What's Developing

            Tim Basham described LakeWatch Club, Smith Mountain Lake’s newest upscale development, as “one of the most desirable remaining tracts on SML.”

            And he should know.

            Basham grew up on a farm where Trey Park-developed LakeWatch Plantation is now located and has been selling real estate at the lake for 28 years. Basham’s company, RE/MAX Lakefront Realty, is listing and marketing the LakeWatch
Club property.

            Being sculpted out of 100 gently sloping acres overlooking a wide stretch of the Blackwater River and the Crazy Horse Marina cove, LakeWatch Club is located off of Dudley Amos Road on the Franklin County side of the lake.

            “Rolling terrain, sweeping views of the mountain, gently sloping waterfront with several natural sand beaches,” are aspects of the property that make it attractive, Basham said. “This will have definite appeal to people looking for ideal sites for long-term residences.”

            Added Park, “We are aiming to make LakeWatch Club one of the lake’s most exclusive communities.”

            The property is part of a 200-acre farm that has been in Amos family hands since well before the lake was filled. Three relic tobacco barns along the original entrance road testify to its earlier commerce. Filling the lake created nearly two miles of shoreline, much of it used as a vacation retreat for Amos family members and their guests in recent years.

            Park acquired 100 acres with 8,800 feet of shoreline in 2008.

            “We’re really excited about the plot plan,” he said. “It establishes a gated community with 28 waterfront lots ranging from 1.2 to 2.5 acres, plus 12 off-water estate lots interspersed with 50 acres of open space. The off-water lots are just a half acre each, but with the open-space separation, will seem much larger.”

            Two estate and five waterfront lots have been sold, and
construction is underway on a 10,000-square-foot stoned and
turreted waterfront home for Brian and Lori Abt of Darnestown, Md.

            “We looked for a couple of years, but never found a more ideal combination of phenomenal wide-water views of the mountain and gently sloping land with deep water out front,” Brian Abt said.

            Waterfront lot prices range from $595,000 to $1.1 million; estate lots are $195,000. Property owners’ association dues will be $500 annually, with no monthly maintenance fee.

            LakeWatch Club residents will also enjoy meandering walking trails, a shielded boat/RV storage area, clubhouse, tennis court, beach and day dock.