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Franklin County

Union Hall & the South Shore

Newer, larger, quieter. The upscale planned communities of the Blackwater side, with golf, equestrian, and gated entries.

Who this area suits

Is this your part of the lake?

Buyers who want a newer, larger home in a planned community with amenities, golfers, and second-home owners driving up from North Carolina.

Boater's shorthand: Blackwater channel, upper half.

A different look than Bedford County

Franklin County's shoreline reads newer and more residential — larger brick, stucco, and hardiplank homes in planned developments, rather than the cottage-and-chalet mix on the north shore. There are more than 200 subdivisions on the Franklin side.

The amenity communities live here

Waverly with its private 26-slip marina, The Water's Edge with an equestrian center and championship golf, The Boardwalk with the lake's only Nantucket-style boardwalk, and The Coves with its solar and eco-conscious design.

Closest to the North Carolina drive

Greensboro is roughly ninety minutes and Charlotte about three hours. If your buyers are coming up US 220, the south shore is the first water they reach.

Quieter water

The Blackwater arm sees less traffic than the main Roanoke channel. Good for paddling, fishing, and people who want the boat ride to feel like a boat ride.

One thing to watch here

Amenity communities come with HOA dues, and the dues vary enormously — from nominal to four figures a quarter, sometimes with a separate club membership on top. Get the full carrying cost in writing before you fall in love.

The practical facts

County
Franklin County
Towns
Union Hall, Glade Hill, Penhook (below)
Westlake
20 min
Rocky Mount
20 min
Roanoke
50 min
Greensboro NC
80 min

Schools

Franklin County Public Schools — Franklin County High School.

Communities in and around Union Hall & South Shore

A starting point, not a complete list — there are more than 320 waterfront subdivisions across the lake.

CommunityWhereWhat it is
Highland PointeCondos · Deeded SlipsUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Pool, hot tub, tennis and pickleball, boat ramp — with deeded covered boat slips included and short-term rentals allowed.
WaverlyWaterfront · MarinaUnion Hall, Franklin Co.138 acres and 119 home sites served by a private 26-slip marina.
The BoardwalkWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Over 100 acres built around the only boardwalk on Smith Mountain Lake, in a Nantucket style.
South HarbourWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Half-acre to 2.5-acre lots on the Blackwater channel; 40 properties, 28 of them waterfront.
Park PlaceWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.138 acres of hardwood forest and 119 home sites near the Virginia Wine Trail.

Browse the full community directory →

What are you looking for here?

The agent who is right for a waterfront estate in this area is not the agent who is right for a condo. Pick what fits.

Waterfront Homes

True deeded waterfront where the dock is yours. The most sought-after — and the most technically complicated — thing to buy at this lake.

What to know

Off-Water & Water Access

Lake life at a fraction of the price — if you understand exactly what "water access" does and does not include.

What to know

Condos & Townhomes

Lock the door and go. The lake's lowest-maintenance path to the water — and often the easiest one to rent out.

What to know

Golf Communities

Four distinct clubs, four very different memberships. Choosing the course is really choosing the community.

What to know

Other parts of the lake

Bedford Co.

Moneta & the North Shore

The classic lake side. Cottages and chalets tucked into wooded coves, the State Park, and the county where short-term rentals are permitted.

Explore this area
Bedford Co.

Huddleston & the East End

Deep water, wide views, and the quietest stretch of main channel — the lake between the bridges and the dam.

Explore this area
Franklin Co.

Westlake & Hales Ford

The center of gravity. Groceries, the clinic, Bridgewater Plaza, and the bridge everyone crosses — plus the lake's densest cluster of condos and townhomes.

Explore this area