WindRiver – Tennessee’s Best Lake and Mountain Living

When you picture your ideal life, there are undoubtedly some things you want to make sure you check off your list. For some, that could mean living by the lake in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. If that’s the case, that dream can come true at WindRiver.

Located in Lenoir City, Tennessee, just twenty minutes from Knoxville (Tennessee’s third largest city!), you can have the best of lake and mountain living. WindRiver sits on 687 acres of land that runs along the shoreline of Tellico Lake and is one of the top gated communities in Tennessee. Once you pass through the gated entrance, you’ll discover 350 homesites, and more than 200 lakefront homes. Whether you choose a lakefront home or not, you will find incredible views of both Tellico Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains no matter where you are in the community.

The picturesque setting is home to Tennessee’s first Audubon Signature golf course, where you can enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the lake while coming in under par. And if your skill level isn’t up there with the pros, that’s okay! The course’s five sets of tees range from 4,700 yards on the forward tees to 7,225 yards on the Championship tees—perfect for any skill level.

WindRiver’s full service marina lends easy access to the lake, where you can take advantage of all kinds of water activities. Fishing, boating, skiing, swimming—these are just a few of the things you can get into spending the day on the lake. Brightwater Park is a favorite lake amenity, a six acre lakefront park with walking trails, a fire pit, and a beach and swim area, available to homeowners and families. Even your guests can enjoy the beauty of the lake with Lakeside Inn, offering overnight accommodations, as well as fine dining.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat inside the community, there are two tasty places to get your fill. Check out Citico Restaurant & Club, and Cosmo’s Bar & Grill, both offering menus that will please your taste buds.

Outside the gates of WindRiver is all the excitement of Knoxville, home to the University of Tennessee. There’s plenty to do in the city, from exploring the arts and culture to delicious dining experiences. The Tennessee Theatre on Gay Street hosts top-name entertainment year round, and you can also catch great shows at the historic Bijou Theatre and UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena. Forty miles away in Walland, TN, you can indulge in one of the Nation’s most sought after dining experiences at Blackberry Farm. This restaurant has received praise in magazines like Martha Stewart Living and Bon Appetit, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

Festivals abound too, with Knoxville hosting First Friday monthly art celebrations, the Dogwood Arts Festival, and the Foothills Craft Guild annual show, to name a few.

WindRiver is also near many health centers, one being Ft. Loudon Medical Center, an acute care facility under the award-winning Covenant Health System.

Travel is made easy with WindRiver’s proximity to interstates I-75 N/S and I-40 E/W, and Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson airport. You can travel by means of boat, too; leaving from Tellico Lake allows you to travel all over the southeast to the Gulf of Mexico via the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

It’s easy to see why WindRiver is ranked as one of the Top 25 Places to Retire by Forbes magazine. Beautiful natural surroundings, Tennessee’s low cost-of-living, no state income tax and a gentle climate, coupled with the outstanding array of amenities both inside and outside the community make WindRiver the perfect Tennessee destination. It doesn’t get any better than WindRiver.