fontana dam

It's a shame it was closed for the season, the ride to the Dam was beautiful and peacefully. Would have loved to see the Dam operating when we visited .

We wanted to drive across the dam this Thanksgiving day but it is still being worked on and so is closed. We were able one time to go across some years back and the view is wonderful of the lake and mountains. Oh well, maybe next time

This is a must to see while in the Smoky Mountains. The views are beautiful and the information about the dam is really interested. Has a lot of history. The greeters are very knowledgeable of the dam and the area. The drive up the mountain is very enjoyable. They do have cabin rentals and I would have loved to have rented a boat and toured the entire lake area.

Largest dam East of the Rockies constructed in only 36 months in 1942. It's a great attraction which you can walk or drive across. Stop at the visitor center for trail maps and ask about the old Appalachian cemetery you can walk to. The Appalachian trail picks up from a short walk on the other side of the dam. We intended to hike to the old fire tower on the Appalachian trail (this section is straddling the TN & NC border along the Smokey Mtns) but didn't allot enough time for the 3.2mi (one way) uphill hike so plan ahead if it's on your list. The view is supposed to be amazing.

You can drive over the dam to the other side which they you are in National Park. Good trail over there. Great area to picnic under the trees. Back on the other side is a nice information center about the building of the dam and the area.

There's so much to see in the area, however, there's nothing like the Fontana Dam anywhere else in the area. Don't just drive over the dam. Take the time to park and go into the building and learn about the history of the dam. Take a few minutes and walk across the dam and enjoy the great view. With the lake on one side and the dam on the other the view is special. While in the area, look around the resort and enjoy some of the wonderful activities that are available there as well.

There is something satisfying about seeing grand civil engineering projects built more than half a century ago that are still serving their purpose well. Visiting this dam at dusk provided great photo ops and one is free to roam over the whole of the dam. I never did see any other people and rather enjoyed the isolated serenity of the place. Well worth a visit if you like really big industrial sorts of things. The dam is nearly five hundred feet high and impounds the beautiful Fontana Lake.There is a fairly elaborate visitor center and shop. These were closed when I visited so cannot say anything specific about them. Don't know if food items were offered for sale. I would assume toilets would be available inside.

Beautiful views of dam and Smokey Mountains. Also drove the Dragon's Tail...in our Tahoe! The lake was clear and serene! Wish we had taken a picnic!

The area around the dam is beautiful and it is nice that you can stroll along the dam and enjoy the view. Nice place to take a break and stretch your legs.

My wife and I drove up 28 all the way to the Dragon. The views of Fontana Lake are beautiful along the way. We stopped at the dam and saw that they have a beautiful pavilion picnic are for families right beside the dam with a nice view of the lake.

Once the fourth largest dam in the world - and still the largest dam east of the Mississippi, the Fontana Dam is mighty impressive. To the north of the dam are beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains rising behind the man-made Fontana Lake. And on the other side of the dam, one can contemplate the 480 foot drop to the bottom.Originally conceived by the aluminum titan, Alcoa, the dam was built in the 1940's by the Tennessee Valley Authority who agreed to supply Alcoa with power for 20 years after its completion. Having read about the dam in Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods (the Appalachian Trail crosses over the dam), we visited on May 24, 2014 by way of Cherokee and Bryson City. If you are coming from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, expect to spend at least half of day round trip via the route we took or through the scenic and windy Tail of the Dragon highway. After eyeing the spectacular views, you can visit the small visitor center and gift shop. Sadly, the gift shop did not sell any retro Tennessee Valley Authority posters from the 1940's. With this disappointment, you make the call, is the long trip to the dam a fantastic finish?

Lake Fontana is beautiful and created by the erection of the Fontana Dam. From the lakeside you would hardly know that there is a dam there, from the other side the dam rises above you but has been sympathically moulded into the countryside. What is impressive is that the electricity lines are hardly noticable though they do lead up from the bottom of the dam wall into the tree line. You can walk or drive over the dam (we do both) though the road goes to nowwhere at the other side except to a trail entrance for the Appalachian trail. Stand on the dam at the far side and look at the shore across from you - we have spotted bears on that shore. The visitor centre is very informative and there is an observation platform on its roof for great all round views.

Drove the kids over here after being on the Tail of the Dragon. They were happy to get out & walk around. Not so much for me since I'm afraid of heights! But seriously it was a beautiful view, great for pics and great history about the dam. Girls learned a lot and loved looking all about the dam. Parents too!

To get to the Fontana Dam you need to drive about 25 miles down a winding, but well-maintained road. But the drive is sure worth it! Built during the early 1940's as a TVA project it is the tallest dam in the eastern US. I am a photographer and interested in industrial sites so this was a real find for me. There is an excellent visitor's center with historic information that is staffed by knowledgeable volunteer docents. You can walk or drive across the top of the dam but make sure to take the time to drive down to its base- the docent's will give you directions.

The dam itself is in one of the most scenic places on earth. The visitors' center is beautiful and *very* nicely wheelchair accessible, plus they have interesting exhibits and well trained and informed docents. It is , however on a long road which is great if you want even more scenery, but not so much if you want to do other things. Plan to see Fontana Village or the Tail of the dragon same day.