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WATERSKI MagazineIf you had taken the family wagon for a spin around Winchester, Tennessee, in the late 1960s you would have come home describing the rolling farmland and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Go back today and you'll wonder what happened. In 1971 the Tims Ford Dam came to life and flooded 10,000 acres of that hilly pasture. Families now bring the sport utilities around, with a boat hitched to the back for a peaceful weekend of skiing.
Skiers who have discovered the rustic surroundings of Tims Ford will travel long distances because it's one of the few places that combines spacious water with serenity. The only developments around the lake besides trees are a smattering of huge homes and 20 launch ramps. Because the lake is rooted in former mountain valleys, the water is deep and the protective banks rise at sharp angles. But there's still plenty of beach all around for families who want to dock and eat a packed lunch. One of the favorite pit stops is Devils Den Cave near the southwest end of the lake. Boaters can float inside the cave and retreat from the sun.
“You can't even begin to count the coves because of all the little fingers on the lake,” says Ron Webber, manager of Tims Ford Marina. “Barefooters won't have any problem finding calm water.”
Slalom skiers, however, might have some trouble finding the course in Lost Creek near Lynchburg. Boaters have to idle through a tunnel, which keeps the course both out of sight and out of harm's way.
“People ask all the time where it is,” says Webber. “They know it exists, but there isn't much traffic back there.”
Some diehards start exploring the lake in late March and April, when the temperature might hit the low 70s. The postcard-pretty lake will keep them occupied, even if they can't find those elusive entrance gates.
Other attractions:
* The elevated land around University of the South in Sewanee has some of the best biking and rappelling in the region.
* Tour the Jack Daniel's distillery a few minutes from the lake's west end.
Where to unpack:
* Tims Ford State Park (615-967-4457) has cabins for rent; $100 per night.
* Tims Ford Resort and Marina (800-722-1164) has boat slips; $60-$95 per night.
Where to eat:
* Hawk's Steak and Pizza House is a mainstay in Franklin County. The broasted chicken is recommended.
* A Belvidere Bomber sandwich from the Belvidere Market is enough to hold you over during a long day in the boat.
Something you have to see:
* The jail museum in Winchester is a dead ringer for the lockup where Otis used to sleep on The Andy Griffith Show.
In case you forgot:
* Tri-Lakes Marine (615-967-7127) just outside Winchester carries HO skis and Hyperlite wakeboards.
How to get here:
* From Nashville, take I-24 south to highway 50 and head west.
* From Huntsville, follow 231 north to 50 east.
For more information:
* Winchester Chamber of Commerce (615-967-6788).
