The History Of Lake Allatoona

By Author: Adam Brush
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Located in Northwestern Metro Atlanta, Lake Allatoona was one of the first lakes developed by the Army Corp of Engineers in the Southeast. Construction began in 1946 as a result of the enactment of the Flood Control Acts of 1941 and 1946, primarily due to the flooding history of the Etowah Valley. Lake Allatoona was created by damming the Etowah River and construction was completed in 1950. Situated in the same area where the Atlantic Railway once passed through Allatoona Mountain on its way from Atlanta to Chattenooga, Tennessee, Lake Allatoona also borders Red Top Mountain State Park.

Principally located in Cherokee County, Georgia, parts of Lake Allatoona also occupy Bartow and Cobb County. The largest nearby city is Cartersville which serves as the county seat for Bartow and is home to Red Top Mountain State Park. Cartersville has a population of over 15,000 and attributes much of its tourism to the State Park and Lake Allatoona. The state of Georgia also attributes much of its growth to the development of Lake Allatoona which is prized for its natural resources as well as recreational opportunities. The lake serves ...
... as a source of hydroelectric power and drinking water, and is also one of the most visited lakes in the eastern United States.

Lake Allatoona boasts over 12,000 acres of water and 270 miles of shoreline. As a popular recreational destination, Lake Allatoona hosts approximately six million visitors each year. Home to 40 parks and recreation areas, eight marinas, and numerous camp sites and public docks, Lake Allatoona is a superb spot for water sports such as boating, skiing, and fishing.

Many residents at Lake Allatoona are partial-year residents but numerous people live there year-round. Surrounded by a vast array of homes, including established older homes, as well as newly built custom and luxury homes, Lake Allatoona is prized not just as a wonderful area to visit but also to live. Several community and government organizations, including the Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority created by the Georgia House of Representatives and made official in 1999, work together to manage and preserve the resources of Lake Allatoona in an effort to continue to make it an exceptional place to live and visit.

Real estate at Lake Allatoona varies considerably with some older homes averaging nearly the same in market value as other metro Atlanta homes and some lakefront properties beginning at around $600,000. Though the properties directly on the lake are the most valuable, homes at the southern end of the lake are highly desired, as are homes closer to the I-75 interstate. Some full-time residents commute approximately 30 minutes to Atlanta for work, while some residents of other metro Atlanta areas simply visit Lake Allatoona regularly. There are also numerous vacation home rentals located at Lake Allatoona which can be a profitable venture for investors.

The natural flora and fauna of Lake Allatoona is varied and abundant. Animals like raccoons, white tail deer, bobcats, red and gray fox, hawks, hummingbirds, wild turkeys, and many others call the lake home. Many varieties of snakes, including the poisonous rattlesnake and copperhead, can be found, as well as frogs, turtles, and other forms of aquatic life. Fish such as largemouth, striped, spotted, white and hybrid bass, along with crappie, bluegill, gar and catfish are supported by Lake Allatoona.

Fishing is one of the most popular water sports at the lake. The lake is stocked annually by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and supported by a joint venture with the DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as local businesses and volunteers. A Georgia State fishing license is required to fish on Lake Allatoona and from its public docks and shorelines.

A number of annual events are held at Lake Allatoona each year. Ranging from holiday and seasonal events, such as the Fourth of July celebrations and Oktoberfest to an annual Children's Duck Derby, Lake Allatoona provides many events for residents and visitors throughout the year. The lake is also on the Pro Wakeboarding Tour's competition schedule.

The Lake Allatoona area combines water access, wooded land, and mountainous views, making it easy to see why so many people enjoy living, working, and visiting. Whether living in lakefront luxury, vacationing in the relaxing natural environment, or simply driving through, Lake Allatoona is a lake community proud of its history and accomplishments as a great resource for the Georgia and the example it sets for other lake communities.
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The Village at Waterside is a gated, architecturally controlled lake side community of custom luxury homes adjoining Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park. Less than 30 minutes from metro Atlanta, the Village offers a unique and tranquil lake and mountain lifestyle close to the big city. You really can have it all! Contact us today if you are interested in atlanta real estate!