Smith Mountain Lake has beauty, folklore, tragedy, a ghost town, and ghost sightings

Smith Mountain Lake continues to claim victims

Smith Mountain Lake, nestled between Bedford and Franklin Counties in Virginia, is a breathtaking vacation spot. This artificial marvel, born when the Appalachian Power Company acquired the town of Monroe to build a dam, is a sight to behold. The townspeople's relocation led to the submergence of churches and buildings, adding an intriguing layer to the lake's history.

Smith Mountain Lake is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering many activities such as fishing, swimming, camping, and boating. However, amidst this recreational haven, a somber reality exists. The waters have claimed far too many lives, a fact that became all too real to me in the summer of 1969, just before I entered the sixth grade.

Personal SML tragedies

The tragedies hit close to home when a classmate from Lincoln Terrace Elementary School, Ricky' Squeaku' Muse, made headlines for drowning at Smith Mountain Lake.

The pain resurfaced in 1993 when my brother, William David 'Bill' Jones III, met a similar fate while swimming at night with friends without a lifeguard present.

It took quite a while before I could watch news reports of drownings without thinking of my brother, helpless, in the water, and losing his life. Since that time, I have noticed every year, some people lose their lives in boating accidents or drown.

Two recent incidents in the water

A few days ago, two men were pulled from the water. One had jumped from the Hales Ford Bridge, near the Booker T Washington National Monument, a popular spot for recreational activities. Still, no additional information has been given on this victim.

The second was James Lavender, who was fishing with friends. He jumped from his boat to swim to shore and did not resurface. It was reported that Lavender was not wearing a life jacket. His nickname was Flavor Flav because he often wore a clock like the rapper. This led to rumors that the Public Enemy artist had died in Virginia.

Is the ghost town pulling people under?

Most people return to Smith Mountain Lake year after year without any incidents or tragedies. Still, accidents and deaths do happen, and rumors surface that the area is cursed. I recall 1989, when my husband and I went on a dinner cruise on the Virginia Dare.

I was nervous for the entire hour because I realized there was no way out. I couldn't swim, so I could not walk away if something happened, like I could with a car accident. I recalled my grandmother used to say that the trees and debris from the flooded town of Monroe were pulling people under to their deaths. Thankfully, we made it back to land without anything happening.

A ghost or a curse?

Other locals have suggested there is a curse associated with the lake and claim a woman in white is often seen in the area. As some have suggested, is the ghost town or an actual ghost responsible for some tragedies? There is no way to prove what is real. Everyone has their opinion, so the legends continue.

For at least the last decade, possibly longer, there have been two or three incidents of accidents or drowning each spring and summer in the area. There have also been boaters who sustained head injuries.

This may be normal, based on the area's traffic flow nd considering human error. Virginia is known for many ghost stories and has submerged ghost towns. SML is but one of them. IF you decide to picnic, hike, camp, swim, fish, or ride a boat at Smith Mountain Lake, be sure to learn all the safety precautions and take advantage of them.