This gorgeous 2,880-acre lake is one hour south of Roanoke by way of US-220 S and VA-116 S near Martinsville, Virginia—the perfect day trip any time of year. It’s nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with no residential development along its 100-mile shoreline, creating scenic views for its visitors and adventures for nature lovers. Although Philpott Lake is manmade, the surrounding landscape remains wild and unspoiled.

Philpott Reservoir was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1940s and early 1950s and opened to the public in 1953. After the area experienced severe flooding for years, more than 200 floods between 1899 and 1945, a dam was constructed to help control the Smith River, and residents of small towns along the river had to be relocated. The largest community impacted by the lake was the community of Philpott. The original post office and houses were absorbed by the lake. Throughout the valley, small farmsteads and homesites disappeared. The old Union Church had to be rebuilt on higher ground. Other losses included the old stave mill and store owned by Bob Carter, the Mullins store, Jamison Mill, and a historic iron bridge. The town of Philpott was founded by A.B. Philpott in 1905. He was a shopkeeper and Baptist minister who represented the county in the Virginia House of Delegates during its 1914 session. He married Mary Elizabeth Farner and had seven children.     

Today, Philpott Lake boasts nine boat launches, eight campgrounds, and six beach areas. Surrounded by nearly 20,000 acres of protected federal and state lands, this beloved destination provides visitors with outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, biking, swimming, boating, hunting, bird watching, picnicking, a special summer concert series, and great fishing—a hotspot for bass, walleye, and white catfish.*

While you are in the area, be sure to visit Fairy Stone State Park, which is adjacent to Philpott Lake and west of Bassett, Virginia, off of VA Hwy 52 in Patrick County. The park is known for its 168-acre lake adjoining Philpott Reservoir and its legendary fairy stones. In addition to camping areas, cabins, a conference center, hiking, boating, and swimming, folks come to the park to hunt for fairy stones. If your search is unsuccessful while sifting through the red dirt around the roots and stumps of trees, local artisans clean and file the stones and sell them as jewelry items.

These cross-shaped stones are rare and only found in a few places around the world, according to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Legend has it that long ago fairies lived a blissful life in the enchanted forest at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One day, an elfin messenger brought them the news that Jesus Christ had been crucified. The fairies wept, and their teardrops turned to the crystalline cross-shaped stones we find today. For photographs and the full story of “The Legend of the Fairy Stone,” visit All About Fairy Stones.

*see The Unique History of Philpott Lake | Franklin County Tourism, VA