Fontana Lake offers boating and fishing and access to remote, historic areas of the park like Hazel Creek and Eagle Creek. 0000001273 00000 n 0000005498 00000 n Looking over the edge, here’s what you’ll see: At the base of the Dam, the water flows through and turns turbines that power generators that create electricity. ENTIRE towns were displaced i.e. facebook twitter instagram. h�bb�e`b``Ń3Υ�� �g endstream endobj 142 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/Pages 15 0 R/StructTreeRoot 18 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 143 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 288.0 648.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 144 0 obj <> endobj 145 0 obj <> endobj 146 0 obj <>stream There are signs to follow that will lead you there from the resort. The Dam was finished on November 11, 1944 at a cost of $70,420,688.48. Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rocky Mountains at 480 feet tall and 2,365 feet across. Make sure you read the history below to learn more about the purpose of building Fontana Dam, it was pretty critical to World War II ! Views from the wat… The Dam also provided power for a nearby government Nuclear research facility. Construction began January 1, 1942. Today, Fontana Dam provides a tremendous amount of necessary power but with an overlying negative stigma with an entire town lurking beneath the surface of the Reservoir. single family home located at 652 Fontana Hts, Fontana Dam, NC, 28733 on sale now for $262500. 0000000016 00000 n Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 0000004439 00000 n submerged when the dammed water level rose. The History of Fontana Dam Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam located on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, in Western North Carolina. Lake excursions are available, with knowledgable guides relating the history of the region and the dam. Note the maintenance access stairs. 0000001450 00000 n If you walk towards the Dam from the Visitors Center, you’ll reach the two spillways. 0000474442 00000 n Fontana Reservoir provides 238 miles of shoreline and 10,230 acres of water surface for recreational activities. There are hiker’s shower also in the picnic area in case the Dam is closed when the USA goes to Orange Alert LOL. 0000004551 00000 n WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FONTANA DAMCHECK OUT MY FRIENDS CHANNEL THE RETROMANTIC http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNqR9IuId01IFKRq99rQ7Q Judson had a population of around 600 people with a simple array of shops in town, including a sawmill and a post office. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to better gain understanding of how the TVA Dam … The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority,which built the dam in the early 1940s to serve the growing electricity demands in the Tennessee Valley at the height of World War II. Just prior, there is another picnic area to the right that includes Lake access for swimming. Here are all of our photos from our visit to Fontana Dam: #ngg-gallery-3932 .ngg-pro-masonry-item { 0000004188 00000 n (And of course there is the whole “Road to Nowhere” story you’ll want to check out about the lost cemeteries.) To give you some perspective, that is about the height of a 50 story sky scrapper. Construction began in 1942 and because of the urgent need for electric power during World War II, it was finished in just 36 months! Webforms. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Copyright © 2013 - 2020 by Blue Ridge Mountain Life. Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide, https://www.pinterest.com/brmountainlife/pins/. 0000001609 00000 n In 1910, ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) began looking looking at the Little Tennessee River as a possible source of power for it’s aluminum production plant located in nearby Alcoa, Tennessee. Division of Archives and History 2001" "Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in North Carolina. Get the monthly weather forecast for Fontana Dam, NC, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. The dam is 480 feet tall with over 10000 acres of water contained in Fontana Lake. The company was producing aluminum to make military aircraft in the War. Fontana Dam is a very popular attraction, located near Bryson City in Western North Carolina. 652 Fontana Hts , Fontana Dam, NC 28733 is currently not for sale. Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rocky Mountains at 480 feet tall and 2,365 feet across. Fontana Dam is located near Fontana Village, North Carolina. 0000021831 00000 n Tags. Surrounded by extraordinary views of the Smoky Mountains, national forests, and deep river gorges, Fontana is one of the most beautiful dams in the world. Looking over the edge at the massive tunnels is pretty breathtaking … they’re deep and run the entire length down to the base. Guests who stay at Fontana Village Resort see the world differently because they find inspiration in unexpected places. At 25 miles, the road will end in a T. Go right to Fontana Dam, and left to Fontana Village Resort. 0000019375 00000 n The old lodge was once a hospital a… The six-story powerhouse of reinforced concrete with glass walls is located at the base of the dam. The Dam is so large, that there is a two way road across the top, and yes you can drive over it to the other side. Town of Fontana Dam Council Meeting: Dec. 21, 2020. January 20, 1945 the Dam began generating it’s first power, just in time to provide the much needed aluminum required to help end the war. 0000003675 00000 n Construction of the Dam required more than 2,818,000 square yards of concrete. By the mid-1930s, Alcoa had purchased the land that is now the Dam site. View 19 photos of this 2 bed, 3 bath, 1291 sqft. The cottages now rented out for visitors were employee houses. While rare, the TVA does open the gates, and allow water to “spill” down the massive concrete tunnels, where it sprays out into the river below the power plant. A new highway was constructed on the southern edge of the lake and designated as a continuance of NC 28 all the way to US 129 near the Tennessee border. Regional Sports. %PDF-1.4 %���� 3807 Fontana Rd, Fontana Dam, NC 28733 is a lot/land. The TVA didn’t have the funds, until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. PS: the hiker showers at the Visitor Center were originally constructed as the ‘Colored’ restrooms. We will review the data in question. And the mountain scenery is really lovely. At the end of the road and short picnic area is a great view of the Dam itself (the lead photo of this article), and this plaque: We later learned that access is the bottom of the Dam is via a different road on the other side of Fontana Village Resort. The asking price for 3807 Fontana Rd is $29,900. Several marinas service the lake, including Fontana Marina, the nearest to the dam itself, which offers watercraft and equipment rentals including pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. The stairs will take up you to the top of the Dam, and also to the two lane road that crosses the top of the Fontana Dam. Completed in 1944 at a cost of over $70 million, the dam is 480 feet tall and almost ½ mile wide at its crest. 0000021472 00000 n The Dam also provided work for many people in the area. Notes: Water release schedules are updated periodically throughout the day. The spillway also presented another challenge, as the 400 foot drop for the water from the Lake would eventually undermine the Dam’s foundation. 0000008747 00000 n The TVA built the Dam. Source: US National Archives It's claimed that the entirety of Fontana Lake and surrounding area is almost its very own ghost town. Walk or drive across the dam and learn about the construction during the 1940s in the Tennessee Valley Authority Visitor Center. 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 … These very long and wide tunnels were used to divert the Little Tennessee River during construction, but now serve to handle any excess water in Fontana Lake. At 480 feet tallest dam in eastern U.S. One mile north. Learn about the copper, gold, plants, moonshine, dam, settlers & various characters that affected this area. 0000473894 00000 n I consider it one of the best history books I've read on any subject. , also required the purchase of 68,292 acres of water surface for activities. Tennessee Valley Authority ( TVA ) retirees hydroelectric Dam on the Little Tennessee River Mountains have! Mountains and have traveled throughout the day & various characters that affected this area 1945 when the Little River... Follow U.S. 74 west from Bryson City own ghost town or gas, get it in Bryson City then. Dam site completely new and modern town hastily planned and equipped, to help plan... Directions: follow U.S. 74 west from Bryson City – Remember, the Lake and surrounding area is its... In 1944 & still today affects the entire area to take water down and away from the Resort nice... Details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow Fontana Rd, Fontana Dam and Fontana Village of aluminum thus! 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