The Lake Junaluska community is centered around a beautiful 200-acre namesake lake and surrounded by 1,200 acres of rolling hills and valleys. The high peaks, fresh air, and stunning natural beauty of the area first attracted people seeking refuge from hot summers.
Lake Junaluska continues this tradition as a summer haven and event destination. But the location is also a thriving community.
About Lake Junaluska
Quietly nestled in Haywood County, Lake Junaluska is located just off US Highway 19, ten minutes north of Waynesville and just half an hour from downtown Asheville. The community is also conveniently located less than five minutes from Haywood Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a sightseer’s and cyclist’s haven, can be accessed nearby, as can Pisgah National Forest.
Today there are approximately 780 residential property owners in Lake Junaluska. About half of the community’s 2,700 residents live there year round.
Outdoor Activities at Lake Junaluska
Nature’s beauty abounds in Lake Junaluska, and there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors. A path encircles the lake with more than 2.5 miles of public walking and biking trails, as well a 1.5-mile extension. Birding aficionados will enjoy the variety of waterbirds attracted to the lake, including Ring-necked and Ruddy Ducks, Ring-billed and Bonaparte’s Gulls, Common Loon, Wood Duck, and many more. A rose walk and butterfly garden are also easily accessible.
The Lake Junaluska Aquatic Center is open to the public and includes an outdoor pool and playground. Paddle boats can be rented on the lake, or you can enjoy the water for boating, lake fishing, or fly fishing. Nearby, there are also tennis courts, mini golf, and shuffleboard. You can also enjoy a round of golf on the 18-hole, public Lake Junaluska Golf Course.
Lake Junaluska is a Central Location of the United Methodist Church
The Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is notable as the home for the World Methodist Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of the United Methodist Church, a consultative body linking almost all churches in the Methodist tradition. More of a resort than a quiet spiritual center, the Lake Junaluska Conference Center features hotels, cabin rentals, an RV park, and full service dining. It also features the SEJ Heritage Center and World Methodist Council Museum which record the history of the Methodists and the Wesleyan movement.
The Lake Junaluska Assembly had its beginnings at the Laymen’s Conference of the Methodists Episcopal Church, South in 1908. The first conference was held and the first cottages were completed in 1913. Although the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is a central place of ministry for Methodists, all denominations are welcome to visit and live at The Assembly.
Junaluskans are proud of the beauty, history, and unique nature of their community.
See the beauty of Lake Junaluska for yourself! Read more about Lake Junaluska, see more photos, or search for homes in the area, from our Beverly-Hanks Lake Junaluska community page.
Wow nature’s beauty