Best Retirement Lake In Tennessee, Kentucky Or Virginia.....

[GANGGREEN]

OK, I admit it, I spend way too much time thinking about retirement. I'm somewhere between 1 year and 8 years from calling it quits for good and I really think I'd like to have a lakehouse when I do.  I live in Pennsylvania and really like the fishing and the scenery in New York state and Vermont but frankly, real estate and especially taxes are through the roof in the areas that I like.  I also admit that as I get older, these 20 below zero temperatures are getting old.  I don't see myself ever really wanting to live in a real southern area that's always warm (or ridiculously hot) but I'm leaning towards southern Virginia, southern Kentucky or eastern Tennessee to try to get the best of both worlds.

 

I've done some internet searches for property just for giggles in areas like Smith Mountain Lake, Norris Lake and Dale Hollow but thought I'd ask all of you kind folks who may have fished many or most of these waters what you think. 

 

Here are my list of "requirements", though as you know, no area is perfect and I'm somewhat flexible about any or all of these things.

 

I think I want it to be a larger lake, maybe 5000 acres or more.  I think you're more likely to find suitable housing on these lakes and they tend to have good multi-species fishing, which would be a big plus for me.  I don't necessarily need any one species but I admit that walleye, stripers, smallies, big crappie, yellow perch would all be a plus.

 

I want it to be a house or a very nice cottage, something that's low maintenance and that I could live in all season if I chose to, not a rundown camp situation.  Two beds and 1.5 baths would be bare minimum but 3 bedrooms and 2 baths might be nicer, in the event that my kids both came to join us (I presume that both will be on their own or close to it when I make this move). 

 

I don't mind cool temperatures (say low 30s or 40s) but I'd like to be able to fish all year.  I love to ice fish but if I buy a lakehouse "down south" it would be to benefit from the open water and fishing opportunities.

 

I'm a very private person so I'd like at least some privacy and don't need or want to be in the middle of everything but having a nice moderate sized town nearby with restaurants and stores would probably make my wife and certainly my kids happy.  Say within half an hour's drive of a town of 10,000 or so.

 

Cost is important and precisely why I'm fleeing the north.  Depending on whether I keep my farm up here or sell it and intend to make this my full-time residence, I might be able to pay 300K (I could probably pay more if I sold the farm but I don't think I'll sell the farm) but obviously I'd like to get some bang for my buck and would be happy if the real estate taxes weren't ridiculous.

 

I suppose I could live half a mile from a marina and not have water frontage but I'd prefer to be on the lake if I can still have some privacy and if it won't bankrupt me.  I suppose it also wouldn't hurt if I was within 10 hours or so of my farm in northern Pennsylvania but that may not be a deal killer for the right set up.

 

Just throwing this stuff out there because I'm sure other guys think about retirement locations all the time too.  I'll appreciate any thoughts you guys or gals may have.

[roadwarrior]

Pickwick would be perfect and as long as you buy in Tennessee there are NO state taxes.

Property is "reasonable" by national standards, but everything is available from a cottage to

multimillion dollar mansions. Fishing is year-around except RIGHT NOW! The best smallmouth

fishing is usually mid October to mid March. Striper are World Class, crappie great and DD

largemouth are being caught in greater numbers than any time in history. Sauger can replace

your walley and for HUGE numbers in the spring the white bass can't be beat. We also have

monster buffalo fish, drum and every species of catfish in SIZE!  

[GANGGREEN]

Pickwick would be perfect and as long as you buy in Tennessee there are NO state taxes.

Property is "reasonable" by national standards, but everything is available from a cottage to

multimillion dollar mansions. Fishing is year-around except RIGHT NOW! The best smallmouth

fishing is usually mid October to mid March. Striper are World Class, crappie great and DD

largemouth are being caught in greater numbers than any time in history. Sauger can replace

your walley and for HUGE numbers in the spring the white bass can't be beat. We also have

monster buffalo fish, drum and every species of catfish in SIZE!  

 

Nice.  I could live with the sauger.  I appreciate the advice and will do some online real estate searches to see what's there. 

[Darren.]

Well, there are some lovely places in 

Virginia, too.

 

Have a look at Smith Mountain Lake.

 

We've vacationed there, and it is a haven

for a number of fish species, and there

are beautiful spots to retire.

[GANGGREEN]

Well, there are some lovely places in 

Virginia, too.

 

Have a look at Smith Mountain Lake.

 

We've vacationed there, and it is a haven

for a number of fish species, and there

are beautiful spots to retire.

