Lake Hartwell is one of the southeasts largest and most popular public recreation lakes. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963 as part of a flood control, hydropower, and navigation project, authorized purposes now include recreation, water quality, water supply, fish and wildlife management. Each year, millions of people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences - making Hartwell one of the most visited Corps lakes in the nation.

Lake Hartwell is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. Extending 49 miles up the Tugaloo and 45 miles up the Seneca at normal pool elevation, Lake Hartwell comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. The entire Hartwell “Project” contains 76,450 acres of land and water. Interstate 85 bisects Lake Hartwell and makes the area easily accessible to visitors.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Hartwell “Project” was originally authorized for three purposes: hydropower, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply, fish and wildlife management were added.
• Construction of the Hartwell Project took place from 1955 – 1963.
• Construction of the dam began in 1955 and was completed in 1959.
• Impoundment of the lake began in February 1961. The lake reached its full pool elevation of 660 feet on March 12, 1962.
• The power plant was completed in 1961; the first generator went on-line on April 27, 1962.
• The Hartwell Power plant is a “peaking power plant” - this means that power is not constantly generated. Instead, power is generated at times when electricity is in the greatest demand.
• Lake Hartwell contains 55,900 acres of water and has 962 miles of shoreline. 23,563 acres of public land surrounds the lake.
• The lake is located in two states (Georgia and South Carolina) and 6 counties (Georgia – Hart, Franklin, and Stephens Counties; South Carolina – Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties).
• Hartwell Dam is built of more than 880,000 cubic yards of concrete (enough to build a sidewalk from the dam to San Francisco) and more than 3 million pounds of reinforcing steel.
• The depth of the lake behind the dam is approximately 180 feet.
• The top of the dam is 204 feet above the Savannah River Bed.
• The Savannah River begins 7.1 miles above the Hartwell Dam and is approximately 315 miles long.
• The river ends in the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia.
• The lowest lake elevation at Lake Hartwell was 642.4ft., reached on December 24, 1981.
• The highest lake elevation reached was 665.4 ft. reached on April 8, 1964.
• The average lake elevation is 657.5 ft.

On the shores of Lake Hartwell, you'll find more than Clemson Memorial Stadium. It's a boater's, camper's, picnicker's and fisherman's dream.

Outdoor water-related activities abound on Lake Hartwell with its quiet coves, natural sand beaches and wide open waters that beckon sailors and skiers alike. The avid sports fisherman or the weekend angler will find it a rewarding fishing experience. Largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill bream, hybrid bass and walleyed pike are abundant in these waters. So no matter what your sport -- if it has to do with water, you'll find it on Lake Hartwell.

There are five commercial marinas on the lake. Clemson Marina is located right across the lake from the stadium. Portman Marina is a 20-minute drive from Clemson, just off I-85. Big Water, Harbor Light and Hartwell marinas are all within a one-hour drive from Clemson. All of the marinas have launching ramps, and some have boat rentals available.

SECOND HOME OWNERSHIP

In the Carolinas, the tradition of second home ownership goes back more than 200 years, to the days when middle and upper class families headed to the mountains or to the beach to escape summer heat. From those early days through the middle of the 20th Century, homes were generally kept for family use: a place to relax and allow the children (as well as adults) to have more freedom.
The National Association of Realtors reports that sales of second homes, including both vacation homes and investment properties, have declined slightly, but remain above historic norms. At the same time, prices of second homes have risen sharply. NAR President Martin Edwards Jr. said that the sales data could be deceiving. “Make no mistake, the second home market is extremely hot and will be for some time to come,” he said. “A big jump in second home prices speaks to that, with the typical second home now costing more than a primary residence.”

Realtors, developers, and homeowners all agree that the reasons for purchasing vacation or second homes have been shifting in recent years. Years ago, families purchased homes for getaways, recreational opportunities, and personal hideaways. They held those properties for many years, passing them down to subsequent generations. Today, prices are appreciating much more rapidly, rental arrangements and property management services are more readily available, and baby boomers are planning ahead for future retirement.