Lake Tillery

Lake Tillery is a reservoir in the Uwharrie Lakes Region of North Carolina that stretches along both shores between Stanly County and Montgomery County. The shoreline runs for more than 117 miles through wooded hills and small coves.

The dam was built in 1928 as a hydroelectric facility with a capacity of 87 megawatts and remained in operation for decades. Carolina Power built the plant before Duke Energy took it over later.

The town of Norwood in Stanly County calls itself the Gateway and shows its close tie to the water. Many residents use the shore for fishing trips and weekend boat rides.

The largest boat ramp is called Swift Island Boat Landing and offers space for about 100 trailers with direct access to the water. The best time to arrive is early morning or during weekdays when fewer boats are out.

An old concrete bridge called Swift Island Bridge from 1922 still stands near the shore even though it was tested several times during military demolition exercises. The structure resisted all attempts to destroy it and remained unchanged.

Location: North Carolina

GPS coordinates: 35.20667,-80.06611

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31