Lake Summit, North Carolina

Lake Summit is a hydroelectric dammed reservoir in Henderson County, North Carolina. It has a surface area of 324 acre. It is the largest lake in Henderson County.

History
The Green River was dammed in 1920 by the Blue Ridge Power Company, now part of Duke Energy, to provide power for Henderson County and the Greenville area, creating Lake Summit. Prior to the damming, the land now under the water was occupied by some small number of family homes and a gristmill; these were demolished or moved as part of the construction process. The land around the lake was parceled up and sold to families. In 1921, a bridge was constructed across the midsection of the lake. In 1983, the state DOT replaced the old truss bridge crossing the river with a new concrete bridge nearby, preserving the old bridge as a walking path.

Recreation
The lake is private access and managed by the Lake Summit Property Owners Association. Boaters must be residents of shorefront properties along the lake or have a permit for access; smaller water vessels, such as kayaks, however, have free right of way.