 

I've already done some internet research on Smith Mountain but have never been there.  I'd really like to get down there this summer to rent a place with the family or camp by myself but we'll see, I have lots of other trips planned and need to set some priorities.

 

I should also add that I have pointing dogs and it wouldn't hurt my feelings if there were some grouse or quail nearby either, although I know the bird hunting in those areas isn't what it used to be.

[fish365]

Lots of great fishing in Tennessee. Most of the upper eastern lakes are 20,000 to 30,000 acre lakes with a few exceptions. Most of these are flood control/water storage lakes and fluctuate 20-40' from winter to summer pool levels. From Ft. Loudon Lake and down along the Tennessee River are navigation lakes and don't, except in times of unusually heavy precipitation, fluctuate more than 5-10' all year. Lots of great fishing all year with smallmouth, largemouth, spot, catfish, Stripe, hybrids, white bass, walleye, sauger and more. I live on Cherokee, but can reach Douglas, Ft. Loudon, Ft. Patrick Henry, Boone, and South Houston in less than an hour.http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/is a link to the TVA lake levels across the entire Tennessee valley. Good luck on the search.

[Choporoz]

I've been meaning to post almost this same thread/question.  I don't want to hijack yours, Green, because my net will be cast just a little wider, to likely include NC and ARK, and we're ok with a little bigger metro areas....and would consider smaller water, but otherwise, it sounds like we have nearly the same 'requirements'.  Good luck and I very much look forward to reading the discussion.

[GANGGREEN]

_{Thanks for the link fish365, looks like you could never fish all of that water.  I've actually fished a couple of the TVA lakes in the past but it's been years.}

[GANGGREEN]

I've been meaning to post almost this same thread/question.  I don't want to hijack yours, Green, because my net will be cast just a little wider, to likely include NC and ARK, and we're ok with a little bigger metro areas....and would consider smaller water, but otherwise, it sounds like we have nearly the same 'requirements'.  Good luck and I very much look forward to reading the discussion.

  Good luck with your search too.  I used to consider the Ozark lakes but I think that's a bit far to drive when I had to get back and forth so I'm really leaning towards eastern Tennessee, southern Kentucky and southern Virginia.

[Hyrule Bass]

I love Smith Mountain Lake, its one of my favorite places on Earth. My aunt and uncle own a vacation house on the lake and i got down several times a year. The lake is beautiful with the mountains right there. I can sleep there like i can at no other place, like an instant nap even if im not tired, just a chill atmosphere to me. i will fish in the morning and sometimes take a nap outside on the boat swinging on the lift in the afternoon.

 

There are a couple small towns nearby with grocery stores, movie theater, shops, hardware and other businesses. and then there are bigger cities like lynchburg and roanoke nearby a little over an hour. Bedford is about 30-40 minutes away if you need to hit up a walmart, tractor supply, abc store, or eat at one of the restaurant chains. and there is also rocky mount. depends what direction you want to go and where on the lake you are.  otherwise there are stores around the lake and a few seasonal businesses and restaurants.

 

Its a large lake coming in at 20,600 acres with over 500 miles of shoreline. There are two river arms(blackwater and roanoke) that run into the main lake merge and run over to the dam and numerous creeks. on the other side of the dam is leesville lake. Fish species include Stripers, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Crappie, Catfish(White, Bullheads, Channels and Flatheads), Carp, White Perch, Yellow Perch, a small natural breeding population of Walleye, and even the rare Muskie. Also there is a very small population of White Bass. And of course a variety of panfish/bream. The lake also contains Shad and Alewive for baitfish. Theres great fishing opportunities there but it can be a challenge trying to figure out the fish sometimes. Last Labor Day weekend i went down and lots of bass were shallow around the dock i fish from when not on the boat. and the "pattern" i found was any solo bass would bite, any group of bass swimming together would not. and the groups were all groups of 3 and much bigger bass than the solo cruisers. talk about frustrating. and the thrill of a big smith mountain lake striper or flathead is great. SML had a striper kill do to copepods like 10 years ago or something like that, but the striper fishing is bouncing back great with the implementation of the slot limit in winter/spring months. The last few years the slot was anything between 26 -36 inches had to be released, this year it was bumped up to 30-40 inch had to be released. the lake biologist, dan wilson, would not recommend raising the slot if there wasnt a good class of 30-40 inch sized fish. This will allow SML to return to the once trophy striper fishery it was before the fish kill. and the striper fishing is great in the winter from my understanding. the lake wont completely freeze over that i know of, though i cant say there wont be ice in the back of coves and such...

