Old Hickory Lake
Old Hickory Lake in Middle Tennessee is the third body of water in our Nashville Waterfront blog series. It is a popular lake for a number of recreational uses including boating, fishing, camping, hunting, trail use and even archery! This time of the year, it is a hot destination for those looking to enjoy some fun (and relief from the water!) in the sun.
The lake is a reservoir to the Old Hickory Dam, which was built in 1952 and became operational in 1957. In total, the lake is 22,500 acres of water with an elevation of 445 feet above sea level. The lake boasts 440 miles of shoreline, with its southern shoreline home to Old Hickory, Tenn. and its northern Hendersonville. It is located on the Cumberland River, 25.2 miles upstream, northeast, from Nashville.
A fun fact about Old Hickory Lake is the history behind its name; it was named after President Andrew Jackson, a Nashvillian who lived at The Hermitage who was nicknamed ‘Old Hickory.’
In total, Old Hickory Lake is home to eight marinas, two campgrounds, 41 boat access sites, nine fishing docks and lots of wonderful real estate! There are homes that have private docks, those that have access to public docks and more.