At Deals Gap, 11 miles (18 km) west of the dam, the road intersects U.S. Route 129, which continues westward to Maryville. [12] The final installment of $35.2 million was paid on June 29, 2018. This 10,230-acre finger lake is 31 miles long, 400 feet deep, and has 238 miles of shoreline. If you'd rather eat in, that's simple too, since most vacation rentals come with full-size kitchens. The U.S. Congress authorized funding on December 17, 1941, and construction of Fontana Dam began on January 1, 1942.[1]. Fontana Reservoir provides 238 miles of shoreline and 10,230 acres of water surface for recreational activities. Fontana Lake provides multiple benefits to the region, including flood control and recreational opportunities. Three major rivers flow into Fontana Lake to create the reservoir: the Tuckaseegee which flows through Bryson City, the Little Tennessee, and the Nantahala River. The last cuts were performed by Bluegrass companies in 2016.[8]. It has an average depth of 135 feet (41 m) and reaches a ma… Fontana Dam is a TVA run hydroelectric facility. 107 Park Headquarters Road Gorgeous Fontana Lake is the largest lake in Western North Carolina, surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. The dam's spillway presented another problem, as engineers were worried that the water's 400-foot (120 m) drop would cause erosion issues at the dam's foundation. Which means it is an artificial lake, created by the formation of Fontana Dam. Lakeshore Trail starts across from Fontana Dam, and goes for 35 miles before reaching The Road to Nowhere. The National Park Service, after gaining possession of Fontana's north shore tracts, reached an agreement with Swain County in the 1940s to replace the north shore road. [1], Despite the innovative design of the dam, cracks were observed in the face of the dam in 1949. Camp at Fontana Dam Campground (at the base of the dam), drive to the visitor center and learn about the project then cross the dam (you'll be on the AT as it crosses the dam at this point). Net dependable capacity is the amount of power a dam can produce on an average day, minus the electricity used by the dam itself. The design of the dam was unusual for TVA at the time. This moderately trafficked, out-and-back section of the A.T. is located near Fontana Dam features beautiful wild flowers or fall colors, lake and wildlife views. Enjoy fishing areas you can walk to from the Fontana Marina or try a Fontana lake rental to get to that sweet spot you’ve got your eye on. Save big on a wide range of Fontana Dam hotels! Fontana Dam To Fire Tower: Name: Fontana Dam To Fire Tower Difficulty: Moderate Length: 9 Miles Elevation Change: ~2,400 feet. Dining in Fontana Dam. With 360 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, Fontana Lake is the largest lake in Western North Carolina with the tallest dam east of the Rockies. The building of Fontana Dam and its reservoir required the purchase of 68,292 acres (27,637 ha) of land, 5,125 acres (2,074 ha) of which were forested and had to be cleared. Fontana Dam, NC – Dock master Brandon Jones reports that the fish are biting on Fontana Lake right now! Beneath the lake rests the remains of the once-bustling town of Judson. The dam is 480 feet high and stretches 2,365 feet across the Little Tennessee River. The dam is 480 feet tall with over 10000 acres of water contained in Fontana Lake. To aid the release of this heat, engineers divided the dam into construction joints and outfitted them with grout pipes and cooling coils. East of the dam, NC-28 follows the lake's south shore for about 25 miles (40 km) before intersecting U.S. Route 74. Fontana Lake is unique in many ways. Wander the riverfront or discover the mountain views in this romantic area. When we were out on the lake we saw very few other people and it was very relaxing. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Fontana Dam, NC. This 10,230-acre finger lake is 31 miles long, 400 feet deep, and has 238 miles of shoreline. [7] Camp at Fontana Dam Campground (at the base of the dam), drive to the visitor center and learn about the project then cross the dam (you'll be on the AT as it crosses the dam at this point). By the mid-1930s, Alcoa had assessed the Fontana site and had purchased the initial 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) for the dam's construction. Explore the homes with Waterfront that are currently for sale in Fontana Dam, NC. You're right though, they are very beautiful areas. The dam has a flood storage capacity of 513,965 acre feet (633,966,000 m3), and the combined capacity of its three generators is 293.6 megawatts. Fontana is named for the now-inundated town of Fontana, a former lumber and copper-mining hub once located at the mouth of Eagle Creek. Fontana Lake is unique in many ways. Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rocky Mountains at 480 feet tall and 2,365 feet across. Dining in Fontana Dam. RECOMMENDED ROUTE ... Fontana Lake Hiking. Its deep, cold waters boast one of the most diverse fisheries found anywhere in the country: Gatlinburg, TN If you're wondering what the weather will be like on your trip, check out the following seasonal average temperatures. January–March: 42°F Explore the waterfront in Fontana Dam with a trip to Fontana Village Resort Marina. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. The dam was built not only to provide power for the war effort at the Oakridge Nuclear Facility in Oakridge, TN but … Over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) along Fontana Lake's north shore were eventually transferred to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and several thousand acres along the south shore were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Bryson City Gem Mine and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest are also within 32 mi (52 km). The dam impounds the 10,230-acre (4,140 ha) Fontana Lake, which spreads across a scenic stretch of the Little Tennessee along the southwestern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although Alcoa preferred that TVA build the dam, TVA was unable to get necessary ffederal unding for the project until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. In 1913, Alcoa purchased the Tallassee Power Company (now Tapoco), and by 1930 the two entities had completed Cheoah and Calderwood dams, as well as Santeetlah Dam on the Cheoah River. The dam impounds the Little Tennessee River forming Fontana Lake and produces hydroelectric power. Fontana Dam. By 1972, only 7.2 miles (11.6 km) of the road had been completed. Picnic tables and grills are also available. The Fontana Dam site previously hosted an 800 mm (2 ft 7.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;white-space:nowrap} 1⁄2 in) narrow gauge[3] funicular railway for tourists. Visit realtor.com® to browse house photos, view details, check … Apr 3, 2013 - Fontana Village was originally built as a town for the workers and their families who came from all around the country to construct the Tennessee Valley Authority Fontana Dam. Find homes for sale and real estate in Fontana Dam, NC at realtor.com®. In 1935, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which was concerned with the Little Tennessee's effect on flood control in the greater Tennessee Valley, began negotiating with Alcoa to assume control of the Fontana project. Fontana Lake is the fourth deepest man-made lake in the country. Some 1,311 families, 1,047 graves, and more than 60 miles (97 km) of roads had to be relocated out of the project area. The area around the crack was post-tensioned with steel tendons, and an expansion slot was made in 1976 to alleviate the stresses developed within the cracked area. Go approximately 10 miles to turnoff on left for Fontana Dam. Both the ramp and a fishing pier are handicapped accessible. Enjoy free cancellation on most hotels. [1] The temporary village of Welch Cove (later renamed Fontana Village) was constructed just south of the dam to house the project's workers, whose numbers had reached 5,000 by 1943 in spite of nationwide manpower shortages. Fontana Dam is 2,365 feet (721 m) long and 480 feet (146 m) high, making it the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. The dam impounds the Little Tennessee River forming Fontana Lake and produces hydroelectric power. There is a shoreline of about 240 miles. 360 Miles 579 Kilometers of Trail 5 Recommended Routes 3 Easy Trails ; 24 Intermediate Trails ; … When we were out on the lake we saw very few other people and it was very relaxing. Turn right at the State Highway 28 turnoff. Its history is a fascinating story mixing rural mountain heritage and the progress of modern technology. Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, United States. Fontana Dam is a 30-mile (48 km) drive from the three nearest cities — Maryville, Tennessee to the west, Bryson City, North Carolina to the east, and Robbinsville, North Carolina, to the south. Published in 2007, the EIS concluded that the road's construction would cause "major, adverse, long-term impacts to topography, geology, and soils" in the area. Lakeshore Trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is accessible year-round. Robbins…, NC. The Great Smoky Mountains rise to the north, and the Yellow Creek Mountains (mostly protected within the Nantahala National Forest) rise to the south. The construction of Fontana Dam led to the flooding of most of North Carolina Highway 288, which connected Deals Gap and Bryson City. Fontana Lake. The eastern end is the Tuckasegee River near Bryson City. Fontana is located 61 miles (98 km) above the mouth of the Little Tennessee, in a remote area where the westward-flowing river bends briefly to the south. Senator Jesse Helms finally secured funding for the road in 2000, and the NPS for the first time conducted a required environmental impact study of the project. Fontana Dam is a TVA run hydroelectric facility. 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