Lake Gaston's actual shoreline is owned by Dominion Resources and the lake was created for the purpose of hydroelectric power. Lake Gaston is operated within the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and is monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard and Wildlife Commissions of both North Carolina and Virginia. To learn more about shoreline and boathouse regulations visit the website for Dominion Generation. The main body of Lake Gaston runs East and West along the North Carolina and Virginia border, and due to its length is divided into four quadrants (NW, SW, NE, SE) with the Eaton Ferry Bridge acting as the dividing line between East and West quadrants.
Lake Gaston is not federally owned. It was actually formed when the Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO) built Gaston Dam on the Roanoke River to generate electricity for Dominion Resources, the owner of Lake Gaston. Gaston Dam is located in North Carolina and generates electricity for Dominion Resources and its North Carolina Power company. Lake Gaston is fed by water from the Kerr Lake reservoir, which flows downstream into Roanoke Rapids Lake and then into the Roanoke River. Lake Gaston is about 35 miles long and crosses the border of North Carolina and Virginia. There are approximately 350 miles of shoreline on Lake Gaston spanning about 20,000 acres.
The majority of all Lake Gaston Waterfront Property adjoining Dominion Resources lake property is classified as residential and privately owned. There are no state parks; however, there are marinas and lake access boating ramps available for public use.
There are well over 200 subdivisions and thousands of Lake Gaston Waterfront Homes built close to the water's edge with individual and private boathouses offering spectacular lake views, plus the constant lake levels and clean water offer hours of user-friendly lake and watersports activities.
The shorelines of Lake Gaston are popular for retirement, full-time living, vacationing, and for real estate investments. Retirees from all over the country see to enjoy the rural feel of the area while also being close to larger cities such as Raleigh NC and Richmond VA. Although waterfront lots remain to be the most popular, there are plenty of water view lots, water access lots, and off-shore lots to choose from. Some buyers purchase lots with small homes and demolish them to make larger vacation homes just because of the lot.