 

Have to admit, its a high traffic lake, especially on holiday weekends. jet skis everywhere...

[Ben Eipert]

Norris! It is a hard lake to fish but is nice. Super clean water and usually not too busy. Has huge smallmouth, stripers, wallaeye, laargemouth, crappie, etc.

[roadwarrior]

I've been meaning to post almost this same thread/question.  I don't want to hijack yours, Green, because my net will be cast just a little wider, to likely include NC and ARK, and we're ok with a little bigger metro areas....and would consider smaller water, but otherwise, it sounds like we have nearly the same 'requirements'.  Good luck and I very much look forward to reading the discussion.

The Florence, AL area might just be the ticket. I have friends in Sheffield with a home eight miles or so 

below the Wilson Dam. Their home is built on a bluff over looking the river, the far side is Natchez Trace

Park which will never be developed. Sitting on the porch watching the sun go down creates the illusion of

of being a part of the wilderness. However, everything you might look for in a small city or big southern town

is only minutes away.

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks for the continuing thoughts fellas.  I appreciate it.  I may actually be heading to Tennessee in June because a friend is trying to set up a benefit concert for his son who was in a fairly serious auto accident this winter.  If I do, I suspect I'll spend a few extra days and camp on one or two lakes just to get a feel for them.   Of course I'd pick up the real estate brochures in town while there too.

[fish365]

_{Thanks for the link fish365, looks like you could never fish all of that water.  I've actually fished a couple of the TVA lakes in the past but it's been years.}

We moved here in 1988 and i still haven't fished all of Cherokee yet.

[Scott F]

I'm in the same situation, looking at retirement a few years down the road with a similar budget for my home. My solution because I hate the heat and humidity of Southern summers as much as I hate the cold is to get a Northwoods cabin in Wisconsin to live in from May 1 to November 1. The summers in Wisconsin are great not too hot, you can fish comfortably all day long on your choice of thousands of lakes. Homes right on the water, with a dock right out your back door are everywhere. Waterfront property can get a little pricey depending on the lake you choose. But because there are so many lakes, if you choose a property off the water, you save big money on both the house and property taxes and you are just minutes from many many lakes. Come November 1, I'll do the snowbird thing and head to a condo in South Florida. The winters there are pretty much like the summers in Wisconsin. 

[GANGGREEN]

I'm in the same situation, looking at retirement a few years down the road with a similar budget for my home. My solution because I hate the heat and humidity of Southern summers as much as I hate the cold is to get a Northwoods cabin in Wisconsin to live in from May 1 to November 1. The summers in Wisconsin are great not too hot, you can fish comfortably all day long on your choice of thousands of lakes. Homes right on the water, with a dock right out your back door are everywhere. Waterfront property can get a little pricey depending on the lake you choose. But because there are so many lakes, if you choose a property off the water, you save big money on both the house and property taxes and you are just minutes from many many lakes. Come November 1, I'll do the snowbird thing and head to a condo in South Florida. The winters there are pretty much like the summers in Wisconsin. 

 

Good ideas.  Ideally, I think I'd like to keep my farm where I live now.  The summer weather is fantastic but I'm not really that near a good lake (2 hours from several dandies though and within 3 or 4 hours of a dozen really high end waters).  Alternately, I could do what you have in mind and downsize to a smaller cottage up north and a nicer, year-round home down south that I'd likely vacate in the middle of the summer.  The problem for me is that if I keep the farm, my cash will be somewhat limited and my winter cottage may have to be a bit more modest.

[gar-tracker]

You may want to consider Okeechobee,  everyone from Kentucky and Tennessee are buying up property like mad around the lake.

 

Also I may add that summer fishing in Florida is off the charts until about 12.00.

[hawgenvy]

Keep your place in PA and get a winter home in Lake Co, Florida, rural but has lots of small towns, lakes everywhere surrounded by huge live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, tons of homes with boat docks, lakes loaded with world class LMB, fairly low cost of living. Mount Dora, for example, is a quaint town with lots of antique stores, restaurants, etc., and it's on the Harris Chain.  Good hospitals nearby for when you get older. But get out of there June thru Sept.

[GANGGREEN]

No offense intended to anyone but Florida's not likely to be in the cards.  I've been a handful of times and it's just not my cup of tea.  I like eastern Tennessee as well as parts of Kentucky and southern Virginia because it's similar to my home here, mountains/hills and a rural area with temperate weather.  People tell me that Florida becomes more appealing as you get older and God knows that I'm sick and tired of this winter, but still, I'm just not a huge fan, although I've enjoyed the few vacations that I've made to your great state.

