Welcome
to Smith Mountain Lake's online virtual visitor center, Bedford, Virginia.
(SMLVC.com)
Indulge in over a half a thousand miles of pristine
shoreline gently nestled in the Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountains. It's jaw
dropping scenic views and temperate climate with its bluish water has long since
catapulted Smith Mountain Lake into motion picture history
Smith Mountain Lake is home to the motion picture, "What About Bob", fifty
plus pound striper fish, ESPN's Bassmasters, the Wakeboard Nationals.
Now the imaginary town from the hit television show, "Andy of
Mayberry RFD" is being replicated and is now in its third year construction
phase.
The new town already features
Mayberry Hills, a neighborhood community
modeled after the Andy Griffith Show with the spacious
neighborly front porches and the traditional street lights to match. Mayberry
Hills (nearly half finished) is less than five minutes from
downtown Mayberry, five minute drive to Smith Mountain Lake
and under fifteen minutes to the Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
From golf to fishing, sailing to swimming, tennis to fine art, mouth
watering restaurants, and awesome homes to breathtaking mountain
lake views and more awaits you here at the lake.
In addition a seven thousand seat amphitheater, a traditional
drive in theater with dinner will open late 2007, and a Theater of The Arts is scheduled to break ground in
2008. Aside from the Washington DC area, Smith Mountain Lake is the
fastest growing region on the east cost of the United States.
This
website is dedicated to bringing you helpful and diverse information about Smith
Mountain Lake along with breaking
news, and breathtaking pictures
and signature prints of this incredibly beautiful
mountain lake!
"Smith
Mountain Lake, excitement for those who to choose to chase it, a gentle life for
those who choose to embrace it." JBR
About This Website
Here you
will find Smith Mountain Lake
Webcams,
Free Smith Mountain Lake
Wallpaper
& Videos. And best of
all, lots of incredibly beautiful
Picture
Galleries of Smith Mountain Lake.
This website
www.SMLVC.com
is
strictly an online virtual visitor center about Smith Mountain Lake
(SML) itself, an ever growing pectoral guide of the lake and
surrounding beauty. This online virtual visitor center is owned and operated
by, The
Smith Mountain Lake Alliance
which handles
our Smith Mountain Lake
Online Advertising.
Area Attractions
There is a
little bit of everything here to do and lots more within a short drive for those
who love day trips! Such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Appalachian Trail, James
River Park, The Peaks of Otter, Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge Caverns, Luray
Caverns, D-Day Memorial, Big Meadow Lodge, Stony Man Mountain, Skyline Drive,
Massanutten Caverns and Massanutten Mountain Ski Resort to name a few.
Smith Mountain
Lake Souvenirs!
Here you
will find genuine Smith Mountain Lake souvenirs. From coffee mugs to playing
cards, t-shirts to posters, mouse pads to ultra high quality, exclusive prints
of Smith Mountain Lake up to six feet across.
Unlike
any other east coast destination, Smith Mountain Lake has become a favorite long
term destination. Its temperate climate, drop dead gorgeous mountain views with
four beautiful seasons, along with wide water views continues to drive the real
estate market at Smith Mountain Lake.
Compared
to other scenic coast hot spots and major U.S. cities where real
estate cost an arm and a leg, real estate at Smith Mountain
Lake costs a third less, if not more in comparison, and you get can
get twice the amount of property.
In
alignment with national home prices falling in 2007, many home
sellers at Smith Mountain Lake have since come down on their selling
price; but lookers beware. Since Smith Mountain Lake is such a hot
spot for growth, the real estate market on and around the lake
should be among the first to rebound quickly. Thus in 2008, you may want to lock in on any realty deals
soon, especially while it's still a buyers market!
Smith Mountain
Lake Events!
Each
year countless events are held on and around Smith
Mountain Lake. Each year these events draw big
crowds, even a television audience via ESPN. Below are
just some of these events.
Fishing
has become a big sport here as ESPN now holds their televised National
Bassmasters at Smith Mountain Lake. The national wake tournaments are held here
as well and the SML Triathlon, which is now in its tenth year, is held inside the
Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Each year two sailing regattas are held here at
the lake as well as different pro golf tournaments.
Weather at the lake
Smith
Mountain Lake offers a temperate climate year around rarely ever seeing any
significant snowfall at the lake. Daytime temperatures rang from the mid forties
to the mid twenties during mid-winter and the upper eighties during the summer
to the mid seventies at night. Sunshine is plentiful with frequent breezes great
for sailing and staying cool.
4th of July Fireworks!
Each year
thousands of people come to enjoy Smith Mountain Lake fireworks. A long held
tradition held at Saunders Parkway Marina. Gate opens at 3:pm, fireworks start
between 9-9:30 PM and last upwards of a half hour. Come at least two hours early
if you want a parking space or enjoy it by boat on the Virginia Dare 4th of July
Cruise!
Lakeside
weddings at Smith Mountain Lake are very popular with the options to move a ceremony inside at the
last minute in the event of bad weather. With more and more places to get
married, where to get married at Smith Mountain Lake offers quite a few
choices. It's scenic backdrop and ideal weather makes for a romantic, storybook
wedding.
Lake Life!
Unlike
years ago, Smith Mountain Lake today is a year round community from the very
youngest to the elderly. From all over the United States many have moved to
Smith Mountain Lake, from celebrities to tycoons to your everyday family man.
Nearly every week there is an event taking place, many of which are listed here.
History Behind The Lake
Smith
Mountain Lake is a man made hydroelectric freshwater lake built in the early
1960's and came to full pond in the summer of 66. Water from the lake is
released into Leesville Lake to generate electricity and most of the water is
then
pumped back up to Smith Mountain Lake.
Water is
released to make power on a regular bases, lowering the water as much as
eighteen inches at a time. During dry spells the water level of the lake can
drop an additional three feet and even more during prolonged dry spells.
Smith Mountain Lake Current Water
Level Here.
Executive
Director Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber, proudly holds
the poster version of the, 2008 Smith Mountain Lake Newcomer and Visitor
Guide.
Bonus Photos
Galleries
Each
year we receive lots of request for stock photography of events and
pictures of Smith
Mountain Lake and surrounding region. Some of these photos
can be found in area gift shops as 4" x 6" postcards and 11" x 14" heirloom
quality prints to jumbo 24" x 36" beautifully framed pictures for home, office and
commercial use. The photos are by the renowned lake photographer, James Roney.