Area Information
Area Information
Practically bound by water on its southern boarders, Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties truly harbor a lake country paradise. Much of life in this area focuses on the natural beauty of two large lakes — Buggs Island Lake (John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir) and Lake Gaston. Both lakes are featured in national sportsmen’s magazines and provide an abundance of striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, and bream.
Buggs Island lake, a 50,000-acre impoundment with over 800 miles of wooded, cove-studded shoreline, is the largest lake in Virginia and one of the most scenic in the south. It is known for playing host to several national fishing tournaments each year. Recreation opportunities are available at North Bend Park and Occoneechee State Park, which encompasses 2,690 acres and is a haven for vacation campers, nature lovers, and fishermen.
Lake Gaston provides 20,300 acres of surface area with over 350 miles of shoreline. This beautiful lake offers ideal facilities for fishing, boating, swimming, and other water sports as well as exceptionally desirable residential property and recreational attractions.
Comfortable accommodations are nearby with motels in town and camping facilities around the lakes. A shuttle service is available to and from the airport. Sherwood Manor Inn, a post Civil War hospital, has been restored and operates as a bed and breakfast. It situated in a quiet setting a half mile north of Highway 58.
The area offers a fine array of fine dining facilities. Southern home cooking, barbecue, steaks, and seafood are all available in nearby restaurants. Access to popular fast food is also within a short drive of the airport.
Shopping is fun in Lake Country with antiques, country crafts, major department stores, and small shops.
For those who are interested in history, there are several places of interest. Prestwould Plantation, built 1790-1795 by Sir Peyton Skipwith, Baronet, was one of the largest and most complex gentry houses in Virginia. Today, the house retains an exceptional degree of its original interior and exterior detail, including three Federal-era porches and distinctly regional Georgian woodwork. Prestwould is a Virginia Histroical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Histroic Places.
Lovely MacCallum More Gardens in Chase City is located on a five-acre estate and features formal gardens with 8,000 English and American boxwood, plus azaleas, dogwoods, and other flowering plants.
Boyd Tavern, in Boydton, was an important stop for travelers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The frame Colonial structure is a Virginia Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
South Hill developed as a result of the railroad. The Atlantic & Danville Railway purchased 56 acres surrounding its depot, forming the Town of South Hill. Today the South Hill Model Railway Museum is located in the depot and features a museum scale replica of a portion of the Atlantic & Danville Railroad.
The Virginia S. Evans Doll Museum also occupies a room in the South Hill Depot. Exhibits include over 500 antique dolls, furniture and carriages dating from the 1860’s.
The heritage of Virginia’s tobacco farm family can be discovered during a visit to the Tobacco Farm Life Museum of Virginia. The museum offers displays on the production of tobacco from seed to market.
The Brunswick County Museum, located in Lawrenceville, has a variety of exhibits documenting the county’s history, displays on Saint Paul’s College, Governor Albertis Harrison, Fort Christanna and Brunswick stew.
Annual festivals and performing arts organizations provide various cultural activities throughout the year with great food, entertainment, arts and crafts. For details, please contact one of the following Chambers of Commerce:
South Hill — (434) 447-4547
Clarksville — (434) 374-2436
Chase City — (434) 372-0502
Brunswick — (434) 848-3154
Aside from all the sights and sounds of Lake Country, the people of the area are known for their friendly nature and smiling faces! Come see for yourself!
Brunswick County
- Brunswick County
- Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce
- Brunswick County School District
- Southside Planning District Commission
- Southside Virginia Community College
- Town of Lawrenceville
- Brunswick County Industrial Development Authority
- Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department
- Brunswick County Fire Departments
- Visit Fort Christianna
- About Fort Christianna
- Town of Brodnax