Lake Louise (Roaring Gap, North Carolina)

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Lake Louise
Lake Louise - panoramio (2).jpg
Lake Louise in 2007.
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Lake Louise
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Lake Louise
Location Roaring Gap, Cherry Lane Township, Alleghany County, North Carolina, U.S.
Coordinates 36°24′5″N80°58′55″W / 36.40139°N 80.98194°W / 36.40139; -80.98194
Lake type reservoir
EtymologyLouise Roth Bryan
Primary inflows Laurel Branch
Basin  countriesUnited States

Lake Louise, formerly known as Bullhead Lake, is a 54-acre reservoir in Roaring Gap, North Carolina. A man-made lake, it was formed between 1926 and 1927 in southeastern Alleghany County on the headwaters of Laurel Branch creek. Privately owned by the Roaring Gap Club, it was developed for residents and members for swimming, fishing, and boating.

History

Lake Louise was created as part of the development of Roaring Gap, a golfing and resort community in the Cherry Lane Township of southeastern Alleghany County. [1] It is a man-made lake spanning 54 acres used by the Roaring Gap Club for boating, fishing, and swimming. [2] Laurel Branch stream was damned in 1926 to fill in the reservoir, which opened to club members in June of that year. [1] The lake finished filling the following year, in 1927. [2] [1] The land used for Lake Louise was previously farmland owned by Rev. James Ralph Smith, a farmer who sold his property for the development of Roaring Gap Club and High Meadows Country Club. [3] The lake was originally named Bullhead Lake but it was renamed Lake Louise by the Roaring Gap Club. [4] Lake Louise is named after Louise Roth Bryan, the wife of Albert Othel Bryan. [5] [6]

In 1929 a girls' summer camp called Silver Pines was opened by the lake. [7] Louise Boles of Greenwich, Connecticut served as the assistant head of water sports on the lake. [7]

The reservoir is located 10.3 miles from Sparta. [8]

A restaurant for members of the country club is located on one of the lake's beaches. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Roaring Gap…the Pinehurst of the hills…and the Elkin & Allegheny Railroad…". North Carolina Collection. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "North Carolina Gazetteer browse | NCpedia". ncpedia.org. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. "ahgs.org – Page 3 – Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc".
  4. "Family History - Absalom and Agnes Maynard Smith" (PDF). ahgs.org. p. 3.
  5. "Thomas 'Tom' Roth Bryan Sr. - The Recorder Online". December 17, 2020.
  6. "2012 Summer Chatter - Roaring Gap Club". www.yumpu.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  7. 1 2 ""Silver pines," new girls camp at roaring gap opens on next saturday with big enrollment" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2025.
  8. "Lake Louise Fishing near Sparta, North Carolina". HookandBullet.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  9. "CAROLINAS CHAPTER JOB OPENING" (PDF). Carolinas Chapter Club Management Association of America. Retrieved October 22, 2023.