New RV Park in VA on Leesville Lake

[smlranger]

The following article appeared in the Feb. 28 issue of the Smith Mountain Eagle:

RV Campground at Leesville gets thumbs-up.

A campground for recreational vehicles at Leesville Lake received approval from the Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals late Tuesday night.
Following a 30-minute public hearing, the zoning board voted 5-0 to grant a special use permit for the campground.
The boards' only condition was that the recreational facility not have full time residents.
.......Landowners Tim and Patricia Reynolds of Hurt and Tim and Gretchen Clark of Gretna plan to develop Running Cedar RV Resort on Gallows Road north of Gretna.
The proposed 'upscale' family-oriented campground will be about four miles off U.S. 29 near Leesville Dam public boat landing and Appalachian Power's picnic area. According to Reynolds, the 40 acre site will be developed in phases and feature 100 campsites.
Visitors will set up their RV's on large, wooded campsites within walking distance to the boat ramp and....picnic area.
The campground will also include a clubhouse with lounge and gameroom, private swimming pool, walking trails, covered picnic area, and picnic tables.
Developers hope to have the campground open by Memorial Day.
"This will create a tourist destination in the northern end of the county, which is something we don't have now," said Reynolds. "It will also create access to the lake, especially for those who don't have property on the lake. We think it's an ideal location."
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While I am personnally pleased that we will have a new RV park in my neck of the woods, Leesville Lake is certainly not the quality of Smith Mountain Lake, where we now live. The main issue with Leesville Lake is the constant fluctuation of lake levels due to the Smith Mountain hydro-electric project. Leesville lake levels can change as much as +/- 15 feet every 24 hours. This keeps the lake muddy and debris from the bottom constantly moving to the surface.

So, while this may be a very nice RV park and the surrounding area is truly beautiful, I am not sure the Leesville Lake locale will be a real positive. I will check it out this spring and report.

[smlranger]

The following article appeared in the Feb. 28 issue of the Smith Mountain Eagle:

RV Campground at Leesville gets thumbs-up.

A campground for recreational vehicles at Leesville Lake received approval from the Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals late Tuesday night.
Following a 30-minute public hearing, the zoning board voted 5-0 to grant a special use permit for the campground.
The boards' only condition was that the recreational facility not have full time residents.
.......Landowners Tim and Patricia Reynolds of Hurt and Tim and Gretchen Clark of Gretna plan to develop Running Cedar RV Resort on Gallows Road north of Gretna.
The proposed 'upscale' family-oriented campground will be about four miles off U.S. 29 near Leesville Dam public boat landing and Appalachian Power's picnic area. According to Reynolds, the 40 acre site will be developed in phases and feature 100 campsites.
Visitors will set up their RV's on large, wooded campsites within walking distance to the boat ramp and....picnic area.
The campground will also include a clubhouse with lounge and gameroom, private swimming pool, walking trails, covered picnic area, and picnic tables.
Developers hope to have the campground open by Memorial Day.
"This will create a tourist destination in the northern end of the county, which is something we don't have now," said Reynolds. "It will also create access to the lake, especially for those who don't have property on the lake. We think it's an ideal location."
----------------------------------

While I am personnally pleased that we will have a new RV park in my neck of the woods, Leesville Lake is certainly not the quality of Smith Mountain Lake, where we now live. The main issue with Leesville Lake is the constant fluctuation of lake levels due to the Smith Mountain hydro-electric project. Leesville lake levels can change as much as +/- 15 feet every 24 hours. This keeps the lake muddy and debris from the bottom constantly moving to the surface.

So, while this may be a very nice RV park and the surrounding area is truly beautiful, I am not sure the Leesville Lake locale will be a real positive. I will check it out this spring and report.

[Lamont]

Thanks so very much for this info-
I live over in Charlotte county not far from you
thanks again
Lamont

[Jestme13]

OK, lets go

[rebelsbeach]

Gary,while it sounds good on paper I am concerned with respect to the condition of the lake...

Having said that,I am certainly hoping this venture is successful and it gives RV'ers one more place to try.

[smlranger]

Bob:

I would agree with your concerns. The very reason property surrounding Leesville Lake is so cheap is because of the lake itself. Every one foot of change in Smith Mountain Lake changes Leesville by thirteen feet . So, in the summer when APCO is generating lot's of power during the day, they might lower SML by 1 1/2 feet (raising Leesville by 19 1/2 feet), then during the night 'pump back' into SML, lower Leesville by another 18 or so feet. Fisherman say when you fish Leesville Lake, you'd better take along an extra prop and shear pins.

If they make the RV park nice, it could be a base for exploring this area....D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Poplar Forest, Lynchburg, Danville, and Smith Mountain Lake.

I hope they do well.