Timberlake: Lake and history of a summer resort

Timberlake brings together Timber Lake, a lake created by an earthen dam, and the history of a planned summer resort. The landscape includes a lower-lying bedrock depression and gentle hills, as well as the Timberlake Tavern, a historic building. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, the lake and the area’s building history may help you decide whether Timberlake suits the focus of your planned trip.

Lake, springs, and hills

Timber Lake was created by an earthen dam in a lower-lying bedrock depression surrounded by gentle hills. It covers about 60 acres. The lake is fed by underground springs as well as Brown’s Creek, Waterlick Creek, and Buffalo Creek. Here, the man-made body of water meets its natural supply from springs and streams. The depression, the surrounding hills, and the named tributaries give the landscape a specific story of how it formed: the lake is defined not only by its water, but also by how that water gathers in this basin.

The history of the summer resort

Timber Lake was conceived in 1926 as a summer resort for wealthier circles in Lynchburg, Virginia. During its brief season as a resort, the Timberlake Tavern became the social hub of Timber Lake, hosting meals, music, and celebrations. The Tavern’s brick-and-timber building was constructed in 1928–1929 and has changed little over time. The area’s history thus brings together the original idea of a summer retreat, the social life of that brief season, and a building that has largely retained its character. Today, the Timberlake Tavern offers travelers overnight accommodations. It also offers indoor and outdoor spaces for celebrations. Its historic role and present-day lodging make the Tavern a tangible point of reference if you’re interested in the area’s earlier development.

Dam, water quality, and use

The lake’s development was not without a setback: on June 22, 1995, Timber Lake’s earthen dam failed, causing the lake to drain almost completely. Today, the Timberlake Dam is inspected annually by qualified civil engineers. To date, all water quality tests for Timber Lake have found levels within safe standards for recreational activities and aquatic life. The Timberlake Dam serves as a recreational amenity for local residents. The 1995 dam failure and the annual inspection of the current dam mark different stages in the history of the waterbody.

A report from June 2026 described use of Timber Lake as restricted to residents. If you’re planning to use the lake, check in advance whether this rule is still in effect.

Fireworks and travel planning

The Timber Lake community holds a fireworks display every year on July 4. If this date matters to your travel plans, check the event dates for the year in question. This lets you plan your trip around a specific date without assuming a particular event date for your travel year.

When looking for a vacation apartment or house, the lake and resort history can initially serve as criteria for choosing Timberlake. Are you more interested in how the waterbody formed, or are you more drawn to the history of the former resort? The Timberlake Tavern connects the area’s history with a present-day lodging option; the lake and dam offer a different focus.

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