My family first visited Lake James when I was 6 years old - long before there was any development, and when the closest you could live to the lake was above the Duke Power (now Duke Energy) easement. But you could walk through the woods, jump off the rocks, and the pristine waters at the foot of the mountains was yours to use - ideal! There were very few boats then, but our neighbor had one, and as a result all us kids learned to water ski. We'd go down to the lake after breakfast and stay until the hunger was so bad we couldn't stand it - usually late afternoon, when we'd climb back up the hill, tired, sunburned, hungry - and content, completely content. I wouldn't trade anything for those childhood summers. Later in life, my sister and I joked that any one wanting to marry us would have to love Lake James - because that's where they'd have to spend their summer vacations! And that's what happened!

What makes Lake James NC So Special?

Lake James sits at the base of the Linville Gorge in Western North Carolina and offers lakefront living in a beautiful mountain setting. With over 150 miles of shoreline, Lake James is now home to many prestigious lakefront communities, developed by Crescent Resources, the development arm of Duke Energy.

Hometown to residents of Lake James is either Morganton or Marion, NC, and we are able to enjoy many activities both on and off the water. From summers spent boating and fishing, to winters skiing in the nearby High Country, the many recreational opportunities available are hard to beat. Burke County, where Morganton is located, is affectionately called Nature's Playground, and most of us who live here truly love the outdoors.

I believe Lake James and the surrounding region are unique - we're close to the culture of Asheville, and the skiing, mountain climbing, and shopping in Blowing Rock and Boone, and the many opportunities of the great metropolis of Charlotte - yet we are able to enjoy the comfort of living in a relatively small, welcoming and safe towns.

I wasn't born on Lake James, and I've been lucky enough to live in many US cities, as well as others outside of this country. But when I chose where I wanted to be - where I really wanted to be - I moved to Lake James, NC. Come visit - you'll see why!

Lake James offers

• Prestigious lakefront living
• Magnificent lake and
  mountain views
• 150 miles of shoreline
• 6500 surface acres
• Lake James State Park
• Linville Gorge
  Wilderness Area

Lake James is located

• One hour from Asheville
• One hour from Charlotte
• One hour from Blowing Rock