Virginia’s Kerr Lake / Buggs Island Lake is the largest in the state of Virginia, and should be kept in mind if you’re considering lake homes for sale. Kerr Lake is so large, in fact, that it spans into both Virginia and North Carolina, and sits on the majestic Roanoke River at the confluence of the Dan, Banister, and Roanoke Rivers, and is along the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway. Its impressive size, inspiring scenery, and bounty of recreation opportunities invite everyone to see for themselves what makes Kerr Lake so special. Once you see it, you won’t want to leave it!
Kerr Lake rests in Mecklenburg County in Virginia and Vance County in North Carolina. Since John H. Kerr Dam – the 4th largest dam in the United States – was constructed in 1952, this lake has served as a recreation haven for locals and visitors alike. Besides being the largest reservoir in the state, Kerr Lake is also the only one in Virginia to house a naturally-reproducing population of striped bass. This is great news for anglers, who converge on the lake’s waters for its top-notch fishing. Largemouth bass hunting is always popular, as is the crappie hunting; the lake’s crappie fishery is second-to-none in the Southeast. Anglers can even find a healthy walleye population in the upper sections of the lake, and kayak bow-hunting has exploded recently due to the large population of gar. On any given day, you’re also likely to catch catfish and white perch – in fact, the world record blue catfish was caught on Kerr Lake in 2011, weighing in at 143 pounds! Keep to the southern part of the lake if you’re hunting for striped bass in the summertime; and if your heart is set on catching crappie, spring is the best season to cast your rod. Really, though, you’re bound to catch something rewarding any time of year!
With 800 miles of protected, minimally developed shoreline to explore and 48,900 acres of crystal clear water surface to play on, you certainly won’t run out of room on Kerr Lake. Lake homes for sale are spaced around the lake, and they enjoy access to the many recreation facilities and services positioned around the water’s edge. Since you’ll find everything from sailboats to pontoon boats to Jet Skis dotting the lake’s horizon on any given day, it’s really convenient that public docks, marinas, and boat launches abound! Clarksville Marina sells everything from boat bling to fuel, and the Town Dock features 20 complimentary slips for day use. In 2014 Kerr Lake welcomed the newly opened Rudd’s Creek Marina, offering the largest boat slips on the lake, fuel, and a great waterfront store with snacks and boat supplies. Similarly, several public beaches offer irresistible plots of sand on which to sprawl out and settle in.
There’s no shortage of things to see and do off the water as well. A number of lakefront properties dot the landscape along with well-maintained Corps of Engineers and State Park campgrounds that hug the shoreline, providing ample opportunities for picnics, games, and spectacular stargazing! Look to the skies when the sun is up and you might even spot a Bald Eagle. Several unique small towns dot the landscape around the lake, including Clarksville, Virginia’s only lakeside town. Here upscale dining, local crafts, year-round festivals, and a healthy downtown with a variety of shops welcome visitors and locals alike. Another great way to spend the day outdoors is on a local golf course. One particularly prized course is the Donald Ross-designed Kinderton Golf and Country Club. Kinderton is situated right alongside the lake, in Clarksville, and it indulges golfers with year-round access to their favorite sport. If you’d like to live on a Kerr Lake golf course, visit
GolfHomes.com for property listings and details.
Spend some time on Kerr Lake to understand why so many choose to never leave!
At Kerr Lake, you can enjoy sailing, fishing, water skiing and camping. This 50,000-acre, man-made lake is a haven for water sports enthusiasts and landlubbers alike. The lake is situated in the northeast corner of the Piedmont region and covers both Virginia and North Carolina. The recreation area's headquarters are located near the town of Boydton at the John H. Kerr Dam. More than 800 miles of wooded shoreline provide access to a variety of fun-filled activities on the lake.
