Waterside And Hickory Star Marinas, And Sunset Bay on Norris Lake, TN.

                    Thursday 10/3/2013

While still in Heiskell ( just north of Knoxville, TN.), we took a day drive to see more of Norris Lake. We took Hwy. 61 around the south side of the lake until we came to Waterside At Norris Lake. We didn't have a definite plan, so we were just poking around, and exploring side roads to the lake. (During our travels I met another traveler who told me their were poking around, so I like to use this word the same way).

As we poked down a rode we came to this RV park. All sites at this campground require an annul lease at $312 a month or $3,120 a year ( if paid in advance) which makes it $260 a month. It is a great campground for local campers who want to be on the water and have a boat.

Just up from the campground is the marina.

View looking east on the lake.

View looking toward the marina and the south shore.

We decided to check out the marina, water, and boats.

There was a long line of house boats at this marina. The house boat slips have sewer and water hook ups and can accommodate 100 foot boats.

I thought this one was the nicest. Note the hammock on the top deck. This boat had the name "Poore Excuse". Most all of the house boats had front lower decks with wicker chairs and tables, and decorated really nice.

This was probably the largest houseboat.

I really liked it's name, "The Way To Go John 14:6".

Back on shore across from the marina, were the Waterside Condos. Prices range from $130,000 to $550,000 for 1 to 3 bedroom condos.

We left Waterside and continued east on Hwy. 61, going past a horse ranch.

The horse ranch had a three horse statue out in the horse pasture. I wondered what the horse's think of the statues?

We drove past the Big Ridge State Park. There is a campground in the park that has sites that accommodate RVs up to 35 feet with water and 50 amp electricity. The sites are on gravel pads and are on water or near the water. We didn't go into the park, because we had a ways to go, and time was getting short.

We pulled off Hwy. 61 to check out Hickory Star Marina. This area also had a campground.  This campground is a full hook up campground, with a charge of $50 a night, plus tax, including utilities, $350 a month including utilities and cable, or $2,400 a year plus utilities.

Hickory Star Marina down from the campground.

Back on the road, we finally came to the section of the lake where we could cross this bridge to cross over Clinch River to the north side of  the Clinch River part of the lake.

After a lot more driving, we finally came to Sunset Bay.

Sunset Bay is a housing community on Norris Lake.

Most of the lots are 1/2 an acre to 3 acres.

The community has a marina, clubhouse, swimming pool, security, and tennis courts.

The setting was beautiful with Norris Lake surrounding the community, and the 25,000 acres of Chuck Swan Wildlife Management area across from the homes.

Existing homes range from $259,000.00 to $1,380,000.00

The only problem with this housing community is that it has covenants ( so no goats or chickens) and it is 45 minutes to major shopping.

The community claims mild winters and cool summers due to the mountains and lake. (cool summers- which I find hard to believe- being the location is at only 1,044 feet, and in the south).

Lot # 577 had nice views and is a waterfront lot. This lot is 0.54 acre for $180,000.00. Lots range in price from $18,000.00 to $400,000.00.

Find me a piece of land with views like this with no neighbors and we might consider it.

We just think it would be too hot in the summer with the southern humidity. And we hate hot! But it sure is beautiful.

This home has the next picture view.

Wow, what a view.
 Norris Lake covers nearly 35,000 acres at normal elevation, and has over 800 miles of shoreline with thousands of tiny coves. The lake has over 50 islands, and is considered one of the cleanest lakes in the Southeast.

Some of the lots had extremely steep single car wide roads going up to them. They were so steep, Joe got nervous going up one. There are over 900 lots in the community of Sunset Bay.

By the time we got home that day, we had drove 68 miles to Sunset Bay and back to Heiskell, TN.