Waterfront Living - Douglass Lake
Real Estate Guide

Cades Cove with a lake

Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains, has always been Bryan Seigler’s favorite place. The scenic mountain valley, with its natural beauty and serenity, is a model of sorts for Emerald Pointe, the development he is planning on Douglas Lake. He has set aside five acres among the 120 acres he owns for his own home.

“It’s like living in the middle of a nature preserve,” he said. “It’s Cades Cove with a lake.”

The acreage consists of a mature hardwood forest that had been in the same family for over 100 years before Seigler purchased it a few years ago. Deer and wild turkey abound. There’s a herd of feral goats. Off U.S. 25E, just 15 minutes from Newport, it offers sweeping views of not only Douglas Lake, but on a clear day to English Mountain, Chilhowee Mountain and the familiar outline of Mt. LeConte in the Great Smokies. It fronts on Douglas Lake near its mouth where the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers flow into it.

Seigler, owner of Landworks, a Maryville-based development company, is bringing an unusual concept for development on Douglas, where remote, modest fish camps were the primary developments not too many years ago.

He aims to sell small lots – 75 by 75 feet to 100 by 100 feet – for residential development, surrounded by ample green space. As planned, the residents’ views will be of forests and scenic lake vistas and not of neighboring houses. The gated development will have underground utilities – including public water and sewer service – and such amenities as golf cart and nature trails, tennis courts and a clubhouse. Plans are under way for a boat dock and covered boat slips.

Lawn mowing and upkeep will be handled through a homeowners’ association. The concept is designed to provide residents the individuality of their own homes while providing the carefree living style of villa or condominium living, said Kelly Russell, who is handling marketing and plans to build at Emerald Pointe. 

Lot prices during the July 1 “pre-opening” sale will range from $55,000 to $75,000. Forty-two home sites are in the first of three planned development phases.

Emerald Pointe is indicative of the increased development attention that the Douglas lakefront is beginning to see. Other recent developments include the large Harbor Crest luxury condominiums on Highway 139; The Point at Dandridge, which features a marina, restaurant and lakeside suites; and Mountain Harbor Inn, a bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
Baneberry, which incorporated as a town in 1986 and which features homes, a golf course and resort accommodations, is a forerunner.

Douglas Lake, with its backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, features some of the most stunning views of any area lake. However, managed by TVA for hydroelectric generation and flood control, it sees seasonal drops of 50 feet or so, leaving wide expanses of lakebed exposed in late fall through early spring. Sites, such as Emerald Pointe, which have year-round water access, are considered prime.

The lake has long been a favorite for fishermen, hosting numerous tournaments annually. Among the area’s lakes, it ranks tops for crappie fishing and is also considered great for largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish.

Most of the shoreline is privately owned, but there are several public boat ramps as well as privately owned marinas. TVA provides recreational facilities at Douglas Dam, including a campground with hookups and showers, a picnic area and all-seasons boat ramp above the dam.

Privately owned recreational facilities include Indian Creek Boat Dock near Dandridge with 120 campsites and a swimming pool; Lake Cove Resort near Dandridge with campsites, cabins, slips and boat rentals and camping; Paradise Campground near Dandridge; and Gator Point Marina near Sevierville, both with camping and boat rental. Lakefront dining opportunities include the longtime Douglas mainstay, Cowboy’s on the Water on Highway 139, and a more recent fine-dining restaurant at The Point Resort in Dandridge.

Emerald Pointe
Location: U.S. 25E five minutes from Newport, with frontage on Douglas Lake
Owner/developer: Bryan Seigler of Landworks Inc. of Maryville
Number of lots/units: 42 home sites planned in first phase, approximately 150 in initial three planned phases for 120-acre site.

Lot sizes: Ranging from 75 by 75 feet to 100 by 100 feet, for “horizontal property regime” development that includes lawn upkeep and surrounding green space.
Range of floor space: Minimum of 1,250 square feet
Amenities: Direct lake access; underground utilities, including public water and sewer; park and picnic areas; lake and mountain views; gated entry; golf cart and nature trails; clubhouse and tennis courts. Covered boat slips proposed.
For more information: Kelly Russell, Emerald Pointe marketing coordinator, at 865-806-6067 or 800-350-6838

Douglas Lake
Location: East of Knoxville and surrounded by Sevier, Jefferson, Hamblen and Cocke counties. Nearby towns include Dandridge, White Pine, Newport and Sevierville.
Created: 1943 by Tennessee Valley Authority for flood control and power generation. The dam, 202 feet high and stretching 1,705 feet across the French Broad River, was built in a record time of one year and 17 days.
Size: Fed by the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers flowing out of North Carolina, Douglas Lake has more than 500 miles of shoreline, covers nearly 30,000 acres and has a maximum depth of some 140 feet.
Water level: Varies about 41 feet in a normal year. Full water levels are maintained usually from June 1 through Labor Day. Water levels begin dropping after Labor Day, part of flood control efforts, and are at lowest levels from November through February.

Recreation usage: Attracting some 2 million recreational visitors a year, Douglas offers water sports such as boating and swimming during the summer and is renowned for fishing, particularly largemouth bass and crappie. Picnicking, camping and bird watching are other popular activities.
Public facilities: Include boat ramps, Douglas Dam Headwater and Tailwater Campgrounds, Douglas Dam recreation area and Trotter Small Wild Area with walking trails through 30 acres.
Other amenities: Commercial campgrounds, rental cabins, marinas, riding stables and a few lakefront restaurants
For more information visit
www.tva.gov
www.state.tn.us/twra
www.jefferson-chamber-tn.org