It is a history steeped in richness. A richness that lies not merely in the dense forests surrounding the pristine lake or the clear pure water filling its bed, but also deep below. For the area now covered by Lake Keowee was once the fertile and vibrant valley of the Keowee River, one of several mountain waterways that cascaded across the Blue Ridge Escarpment, nourishing the region with its cool, clear waters.

Constructed by Duke Power Company in 1971 as part of the Keowee-Toxaway project to generate hydroelectric power, Lake Keowee's 18,500 acres cover what was known as Keowee Town. This site, whose name meant "Place of the Mulberries" was also the site of the capital of the Lower Cherokee Nation.

Today, Lake Keowee with 300 miles of shoreline and clear, blue waters is one of the cleanest lakes in the Eastern United States. It is an ideal place for you and your family to boat, fish, water ski, and swim.

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