Lake Jocassee in South Carolina’s beautiful Upstate, is a recreational lover’s dream. This lush, 7,500-acre lake is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, based on a 2012 ranking by National Geographic that named the Jocassee Gorges #9 on the list of “50 Of The World’s Last Great Places.” That’s no surprise when you see the expansive views and vibrant colors that the area has to offer.
The man-made lake was created in 1973 in a state partnership with Duke Power. It sits within Devils Fork State Park and attracts visitors from all over the world.
The lake is known for the cool, clear water provided by Appalachian mountain rivers feeding into it. There are a number of stunning waterfalls that feed right into the lake, including Laurel Fork Falls, Mill Creek Falls, Wright Fork Falls, and Moondance Falls.
But Lake Jocassee, in all its wonder, has a few secrets. The lake is 300 feet deep and there are a lot of things hidden in those depths.
When Duke Power built Jocassee Dam and then filled this lake, there were some things that didn't get moved or torn down. The Attakulla Lodge, for one. It served as a place for travelers to the Jocassee Valley to stay while on their journeys, and later as a girls camp. As you can imagine, camp at Attakulla Lodge has been cancelled every summer since the lodge was submerged in more than 100 feet of water, more than 40 years ago.
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Mt. Carmel Cemetery suffered the same fate. You may recognize this cemetery as the one made famous in the film Deliverance. Obviously the scenes filmed for this movie were shot before the reservoir was filled. Mt. Carmel Cemetery now lies at the bottom of Lake Jocassee, an eerie reminder of the sacrifices made by the people who once occupied the Jocassee Valley.
But don't worry, the graves were exhumed before the lake was filled so you're unlikely to encounter any angry, underwater ghosts.
Watch in the video below as a diver explores this underwater graveyard. It's both peaceful and disturbing at the same time. And if you look closely enough you can even make out some names on the headstones.
You can also find online footage of the Attakulla Lodge being explored. Though there are no eerier myths attached to the lodge, it looks just as alarming underwater as the cemetery does.
These underwater finds at Lake Jocassee just go to show, no matter how beautiful someplace is, you never know what secrets are hidden beneath the sheen of perfection.
Then, watch a compilation of home movies taken in the Jocassee Valley from 1958-1960 long BEFORE the filling of Lake Jocassee. It’s remarkable to see such a dramatic change in the landscape in such a short time. This land was used for two public serving but radically different purposes.
South Carolina is blessed with so much to see and do. The Jocassee Gorges area is one of the most unique and beautiful spots in the Palmetto State. Were you aware of the history of the Jocassee Valley and that people lived there before the man-made Jocassee Lake was created? We’d love to know in our comments.
