There is a dam on Smith Mountain Lake but it is a big lake and "near" is a relative term. It's about a half hour away by car. They have a nice visitor center: http://www.smithmtn.com/about/VisitorsCenter.aspx See the Google map directions to the dam from our park here: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Smith+Mountain+Lake+State+Park,+1235+Rd+888,+Huddleston,+VA+24104/2074+Ford+Rd,+Sandy+Level,+VA+24161/@37.0902123,-79.5849243,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x884d45d9c22c3491:0x579f64b1b5bb0c!2m2!1d-79.5929977!2d37.0918953!1m5!1m1!1s0x884d4fa3efa3c6d5:0xd0294af2494fc710!2m2!1d-79.533094!2d37.041387!3e0?hl=en&authuser=0
The lake was created by dams.
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