 

I really DO appreciate the input though and you never know when someone will offer advice that may strike a chord with me and put me into a fit of internet research on new areas.

[Al Wolbach]

I made the decision to retire on Douglas Lake in East Tennessee. You may want to research Douglas and Cherokee lakes as the property is generally a little cheaper on these lakes compared to Norris Lake. All of the TVA lakes in east tn offer great bass fishing. Norris and Cherokee offer better striper(rockfish) fishing and Douglas better crappie fishing(especially in the winter).  A pretty good rule of thumb is, the further the lake is from Knoxville the lower the property prices. Norris lake has the clearest water by far but that also makes the fishing a little harder. Fort Loudon and Tellico lakes are the high rent district along with Norris. There is still some affordable property on Watts Bar lake(south of kville) but I'm not very familiar with that lake. All of the lakes I have mentioned are within about 30 miles of Knoxville and range in size from 14k to 33k acres.

 

Two pluses for you.....Property taxes are probably much lower than you are accustomed to and Tennessee has no state income tax

[GANGGREEN]

I made the decision to retire on Douglas Lake in East Tennessee. You may want to research Douglas and Cherokee lakes as the property is generally a little cheaper on these lakes compared to Norris Lake. All of the TVA lakes in east tn offer great bass fishing. Norris and Cherokee offer better striper(rockfish) fishing and Douglas better crappie fishing(especially in the winter).  A pretty good rule of thumb is, the further the lake is from Knoxville the lower the property prices. Norris lake has the clearest water by far but that also makes the fishing a little harder. Fort Loudon and Tellico lakes are the high rent district along with Norris. There is still some affordable property on Watts Bar lake(south of kville) but I'm not very familiar with that lake. All of the lakes I have mentioned are within about 30 miles of Knoxville and range in size from 14k to 33k acres.

 

Two pluses for you.....Property taxes are probably much lower than you are accustomed to and Tennessee has no state income tax

 

No state income tax (other than on interest and dividends) but they do have a fairly high state sales tax.  Not a huge issue for me and you're correct, the property tax on a 3 or 4 bedroom lakehouse are about 1/4 what I pay for my 100+ acre farm and 4 bedroom home here in PA.  Thanks for the info on Douglas and Cherokee.  As it happens, I had already done a bit of research and found a few reasonably priced lakehomes on Cherokee and had requested info from one of the local chambers of commerce.  Still looking though but I'm really intrigued about that Cherokee/Douglas Lake area.

[Matthew2000]

Build your own lake on some land. You don't have to worry about jet skis or learning a new lake. And you can make it to your liking.

[Bassin Bob]

Take a look at Tims Ford Lake near Winchester, TN.  Great place, great lake with smallies, largemouth, walleye, stripers, etc.  Also there are trout below the dam and the Elk River to canoe and catch trout and smallies.  Plus, Phoenix Boats are made nearby.  And the Jack Daniels distillery is a stone's throw away.

[Pete-K]

I know you put East Tn, but if you do look at West Tn. Pickwick Lake has it all, and if your over this way give me a shout. Will do all I can to show you some of it. From Stripers until you get tired of them. Sauger in the winter time, Blue catfish that go from 50 lbs to 100+, White bass days of 100+, Smallmouth bass and Large Mouth bass fishing is second to none right now there. Crappie fishing can be great also. Plus plenty of smaller lakes within an hours drive.

[GANGGREEN]

I know you put East Tn, but if you do look at West Tn. Pickwick Lake has it all, and if your over this way give me a shout. Will do all I can to show you some of it. From Stripers until you get tired of them. Sauger in the winter time, Blue catfish that go from 50 lbs to 100+, White bass days of 100+, Smallmouth bass and Large Mouth bass fishing is second to none right now there. Crappie fishing can be great also. Plus plenty of smaller lakes within an hours drive.

 

Thanks for the offer and the info.  I've never fished Pickwick but I have fished Wheeler in Alabama.  I'm sure I'd love the fishing there, especially the sauger fishing, but honestly, it's getting to be too far away from home base and makes a trip down in one day difficult or impossible.  Besides that, it's just not that appealing to me compared to those lakes in the eastern part of the state that have the Great Smokies in their back yards.  Being a backwoods guy who lives in the mountains of PA, that really appeals to me. 

 

Based on some photos that I've seen, some reading that I've done, real estate searches and Youtube, I'm really starting to like the idea of Cherokee or Douglas Lakes, but it's obviously going to require a trip down there to peruse the area and see what I'd be getting into.