, and how it works. Check it out here.
