| Whether
you are a Skier, Fisherman, Sightseer, Golfer or Sunbather, Norris
Lake has it all. Norris Lake was created by the construction of the
Norris Dam in 1936. This hydroelectric project was the Tennessee Valley
Authority's first. The lakes beautiful blue-green waters span more
than 800 miles of shoreline covering 34,000 acres. Norris' boundaries
extend up the Clinch and the Powell Rivers which feed Norris with
clear, pristine waters. It's an ideal environment for sportsmen and
vacationers alike. WaterSki Magazine Ranks Norris Lake Number 5 Out of Ten as the Best Lakes to Water Ski. Should this be a typical year in the Smoky Mountains National Park, more than 10 million camera-toting, wide-brim-hat wearing folks will drop by. They'll ride the aerial tram in Gatlinburg, poke at the handmade brooms in Cherokee, ride the go-cart circuit in Pigeon Forge and use mountain bikes, kayaks and hiking shoes to see parts of the Nathahala Forest. There will be more than twice as many people visiting this park than any other in the U.S. (the Grand Canyon ranks second with less than five million visitors). Fortunately, not even a fraction will test the nearby lakes that combine some of the best skiing and scenery east of the Mississippi. "We look big on the map," says Mike Stone, owner of the Norris Dam Marina, "but you won't find us unless you're looking really hard because of the hills and trees." Within two hours of the national park are Tellico Lake (where Mastercraft and Supra test all their boats), Cherokee Lake and Douglas Lake. But the public inboard fraternity will tell you that Norris Lake, with its network of narrow creeks and coves that total 1,100 miles of shoreline and 22 marinas, is the place where skiers need to be. The west side of the lake in particular, is devoid of tourists and teeming with inboard owners. It stays calm enough to be home base for a pack of barefooting regulars while just up Cove Creek is a slalom course and jump ramp maintained by the local ski club. All this on a lake that is annually ranked among the 10 cleanest in the world. With swarms or tourists marching through the national park, everyone is bound to experience hip checks and bodily aroma. The nearby lakes will serve as a cool retreat from the throng. Waterski Magazine - July 2000 |
