Posted in West Virginia
July 07, 2018
The Only Place Where You Can Have A Tropical Vacation Without Ever Leaving West Virginia
Generally, a “tropical vacation in West Virginia” is not a phrase typically uttered — but there is one place where the notion is perfectly sound. It is Summersville Lake, and they don’t call it the “Little Bahamas of the East” for nothing.
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The lake was formed by a rock-fill dam in 1966 to control flooding along the watershed of the Gauley and Kanawha Rivers. The lake itself encompasses an area of 2,700 acres and is 327 feet deep (max depth) with more than 60 miles of shoreline.




If you choose to dive at the lake, you will have an opportunity to witness a whole ecosystem of plant and marine life as you pass through underwater caves and tunnels. Be sure to watch the GoPro video below to see what a dive at the lake is actually like:


At 104 feet tall, this lighthouse is a repurposed wind turbine tower. A journey to the top of the lighthouse offers an impressive view of the surrounding hills and the lake that cuts between the trees and hills like a hand with dozens of fingers.


Summersville Lake and Retreat is located at 278 Summersville Lake Rd./Hwy. 129W (GPS Coordinates: N 38.19950 W -80.8660) in Mt. Nebo.
For more information about Summersville Lake and its neighboring campground, check out their web page here. Have you ever been to Summersville Lake? Feel free to comment below and tell us about your visit.
Does Summersville Lake sound like fun? Check out this striking blue lake that will make your summer magical.