About Smith Mountain Lake's Smith Mountain Lake Franklin County

Want to taste some new wines or reconnect with some wines you already love? Then you will certainly want to plan on attending the 22nd annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival. This year's festival is set for September 25th and 26th.

Here are some of the particulars about this year's Festival:

27 Virginia wineries will be in attendance. If you can't find a wine you like, you're just not trying!

85 craft and food vendors will also be participating. For those who would rather eat than drink, or do both, now's your chance to find some new favorites.

Each day two local bands will be performing for your musical enjoyment. Saturday's bands are Barefoot West and Burning Bridges. On Sunday, Barefoot West will again be playing as well as The Worx.

The festival is located at LakeWatch Plantation in Moneta with easy access off Route 22, about 1 mile south of Hales Ford Bridge. Parking will be free!

Advance tickets are now available online or at several local locations. Prices are $18 in advance and $22 at the gate for tasters, and $12 in advance and $15 at the gate for non-tasters and designated drivers. Advance-priced tickets will be on sale until 5 p.m. on September 22nd. Even if you don't plan on participating in the wine tasting part of this great festival, you can still enjoy the other events and save your money for other festival purchases! You may also want to purchase a special Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival t-shirt so you don't have to spend a lot of time trying to decide what to wear to the festival.

For those who prefer to pick up their tickets at one of the local ticket outlets, here's a list of sellers.

The Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival is just one of the many annual events that take place at Smith Mountain Lake. Visitors travel from far away to participate in these festivities, but you might want to consider moving to Smith Mountain Lake so you can be first in line to enjoy all the fun that goes on here.

To learn more about some of the beautiful homes for sale in the Smith Mountain Lake area, contact Jane Sullivan Horne or visit her website. Jane and her staff can also be reached at 540-493-1690 and are ready to help you find your perfect spot at Smith Mountain Lake, whether for year-round living, a seasonal vacation home, or the retirement home of your dreams.

Whether you are looking for a vacation home or a year round residence, Smith Mountain Lake offers you the best in waterfront living. Anchored by a 22,000 acre man-made lake, Smith Mountain Lake itself has 500 miles of shoreline. It is known for its fishing, its boating, and its opportunities for water sports - but the town is also renowned for its championship golf courses, area attractions, and friendly townspeople.

As a resident of Smith Mountain Lake myself for over 20 years, I know the Lake both as a resident and a Realtor®. My husband Bill and son Trey and I have created a wonderful home at the Water's Edge community where we enjoy a rich social life full of "lake activities". Because I know what Smith Mountain Lake offers to prospective buyers, I offer my clients a whole lot more than market stats and room measurements. I am "Jane At The Lake!"

I first became involved in sales to put myself through school at Appalachian State University. I have worked in Real Estate for the same company for 19 years. I especially like working with people who become neighbors. My job is to sell FUN and that makes it the Greatest Job in the World at the Greatest Place in the World!

It allows me to introduce people to the great benefits of living here, as well as to the people who are already here. My clients come to Smith Mountain Lake at all stages of life and find the community welcoming. Many first come to visit, and then love it so much they buy a home and start anew here.

As I begin my serious blogging career on Active Rain, I can't think of a more typical story that one I found in a recent edition of the Smith Mountain Eagle.

Lt. Col. Jeff Prowse lived in Northern Virginia and worked at the Pentagon, so he knew the Smith Mountain Lake area from previous visits here. Loving the tranquility and the beautiful waterfront location, he moved his family here shortly before his retirement from the military. He experimented with post-retirement careers and finally started winterizing boats. He soon partnered with fellow former Army officer Tom Buck, owner of Mitchell's Point Marina. Buck soon encouraged Prowse to take over the Smith Mountain Lake boat rental business at the marina. What Prowse felt he lacked in specific experience was compensated by his love of the water, so he "jumped in" full force. Now in his second year of renting boats to satisfied customers, Prowse is a proud member of the Smith Mountain Lake community, a homeowner, and an entrepreneur.

This can be you! Over the years I've helped numerous families find their home at Smith Mountain Lake - whether it be a condo for a second home, a weekend getaway, a permanent home, a retirement home, or a lot to build on or hold onto for investment. Contact me today for a personal tour of the home of your dreams.

People flock to Smith Mountain lake every year for the golf on one of our championship courses. When you buy a home at Water's Edge or one of our other waterfront developments, I want to keep you up to date on anything that might affect your satisfaction.

Vicki Millehan, Vickislakehomes.com

Dear Water's Edge Member,

I would like to thank you for your patience during the past couple of months with the condition of various greens. As you may be aware, we have struggled with a new disease called "Take-all Patch," which attacks the root system of new greens. We have worked closely with Virginia Tech over the summer to correct the problems and we are seeing many improvements. The last couple of weeks have been ideal growing conditions and the weaker greens are recovering nicely.

During the course renovation there was much debate as to the type of fairway greens we should use. Currently, we have a mix of Bluegrass and Rye in the fairways along with some Bent. We chose to move forward with Bluegrass because of its playability and the color it provides year-round; however, we have not seen the results we were looking for with the new Bluegrass.

After much consultation and close guidance from Virginia Tech, we are making a change in the fairway grasses. This does not mean we will be closing the course, but we will be interseeding all fairways with "Memorial" Bentgrass, This is a creeping Bentgrass that is one of the top rated fairway grasses on the market. This means fairways will be able to be cut at lower heights and provide a pristine playing surface. In addition, we should be able to keep fairways drier throughout the year giving the ball more roll for distance.

Interseeding with the "Memorial" Bentgrass will begin next week in all fairways. It is important during the germination process and grow-in that we reduce impacts to allow for growth. Carts will be restricted to cart path and roughs only through at least the end of October.

We are excited about this change and are confident that you will see the benefits as the Bentgrass takes over in our fairways. The transition to the Bentgrass will take several years to occur but will offer a playing surface second to none.

Thank you for your continued confidence and please bear with us during this transition.

Ronald L. Willard
President
Willard Construction of Roanoke Valley, Inc.

Hot Shots ! @ Halloween

(a little while ago but catching up on photos)

Here @ Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia our little ones hungry for candy - had alot of fun trick or treating @ a fun place called Hot Shots (Golf and fun center) in Westlake. Businesses can sponsor a hole and give out candy and other goodies/marketing materials and the kids/adults don't have to walk house to house - like a trunk or treat. Anyway, below you will see some of the pics of a good time. If youare @ Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia @ Halloween next year - its a must go to event!