About Lake Tillery

Small Town USA Location

About 60 miles east of Charlotte, in the Piedmont geographical area of North Carolina is Lake Tillery. The lake abuts the Morrow Mountain State Park and the Uwharrie National Forest. The nearest town to Lake Tillery is the small village of Norwood, promoted as "The Gateway to Lake Tillery."

History and Topography

Lake Tillery, or Tillery Reservoir, was created by the impounding of the Pee Dee River in northwestern North Carolina. With the impounding of the river a dam was created for the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant which went into operation in 1928.

When it's at normal operating levels, Lake Tillery is about 72 feet deep at the dam with a reservoir surface area of more than 5,000 acres. The average depth of the lake is about 32 feet. Lake Tillery has a shoreline of over 104 miles which extends into two counties, Stanly and Montgomery.

Quick Access to Recreational Areas

The northern portion of the lake is bound by Morrow Mountain State Park, with the Uwharrie National Forest along the northeastern shore. The proximity to additional wilderness areas and the recreational amenities that they provide including camping, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking gives the Lake Tillery area an additional boost in popularity.

The waters in Lake Tillery offer plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing and fishing. It's a favorite location for summer water sports. It's also a popular location for fishing tournaments, including the American Bass Anglers Tournament.

Free public access to boat ramps is available. There are also several marinas around the lake that rent small watercraft as well as provide access for larger boats.

Living Along the Lake

The shoreline at Lake Tillery has been carefully managed in order to achieve a balance of undeveloped shoreline and residential development. Although some of the lakefront lots are actually leased and subject to environmental restrictions, homes and cottages, as well as docks and boat houses have been constructed around the shoreline.

Some of the communities along the lake have their own marinas and deeded boat slips. Lakefront homes are still very popular with people wanting some relief from the city life of Charlotte, Greensboro or Fayetteville.

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