People ask this online all the time, usually right after they see a photo of Lake James that looks like it was airbrushed by angels. Does Lake James have public access?Yes. Lake James has four public boat ramps owned by Duke Energy, and they are free. Some even have bathrooms, which is the kind of…
Tag: #LakeJamesNC
In the grand tradition of asking questions that sound simple but contain multitudes, one might stand upon the sparkling shore of Lake James, gaze nobly across the water, and inquire: Can you live here? The short answer is yes. The longer answer involves sunshine, mountain air, fishing stories that improve with every telling, and the…
Who we are & what we do If you have found your way to this page, chances are you have heard whispers of Lake James. Perhaps a friend leaned across the table and said, in a dramatic tone usually reserved for fishing stories, “You simply must see it.” Or perhaps you were driving through the…
Marion NC sits where the foothills begin to rise and the stories begin to deepen. Officially established on March 14, 1844, when McDowell County commissioners selected the site at a crossroads, Marion was later formally sanctioned by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1845 as the county seat. Named for Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion,…
If civilization ever wobbles and needs rebuilding, we nominate Marion, North Carolina as headquarters. We begin with breakfast at Bruce’s Fabulous Foods, then expand outward fueled by biscuits, barbecue, and mountain hospitality. Marion NC may have just over 8,000 residents, but when it comes to food, this foothills town punches well above its weight. If…
The Caretaker at Black Forest on Lake James and the Art of Quiet Excellence Some communities announce themselves loudly. Black Forest on Lake James does not. It simply works. And much of that success can be traced to one steady presence. The caretaker. From the moment you enter Black Forest, there is a feeling that…