Turtler Gets a Glimpse of Lake Glenville

[Chick Ludwig]

                               

It’s been a rough couple of weeks at the Ludwig boat works. Lots of sanding. An aggravating painting experience. Need a break. What to do? What’s that? Turtler calling? Why not go for a “day cruise”? Hmmm, good idea. But where? How about Lake Glenville? Well, why not? Miss Debbie and I kayaked there once and it seemed like a nice lake. Turtler agrees---yes, yes, yes, I WANNA GO NOW! (He’s not a very patient boat.) It’s gonna be a pretty day. Temps in the 70s and low eighties, a gentle breeze, clear skies becoming partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers.  Sounds good to me. Let’s go!

 

Here’s a little background on Lake Glenville, also known as Lake Thorpe. From Wikipedia

Location          Jackson County, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates     35°11′46″N 083°09′11″WCoordinates: 35°11′46″N 083°09′11″W

Surface area   1,470 acres (5.9 km2)

Max. depth      120 ft.

Shore length1  26 mi (42 km)[1]

Surface elevation        3,494 ft (1,065 m)

Settlements     Cashiers, Glenville

 

      "Lake Glenville is a reservoir located 8 miles from Cashiers, North Carolina. It was formed by the damming of the west fork of the Tuckasegee River in 1941. Between 1951 and 2002, it was officially known as "Thorpe Reservoir"[2] after J. E. S. Thorpe, Nantahala Power's first president.[3] It is still listed as such on many maps. The lake bottom plunges as steeply as the mountains that meet the shore. The depth a short distance from the water’s edge may register 80 feet (24 m) or more. The lake also has 26 miles (42 km) of shoreline and highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi encompassing 1450 acres. It is only a short twenty minute drive from Western Carolina University, and the town of Sylva.[4]

     History: During World War II, ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) needed more electricity to make aluminum for the war effort. In June 1940, Nantahala Power and Light, then owned by ALCOA, began constructing a dam to generate hydroelectric power on the west fork of the Tuckasegee River at Onion Falls.[5] They completed it in late 1941, filling a new lake called Thorpe Reservoir or (present-day) Lake Glenville behind the dam. It encompassed the entire valley north of Cashiers. The town of Glenville was evacuated and flooded, covering schools, homes, businesses, and farmlands with water to a depth of 300 feet."

 

     We didn’t get away from home until almost 10, and it’s about an hour and forty five minutes drive. But we went through Brevard and some very interesting and pretty country. We got to the ramp at a little before noon. Only one other truck and boat trailer were there. This is one of three ramps on the lake. No one much on the others either. We’d have the lake almost to ourselves. A couple of fishermen were out and a few pontoon boats. And a lonely jet ski. But on the weekend, the crowds would come. One benefit of retirement is the ability of boating during the week.

 

Rather than “talking” so much, let’s get to the pictures. First off let's take a look at the ramp area.

 

 

Here is the "business end" of the lake. You can see the spillway from both sides, the power house, and the dam and causeway going across it.

 

 

 

 

Time for lunch.

 

The lake is built up with beautiful houses around most of the shoreline. Even some large islands have homes on them, with cars even. What in the world do they need cars for? how do they get them back and forth to the mainland? Anyway, here's some of the homes.

 

 

 

There is a lonely cemetery on a hill. I didn't see a church to go with it. I wonder if it is left from when the town of Glenville was flooded and the church is below the lake waters.

 

The rest of the pictures are views from and on the lake. Some are waterfalls or cascades, some are birds, a public park and swimming beach, there's an old abandoned dock, and a couple views of interesting little coves that we poked into with the electric motor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, this concludes our pictorial essay about Turtler's visit to Lake Glenville.  It was 4:30 when we got back to the ramp and loaded up. Now for an enjoyable ride back to the old homestead and back to building Summer Breeze. We hope y'all enjoyed going along with us. See ya next trip.

[thull]

Nice pics..........

[Doug Cameron]

Nice pictures Chuck.  I take the girls sailing there when I m teaching sailing at nearby Camp Merrie Woode.  I need to bring my Core Sound up there.