• Age appropriate activities for toddlers, young children, teens, young adults, adults and elderly
• Swimming, tubing, water skiing, wake boarding, kayaking, fishing and hiking
• Boat, Kayak and watersport equipment rentals
• Private dinner cruises and catering
• Seasonal Events (fireworks, wine festival, fishing competitions, home tour etc.)

Travel Suggestions

• Nearby attractions: Wineries, Micro-Breweries, Historical Sites, Art Galleries, drive-in movie theater, miniature golf/arcades
• Restaurants: Southern BBQ, Italian, Fine Dining, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Pizza
• Places of interest throughout Virginia (as you drive to/from the lake)

Personal Services

• Linen service
• Grocery delivery

Practical Advice

• Choosing the right property for your family
• What to bring
• Where to shop for food and other essentials
• Transportation logistics: Airports, Driving times, Scenic vs. Fastest routes.
• Special needs (medical, handicapped, limited mobility)

Handpicked Properties

To ensure you have the best vacation possible, LakeAway has established quality standards that all properties must meet and maintain. While properties may range from rustic to luxurious, they all must meet the following minimum standards:

Location:

All LakeAway properties are within the exclusive Mountain Preserve communities at Smith Mountain Lake. We then handpicked properties that are ideally suited for lakefront vacations. All properties have docks where you may keep your own or a rented boat, and are in deep water so that you are not left “high and dry” if you happen to visit in a rare period when lake levels are low.

Beds:

Nothing can ruin a vacation more quickly than uncomfortable beds. All beds are firm, in good condition and do no sag in the middle. Softer beds or beds appropriate only for children are noted on the property web page.

Air Conditioning and Heating: All homes have central HVAC systems. There are no window or room units that keep you awake at night.

Kitchens:

Kitchens are well equipped with utensils, pots and pans, cooking utensils, sharpened cutting knives, dishes and glassware. Larger homes may include specialized equipment (blenders etc.) as well. These are noted on the specific property web page

Cleanliness:

LakeAway sends two people to clean each house, ensuring that it is thoroughly cleaned between guests. Should you discover any problem, they are on-call to resolve any issue.

Maintenance: LakeAway has contracts with local repairmen who are usually able to execute emergency repairs within a few hours. On-going maintenance is performed when properties are not occupied.

Safety:

Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are provided in all LakeAway properties. We fully comply with Bedford County Short Term Rental regulations.

History

Smith Mountain Lake had its' beginnings in 1963 when the dam across the Roanoke River was completed. It took three years for the lake to fill, covering 20,000 acres and creating over 500 miles of shorline. The lake is operated by AEP to both generate and store electricity. Energy storage is achieved by pumping water up into Smith Mountain Lake from Leesville Lake that is immediately below the dam and visible in the photo above. The Smith Mountain Lake Dam Visitor Center includes excellent exhibits that explain how it all works. See the Activities page for directions and visiting hours.

The lake is about 200' deep near the dam, leaving forests, farms, roads and bridges hidden beneath the surface. The area was prepared by cutting down all the trees that would be near the surface, but leaving the trees that would be completely submerged, creating ideal habitats for fish. As the lake was being filled, early water skiers describe dodging trees as the flew across the water!

For decades the lake remained very rural with few amenities. However, in the mid-1960s, before the lake was full, retired Air Force Colonel Leo Bourassa recognized the beauty and economic potential of the lake. He chose land along Witcher Creek with the most beautiful lake and mountain views, and built all of the properties that are now Silver Bay View Cottages, and named the area "Cedar Key". Cabin 1 and 2 were built as part of a fishing resort, while the Cedar Cabin was built as Col. Bourassa's home. In the late 1970's he added the Main House to his compound on the point. Over the years the land was subdivided, and Col. Bourassa and his wife donated the forest at the entry to Cedar Key to the Virginia Department of Forestry as a wildlife preserve, which is what it remains to this day.

In the early 1990s, Hollywood discovered Smith Mountain Lake and the comedy "What About Bob?" was filmed here, although they said it was Lake Winnipesaukee in the film. In the years following the film, several stars from the film industry chose to vacation here. More recently, the Hallmark Movie Channel film "Lake Effects" was filmed here.

Smith Mountain Lake Today

As the lake became recognized as a vacation destination in the mid-Atlantic region, marinas, stores, supermarkets, restaurants and even two movie theaters appeared around the lake. Fortunately Silver Bay and the Cedar Key area remain largely untouched. The land across Witcher Creek, adjacent to Smith Mountain, is managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and will never be developed, preserving our beautifull views and pristine setting. The Cedar Key section of Witcher Creek is designated as a "no wake" area, which also preserves the quiet, natural feeling of the area.

Natures' Corner of Smith Mountain Lake

All LakeAway vacation rental properties are located within the exclusive Mountain Preserve communities of Smith Mountain Lake. The Mountain Preserve communities enjoy the natural beauty of the Wildlife Management Areas of Smith Mountain. The entrance to the Preserve is the narrow gap between Smith Mountain and Alpha Point (at the R2 buoy marker). At this point the waters of the Preserve open up before you with spectacular views of lake and mountain. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the lake, the creeks, bays and inlets offer the ideal setting for kayaking, swimming, fishing, boating and water sports. All in the cleanest water on Smith Mountain Lake, which itself is the cleanest lake east of the Mississippi.