Lake Junaluska, Artificial lake and retreat community in Haywood County, North Carolina.
Lake Junaluska is an artificial reservoir in the Blue Ridge Mountains with about 200 acres of water. A paved path circles the shoreline, making it easy to walk or run around the entire lake.
Methodist leaders founded this gathering place in 1908 as a religious assembly center in the mountains. The project grew steadily and became an important meeting point for church communities.
The retreat center here serves as the worldwide meeting place for the Methodist Church community. People gather to share their faith and connect across different countries and traditions.
Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, with only electric motors allowed on the water. The paved path is accessible for different fitness levels and works well for families or casual walkers.
The lake takes its name from a Native American word that carries meaning in local history. This connection to the region's original people remains part of the place's identity today.
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