Lake Junaluska, NC

Lake Junaluska is a census-designated place (CDP) in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States, and a manmade lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lake Junaluska is named after nearby Mount Junaluska (now North Eaglenest Mountain), which was named after Chief Junaluska, a Cherokee leader in the early nineteenth century. As of the 2010 census, the population of the community was 2,734.The 200-acre (81 ha) manmade lake of the same name is surrounded by private residences and the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The lake is fed primarily from Richland Creek and discharges into the creek, maintaining an approximately constant lake level. Richland Creek is a tributary to the Pigeon River. Recreation on the lake includes canoes, kayaks, fishing and swimming. To maintain a quiet environment, only electric trolling motors are permitted to operate on the lake. There is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) paved walking trail around the lake. The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby, as is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Lake Junaluska was formerly the site of the headquarters of the World Methodist Council.