07/19/2024
Need a place to retire to or to get away to on the weekends, and you don’t have one? This is a serious problem, as you already know. Let’s get started fixing that right now!
Many Huntsville, AL metro residents own a weekend place on one of the many lakes that lie within two hours of home. Huntsville is a great place to live. Everyone around here knows that. But new residents and those looking to move to Huntsville may not know that within a short drive you can escape the city’s hustle and bustle for a serene retreat on a lake. This should be no surprise, however, as Alabama is ranked near the top of the list of states with abundant freshwater resources.
Just in case you’re wondering, why doesn’t Huntsville have a thriving lake resort community within its own city limits since it is situated on the mighty Tennessee River? Mainly because greenways, floodplains, and the Redstone Arsenal occupy most of the nearby land along the river. And because the Tennessee Valley Authority ensures that most of the river’s shorelines remain undeveloped.
So, where can I experience said lake retreat? I’m glad you asked!
Being a north Alabama native I have a special affinity for Lake Guntersville and Weiss Lake. Lake Guntersville for its breathtaking natural beauty and the quaint town that occupies a peninsula within its shores. Weiss Lake because I spent many weekends there while growing up in nearby Gadsden. My preferences aside, here’s a list of the main possibilities in order of proximity to the Huntsville area...
Wheeler Lake is a major recreation and tourist center, attracting about four million visits a year. Along with camping, boating, and fishing visitors enjoy the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge several miles upstream from the reservoir’s dam. Point Mallard Park in Decatur is a regional destination, with its water park and yearly balloon festival. The city of Decatur operates the Tennessee River’s largest port. Finding a weekend place to purchase is not terribly easy, as a relatively small amount of its shorelines can be developed.
Lake Guntersville is the largest of all lakes in the state with 69,000 acres of surface area. I’ll coin a phrase (remember I invented it 😉!) to reflect Guntersville’s vibe: “the Fairhope (an artsy, coastal town in the Mobile Bay) of North Alabama.” The town of Guntersville occupies a relatively small portion of Lake Guntersville’s 900 miles of shoreline. Other popular destinations include Lake Guntersville State Park (with its stunning views), Scottsboro, and Langston. The 70-mile-long lake is surrounded by parks, campgrounds, golf courses, mountains, bald eagles, and other natural wonders you must see to appreciate. Rated as one of the country’s top bass fishing lakes, professional fishing tournaments happen often. Lodging and water sports opportunities are almost numberless, as it is one of the state’s most developed reservoirs. This is the perfect lake for a vacation home, although with high demand it’s not the cheapest. (Just remember, there are reasons for the high demand.)
Little known fact: An eagle’s nest occupies a pine tree in Sunset Park, right above traffic and a walking path.
Smith Lake (aka Lewis Smith Lake) is a captivating reservoir that draws visitors and residents with its crystal-clear waters, abundant recreational opportunities, and tranquil feel. Its clear waters make it one of the top three cleanest lakes in the country and the deepest lake in Alabama. It is partially located in the Bankhead National Forest, which is home to “The Land of a Thousand Waterfalls.” This might tell you something of its diverse and stunning natural wonders. The three-finger configuration gives it more shoreline than most lakes its size. While near the city of Cullman, no major town exists on its shores. It is a haven for Cullman, Huntsville and Birmingham weekenders.
Wilson Lake picks up where Wheeler Lake leaves off. Farther west along the Tennessee River, it is worth a visit, or even a weekend place. The scenic bluffs, nearby Wheeler State Park, and largely undeveloped shoreline help make this a special lake in a special place. So does a town on its shores that literally helped shape the world’s music scene during the 60’s and 70’s with “The Muscle Shoals Sound.” You can take a break from the summer sun to visit Fame Studios, where it all started, and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Museum.
Little known fact: Henry Ford and Thomas Edison had planned to turn the town of Muscle Shoals into a 75-mile-long master planned city, employing one million factory workers to build Ford cars.
Weiss Lake: Known as the Crappie capital of the world, Weiss Lake reflected the blue-collar culture of nearby Gadsden during my formative years (the 70’s – don’t laugh!). A factory worker could afford a lot on which to park a mobile home, camper or even a tent for weekend getaways. It was just a great place for fun in the water, cookouts, gatherings, and making great memories. And it still is! It also remains one of the more affordable lake getaways within a two-hour drive from Huntsville.
Little known fact: Yellow Creek, which runs through the mighty Little River Canyon National Preserve (a must-see for nature lovers), empties into Weiss Lake.
Hard to choose which lake you want to see first? Here’s the list again shown with distances from Huntsville’s center:
• Wheeler Lake: 30–60 minutes
• Lake Guntersville: 45 minutes
• Smith Lake: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Wilson Lake: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Weiss Lake: 1 hour and 45 minutes
I know, they all look good so that probably wasn’t much help.
As you can tell I would love to solve your problem of needing a lake home and not having one! Let’s get the process started!
Call me Alabama! (Just kidding - a bad joke for anyone who has watched TV for more than five minutes while in Alabama.) For real, though, my number is 256-694-7047. Email: [email protected]. Website: https://huntsville-realestate.net/.
