Philpott (Franklin, Henry, Patrick)

Philpott Lake in Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties, Virginia

This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version

Philpott Lake is a breathtaking 2,880-acre reservoir nestled in the rugged foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains in Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties, featuring crystal-clear water plunging to an astounding maximum depth of 180 feet near the dam with numerous areas reaching 40 to 80 feet just steps from shore, creating some of the deepest and clearest water found in any Virginia reservoir. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1948 and 1952 and opened to the public in 1953, this pristine lake was created by impounding the Smith River with Philpott Dam to provide flood control and hydroelectric power generation following devastating floods including the 1937 flood that put the town of Bassett underwater. Named for the small community of Philpott established by A.B. Philpott in 1905 that once stood downstream from the dam, the lake stretches across 100 miles of entirely undeveloped shoreline surrounded by nearly 20,000 acres of protected federal lands, offering anglers exceptional opportunities for trophy Largemouth Bass outnumbering smallmouth five to one with many fish in the two-to-three-pound range and specimens up to five pounds common, quality Smallmouth Bass concentrated in the lower dam end reaching impressive sizes, one of Virginia's best Walleye populations averaging 17 to 21 inches sustained by annual stocking of 144,000 fingerlings, Black Crappie averaging 9 to 12 inches, White Catfish abundant in the clear lower regions, plus Channel Catfish, and various panfish. The lake once produced Virginia state record Lake Trout in 1966 and Coho Salmon in 1971, and today the incredibly clear water and deep structure make it ideal for swimming at six sandy beaches, boating with nine public launches, kayaking the 25-mile Philpott Lake Blueway connecting nine access points, fishing year-round especially productive night fishing when bass venture into coves, scuba diving in exceptional visibility, and paddling to natural wonders like 200-foot-tall Calico Rocks cliffs and secluded Emberson Falls accessible only by water.

Located near Bassett and Martinsville in Southwest Virginia with convenient access from Highway 220 and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Philpott Lake sits within an area steeped in moonshine history as Franklin County has been dubbed the "Moonshine Capital of the World" with corn-whiskey traditions dating to the late 1700s including the famous Mountain Rose Distillery that once operated at 100-proof in the community of Philpott. The Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the region during the late 1930s, occasionally disturbing local moonshining operations while constructing Fairy Stone State Park along the western fringe of what would become the lake, where large iron mining operations existed in the early 1800s before products were transported via Smith's River Navigation Company flatboats to Danville. Today, the 4,600-acre Fairy Stone State Park features one of Virginia's six original state parks created by the CCC in 1936, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and famous for unique staurolite crystals called fairy stones found throughout the region. The lake features eight U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds including Salthouse Branch, Horseshoe Point, Twin Ridge, Ryan's Branch, Jamison Mill, Bowens Creek with sandy beach and playground, Goose Point, and boat-access-only Deer Island providing secluded paddle-in camping, plus a full-service tournament fishing facility with T-shaped mooring dock, Concerts by Canoe summer music series with bands performing on floating stages, the 4.5-mile Dogwood Glen Trail for hiking and running, and access to Rocky Mount and the vibrant communities throughout Virginia's Blue Ridge. The surrounding region offers exceptional attractions including the Blue Ridge Parkway's scenic overlooks, Chateau Morissette Winery, numerous craft breweries, downtown Floyd with Friday night live music, historic Roanoke just one hour away with the iconic star on Mill Mountain visible for miles, and endless opportunities to explore pristine forests where wildlife abounds and moonshine heritage runs deep through the misty mountain hollers.

This magnificent handcrafted laser-cut wooden topographical map of Philpott Lake would create a stunning statement piece in your Blue Ridge mountain cabin, Virginia lake home, or office, celebrating your connection to one of the Commonwealth's deepest and most pristine reservoirs created over 70 years ago. The artistic design features a natural wood top layer that beautifully showcases the lake's 2,880-acre expanse with 100 miles of entirely undeveloped wilderness shoreline winding through the rugged Blue Ridge foothills, while the water depths are represented through a dramatic gradient flowing from light blue in the upper Smith River arm and tributary coves like Runnett Bag Creek and Bowens Creek to rich deep blue plunging to the astounding 180-foot maximum depth near Philpott Dam. Every recreation area, the historic Blue Falls blue-tinged cliffs, towering Calico Rocks, secluded Emberson Falls and White Falls, boat-access-only Deer Island, the tournament fishing dock, mile markers helping navigate the crystal-clear depths, the powerhouse and visitor center, and each dramatic depth contour where fish suspend 40 to 80 feet down just steps from shore are precisely laser-etched into the multi-layered wood construction. This three-dimensional masterpiece beautifully captures the exceptional clarity, record fish heritage, and moonshine history of this beloved Virginia treasure managed by the Army Corps of Engineers where night fishing is legendary and the scenic beauty rivals any lake in the eastern United States.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"

HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers

HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers

HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers

The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. " The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, " XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail."