Westlake Corner is a secluded community around Smith Mountain Lake
On the Franklin County side of Smith Mountain Lake, Westlake Corner is a rural community of about 1,600 residents. “Westlake Corner is the hub of Smith Mountain Lake,” says Steven McDaniel, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate, who has sold numerous homes in the area. Residential development boomed in the 1980s and has grown steadily since, with permanent residences alongside second homes. Once a peaceful and remote lakeside retreat, Westlake Corner still feels like the country, but with development conducive to modern life. “We used to have this place called Robbie’s Country Corner, and it was the only thing around,” McDaniel says. “They would put your hot dogs on top and your worms for bait on the bottom. There weren’t even any stoplights, so when people would visit, they would just grab a hot dog and go to the lake.” Today, Westlake Corner offers amenities in the waterfront Bridgewater Shopping Plaza, lakeside restaurants and miles of shoreline for residents to enjoy.
The birthplace of Booker T. Washington
In 1856, Booker T. Washington, one of the most influential African American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was born into slavery on a plantation in what is today Westlake Corner. Washington spent his early life in the area before gaining his freedom following the Civil War. His birthplace is preserved as the Booker T. Washington National Monument, a site commemorating his legacy as an educator, author, advisor to U.S. presidents and founder of the Tuskegee Institute. The monument not only honors Washington’s life journey but also provides insight into the post-Civil War South and the enduring impact of his philosophy through guided tours of the grounds and reconstructed buildings.
Waterfront fun at Smith Mountain Lake
Virginia’s second-largest body of freshwater, with 500 miles of shoreline, Smith Mountain Lake is a hub for boating, jet skiing, fishing, and more. Residents can store their boats in one of the area’s many marinas, a private dock or use one of the public launches throughout the area. About 10 miles from Westlake Corner’s center, Smith Mountain Lake Community Park spans nearly 40 acres, with a seasonal sandy beach where visitors can sunbathe and swim for a small fee. Away from the shoreline, the park offers trails, a playground, picnic shelters and a fishing pier. On the Bedford County side of the lake, the 1,500-acre Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers a scenic outdoor experience—on or off the water. Visitors can rent a boat to launch, cast their lines from the fishing pier or hike alongside the crystal blue water with mountain views. The park is also a popular camping destination, and folks can rent a cabin with a boat dock. Farther inland, locals can find a YMCA and the 18-hole Copper Cove Golf Course, which also has a pool for members.
Westlake Corner and the surrounding Smith Mountain Lake area also host an array of events throughout the year. In May, athletes compete in the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon at the state park, while Pirate Days in July features pirate-themed costumes, live music, vendors and more. The Antique and Classic Boat Show occurs in September and showcases beautifully restored wooden boats. Around the holidays, an illuminated boat parade reflects festive lights off the water and Santa boats into Bridgewater Plaza.
Homes on and off the water and a lack of short-term rentals
Residential roads are quiet, secluded and narrow. A dense tree canopy surrounds roadways near the water, while inland, homes dot expanses of rolling green fields. Westlake Corner’s median home price is $840,000, and potential buyers can find plots of land for between $20,000 and $500,000, depending on the size and location. Ranch-style homes or townhouses away from the water run in the $250,000 to $500,000 range, while small cottages on the lake can cost $500,000 to $700,000. Buyers can also find Colonial Revivals or new builds off the shoreline in the latter range. Lakefront homes typically cost around $800,000 to $3.5 million, with sprawling, luxury homes that feature amenities like pools at the top of that range.
Although Smith Mountain Lake is a popular vacation spot for residents of Roanoke and Lynchburg, there are few short-term rentals on the Franklin County side of the water. Zoning laws prohibit them in most residential districts. While they are allowed by right in commercial and planned unit developments, and with a permit in agricultural zones, most lakefront neighborhoods fall under zones where short-term rentals aren’t permitted. These restrictions aim to preserve neighborhood character and minimize noise and traffic. “Primary residents come to the Franklin County side,” McDaniel says. “Some people don’t want their neighbor changing every week. Those looking to do an investment property will look to Bedford County, on the other side of the water.”
Shopping and dining along Booker T. Washington Highway and shoreside bites
Most of the area’s commercial presence is concentrated in the center of the community, along Booker T. Washington Highway. At Westlake Towne Center, residents can grocery shop at Kroger, grab take-out from Benny Adelina’s Pizza, catch a movie at Westlake Cinema or cozy up with a book at the Westlake Library. Even more dining options line this and nearby roadways, including El Torena Mexican Bar & Grill, serving quesadillas, tacos and other favorites, Joe’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, where patrons can get large pies and pasta dishes and Westlake Coffee and Café, where locals can grab lattes and breakfast sandwiches in the morning.
Closer to Smith Mountain Lake, at Bridgewater Plaza, waterfront restaurants offer a place to dine alongside scenic views. With a wooden outdoor bar and patio seating beside a music stage, Mango’s Bar & Grill is a summertime go-to. Next door, locals dock their boats and dine on casual American fare at Moosie’s Bar and Grill. For dessert, Ice Cream Cottage is popular, while Smith Mountain Lake Coffee House is a morning favorite. Gift shops, a visitor’s center and boating stores are also in Bridgewater Plaza.
Students zoned for Franklin County Public Schools
Westlake Corner is served by the Franklin County Public Schools district, which earns a B-plus from Niche, educates about 6,160 students, and has a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio. While the district spans over 700 square miles, all students are zoned for Franklin County High School, situated at the center of the area. The school gets a B-plus from Niche and offers Eagle Tech, a project-based learning program preparing students for college and the workplace.
25 miles to Roanoke, 45 miles to Lynchburg, 160 miles to Richmond
Due to its remoteness, Westlake Corner is car-dependent. Virginia state Route 122, or Booker T. Washington Highway, is the area’s main east-west thoroughfare, leading out east across the lake to Bedford County and west toward U.S. Route 220, which travels throughout Virginia’s Blue Ridge. It’s a roughly 25-mile drive to Roanoke, 45 miles to Lynchburg and 160 miles to Richmond.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
