Lake Gaston Offers Leisure, Recreation, Scenic Home Sites
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On many days‚ Al Hartley rises at 5 a.m. and heads to Lake Gaston. Sometimes his pre-sunrise ritual includes paddling a kayak along the shoreline “just to enjoy the solitude.” Often he sees white-tail deer feeding at the water’s edge or river otters frolicking in a cove. Occasionally he spots a black bear and other wildlife marvels.
“Have you ever seen an eagle swoop down and capture a fish?” Hartley asks. “The fish will be wiggling like crazy while flying away in its talons. It’s quite a sight.”
Hartley‚ like countless others‚ has discovered the natural beauty of 20‚000-acre Lake Gaston and its 350 miles of shoreline.
Not to be upstaged‚ 4‚600-acre Roanoke Rapids Lake – just downstream from Lake Gaston and with 47 miles of shoreline – also is getting a lot of attention these days.
Dams on the Roanoke River created both impoundments‚ producing hydroelectric power for utility company Dominion Resources. Together‚ the large bodies of water are magnets that attract residents and visitors to the Roanoke Valley.
Hartley‚ formerly of San Diego‚ moved near the lake because his wife’s family has roots in the area. Their home – a farmhouse that her grandfather built – is just a short drive from Hartley’s business‚ Four Seasons Boats‚ at Dockside Landing on the north end of Eaton’s Ferry Bridge.
“The lake is gorgeous‚ and the fishing here is great‚” says Hartley‚ adding that it yields largemouth bass‚ walleye‚ channel catfish‚ perch and striped bass‚ also known as rockfish. “There’s no way you could pry me out of this place.”
While Hartley sings the praises of Lake Gaston‚ Ellen Heaton of Heaton Real Estate is partial to Roanoke Rapids Lake. She says the lake is only in its infancy of being developed but offers all the qualities of its larger neighbor – with the added benefit of being closer to the schools‚ shopping and medical facilities of Roanoke Rapids.
Properties on Roanoke Rapids Lake range from simple fishing cottages to million-dollar homes. Heaton says she knows of one property that doubled in value within a year. “Anything on the water is such a great investment‚” says Heaton‚ who with her husband plans to buy property and build a home on the lake.
The city of Roanoke Rapids opened the 17-acre Roanoke Rapids Lake Park‚ the first public recreation area on the lakefront‚ in 2006 The park features a swimming beach‚ fishing pier‚ picnic shelters‚ nature trails‚ sand volleyball and Frisbee golf.
While many people are only now discovering the lakes‚ Mary Sherwood moved her interior design studio and retail showroom to the south side of Lake Gaston in 1993 and bought a home there. She wouldn’t trade her sunset views for anything.
“We love to entertain down by the water‚” Sherwood says. “It’s amazing how many friends you develop when you live on the water.”
Photo by Brian McCord
