Norris Lake

The Norris Lake lifestyle revolves around one of the best unspoiled Tennessee lakes, home to the bluest green water you will find in Eastern Tennessee. Families have chosen this lake as their perfect vacation and second home spot for decades, an easy escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities in the Northeast or from living in Knoxville Tennessee. Norris Lake is conveniently located off Interstate 75 not far from The Smokies and about twenty minutes north of the Best Bang for the Buck City from the south side of the lake or one hour south of the Kentucky state line from the north side. Norris Dam was the first TVA dam, built in the 1930's. As one of Tennessee’s cleanest lakes, 34,000 acre Norris Lake is about 1,000 feet deep and lake levels drop about 30-40 feet in the winter time. The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) controls the entire 800 miles of shoreline at Norris Lake, plus the secluded islands and two protected game management areas, home to whitetail deer and wild turkey. 

You will not find houses stacked on top of each other or zero lot line neighborhoods. In fact, you'll find just the opposite and can find waterfront retirement communities. Norris Lake offers seclusion - ideal for a peaceful day fishing or on the opposite end of the extreme, you will find popular boating areas, places to raft up with friends and swim in the lake. Only a handful of lake communities and neighborhoods are visible from Norris Lake marinas. 

If you’re searching for where to retire in Tennessee, here are reasons to consider living at Norris Lake:

ARTS AND CULTURE

Clinton, La Follette, Lake City and New Tazwell are the four small towns catering to Norris Lake Tennessee. Larger cities such as Oak Ridge and Knoxville are located to the south. Well known art museums, theaters and concert venues are more common in Oak Ridge and Knoxville. For example, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra perform at the Bijour Theater, Tennessee Theater and Civic Center. The Knoxville Museum of Art, one of Tennessee’s best museums is located adjacent to the famous Sunsphere in downtown Knoxville. Historic sites such as the Museum of Appalachia which is a working farm and folk art museum is located in Clinton on the south side of Norris Lake or the Campbell County Historical Society Museum and Library in La Follette is located on the west side of the lake. 
Living in Knoxville or at Norris Lake provides plenty of year round entertainment.

CLIMATE

At an elevation of 820 feet, Norris Lake’s average winter temperature ranges in the high 30‘s December through February. The annual snowfall is 6 inches. May through September, the average temperature ranges in the high 60’s to mid 70’s. The water temperature averages 70 degrees from May through October. Jet skiing, waterskiing and swimming will keep you in your bathing suit day and night while you catch up on your golden brown tan at Norris Lake. The region experiences four mild seasons. Weather hazards include flooding and tornados.

LIFELONG LEARNING CENTERS

As one of Tennessee’s less populated mountain regions near The Smokies, lifelong learning centers are found in larger cities like Knoxville Tennessee verses the smaller towns bordering the lake. Folks who want quick access to downtown Knoxville to attend award winning colleges and lifelong learning schools should consider searching for second and vacation homes on the south side of Norris Lake such as the town of Andersonville. Mature adult courses are offered at the University of Tennessee Seniors for Creative Learning (SCL) and the Knoxville Museum of Art.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE

The two closest award winning hospitals to Norris Lake are La Follette Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center in downtown Knoxville. The are five ranked hospitals and medical centers in the Knoxville area. Parkwest Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Medical Center are the largest health care facilities. Parkwest Medical Center is a 286 bed facility and has been named a Top 100 Heart Hospital eight times. Specialties include orthopedics, neurology, bariatric surgery and women’s care. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 489 bed teaching hospital and is home to the Brain & Spine Institute, the Cancer Institute, the Heart & Lung Institute and Women’s and Children’s Health Center. Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge with 255 beds is Knoxville’s 2012 Best Ranked Hospital with nine specialties according to U.S. News & World Report.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

Norris Lake is considered by many a Top 10 Bass Fishing Lake in North America. Bass are plentiful in Norris Lake alluring anglers to catch large mouth bass, small mouth bass, stripped bass and spotted bass, along with crappie and walleye. There are 22 Norris Lake marinas bordering the lake. Boat ramps, boat storage and annual dockage are available in addition to full service marina amenities. Whether your lifestyle includes tooling around Norris Lake on a 50 foot houseboat or waterskiing the day away retreating back to a waterfront condominium on Norris Lake, you will find just about every type of water sport at this Tennessee lake.

Not a water bunny? Mountain bikes, ATV's, horseback riders and hikers can explore 22,000 acres at the Chuck Swan Wildlife Management managed by the TVA bordering Norris Lake. Golfers can overcome 'golfer’s withdrawal' by playing the links at The Greens at Deerfield Resort overlooking Norris Lake. The Deerfield Resort has the lake’s only private air strip. Football fans can get their SEC fix scooting off to Knoxville for the day to cheer on the University of Tennessee Vols. The typical turnout at each football game is 100,000 attendees. 
Norris Lake makes one of the finest waterfront retirement communities close to the heart of the city.

SHOPPING AND DINING

There are 22 Norris Lake marina's scattered around the lake; many with restaurants, bars and live entertainment. Restaurant chains are more common bordering the Interstate 75 highway exits. Mom and Pop restaurants are more popular in the lakeside towns. Big box stores such as Wal-mart are found in New Tazwell, Clinton and Lafollette. A long list of brand name stores and excellent restaurants can be found at the famous Turkey Creek Shopping Complex in Knoxville, Eastern Tennessee’s best shopping center.

HOME AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES

The average price of Norris Lake homes is $110,000. Many of the neighborhoods bordering the lake protrude out into the lake in the form of peninsulas. One lane winding roads lead to and from the Norris Lake neighborhoods making lake access more time consuming for everyday commuters. There are five counties surrounding the 800 miles of Norris Lake shoreline: Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger and Union. The estimated property tax millage rate ranges from $1.76 to $2.50 per 25% of $100. Visit our library to find help and to learn how to calculate property taxes in Tennessee. If you're searching for where to retire in Tennessee, we find a number of neighborhoods and waterfront retirement communities of interest.