Discover the Newest Lake in All of Tennessee

There are 1,393 lakes in Tennessee, but that number can change as new lakes are created. The newest lake in Tennessee opened just over ten years ago. If you love exploring the state, you may wonder what the newest lake in Tennessee is and where to find it. We will review all the details about Tennessee’s newest lake, what to do there, and what the lake offers.

The newest lake to open in Tennessee is the Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake.

When Did the Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake Open?

The 1000 Acre Lake opened in 2013 in Huntingdon, TN. The opening day was on the first day of spring, a fitting time for being out on the water. The first boat that launched was a fishing boat. The lake had been stocked for three years, and no fishing was allowed so the fish could mature. By the day of the lake’s opening, there were over 600,000 fish in it. 

The Carroll County Watershed Authority officers and around 200 citizens were on board the fishing boat. Together, they experienced a new landmark that took 14 years of planning and coordination to create.

The lake’s official name is ‘Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake,’ which won in a contest over other names. Since it is such a long name, it often gets shortened. Leaders of the project referred to it as ‘Carroll County Lake’ while working on it. Now, the public refers to it as ‘1000 Acre Lake’ or ‘Carroll County Lake.’

How Can I Explore the Lake?

There is so much to do on the 1000 Acre Lake that you could never get bored. Take out the boat for the day using the public boat ramp in the park area. The gate to the park and boat ramp area is open every day from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Enjoy tubing, wakeboarding, sunbathing, and swimming. Remember that a lake use permit is necessary before launching your watercraft. The permit costs $3 for Carroll County residents and $5 for non-residents. Lake permits are required for anyone between the ages of 11 and 65. 

You can purchase lake use permits and fishing licenses from the Headquarters and Recreation area. The address is 405 Boyd’s Landing Rd., Huntingdon, TN 38344. 

Fishing and Wildlife

A local bass tournament club held a ‘test’ event to fish the lake before its opening day, and the anglers caught over 400 fish. Since that first trial tournament, the fishing has continued to be great at the lake.

There are so many species in the 1000-acre lake. You can catch black and largemouth bass, blue and channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, and sunfish. Since the lake was stocked with so many fish and they were able to reach maturity, there is still a healthy, thriving ecosystem of fish species there today. 

The lake is open to fishing, so you won’t have to worry about restricted areas. Three hundred acres near the dam are reserved just for fishing. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency maintains the site. A valid Tennessee fishing license is required to fish the 1000-acre lake. 

What Is There to Do on the Lake?

Once you’ve gotten your lake use permit, you can access 22 miles of shoreline and plenty of adventure. Past the no-wake zone on the Western shoreline is a rope swing, so give it a try if you’re brave! 

One thing to remember when visiting the 1000 Acre Lake is that only one part of the lake is open for water sports. The line that divides the two areas is the TVA power line. The northern two-thirds of the lake is available for water sports. The area south of the power line is a no-wake zone for fishing only. Fishing is always allowed in every part of the lake, including the area that provides water sports. 

Tennessee’s newest lake may be just over ten years old, but it has many more years of fun ahead. There is so much to do and plenty of fish to catch, so there’s something for everyone on the Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreational Lake.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Lee Taylor Works/Shutterstock.com