Community Guide - Norris Lake
Knoxville, Tennessee - Real Estate Guide

Norris Lake prides itself on new developments, pristine waters

It's no longer a well-kept local secret, but Norris Lake "is still a lake that's undiscovered by a lot of tourists," Stephanie Wells says.

"It's not reached the level of Cumberland or Dale Hollow lakes, which is good, because we still have room to grow," said Wells, executive director of Anderson County Tourism Council.

Growth: That's what's going on around the Tennessee Valley's premier lake.

Norris Lake was formed when Norris Dam's gates were closed in 1936, and it became the first man-made lake in TVA's regional network.

There are expansions and renovations under way or just completed at many of the 17 marinas around the 34,000-acre lake, as well as new residential developments.

Consider this:

·  A massive facelift and expansion is under way at the 70-year-old Andersonville Marina as part of a huge renovation and construction project that will include: 180 condos, a near doubling of the number of boat slips from 400 to 700, and a new restaurant and ship store. Total cost of multiphase, five-year development, located just inside Union County off state Highway 61, is pegged at $80 million.

·  Sequoyah Marina, "just around the corner from Norris Dam," is also undergoing a revamp, says Jim Folck, one of the proprietors and president of Norris Lake Marina Association. A new 6,400-square-foot building on the water that will be open for business this season includes a restaurant and second-floor facility for meetings and parties.

·  At Shanghai Resort in Campbell County, "we're always expanding," says spokesman Dalan Courtney. Two years ago, the resort opened a floating store and restaurant, while a 24-room motel is also a recent addition to the marina.

·  Harbour Club at Stardust Marina off Park Road in Anderson County is "constantly expanding," spokeswoman Kathy Clay said. Twenty-four condos have been built, and a total of 56 are planned, she said of the development that features various-sized rental cabins and a new restaurant. The 350-slip marina also underwent a $1.5 million renovation recently.

·  Hickory Pointe, a residential development eight miles from Maynardville and 30 miles from downtown Knoxville, will have 100 residential lots near the lake, along with a clubhouse and a 40-slip community boat dock.

·  Under study for years, Campbell County Lighthouse Lodge & Convention Center is still on the front burner for would-be developer Steve Pemberton, a Norris pharmacist. Pemberton wants to locate the 100-room lodge, complete with meeting space for 280 people, on a bluff overlooking Norris Lake just inside Campbell County. Tax-free bonds for the $11 million project are being marketed, but there's no timetable for construction.

Although new projects are springing up at lakeside, Norris remains one of the cleanest, clearest lakes in the area, Folck said.

"Our pristine waters, that's probably the most important thing," he said.
There's been a law for more than 20 years that all boats on Norris Lake must have holding tanks for sewage, he said.

Folck said the lake has more than 800 miles of widely varying shorelines, from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches.

The lake extends into five counties: Anderson, Union, Campbell, Claiborne and Grainger.

More information is available at www.norrislakemarinas.com.