Lake Murray Purple Martins

They're Back!   Purple Martings at Lake Murray
North America's first officially designated Purple Martin sanctuary is at Lake Murray! It's also one of the largest roosting sites in America.


Late each afternoon from June through late August or early September, hundreds of thousands of purple martins make their way to Doolittle Island (also called either Lunch Island or Bomb Island) to nest for the night. The number has been placed in the range of 750,000 purple martins returning to roost each late afternoon. Is is believed that the Lake Murray purple martin roost is the largest in North America (and possibly the world).

CLICK HERE to visit the Lake Murray Purple Martins Website

Mel Coker
http://www.melcoker.com/

Upcoming Events at Lake Murray

June 24-25: Ducks Unlimited Poker Run

June 25: S.P.B. Summer Drag Rally - Drag Race in Rocky Creek

July 2: July 4th Celebration on Lake Murray - boat parade and huge fireworks show from two locations (Spence & Dreher Islands)

News Flash: Increased Law Enforcement Patrols on Lake Murray

Dreher Shoals Dam at Lake Murray

When construction was finished on Lake Murray and the Dreher Shoals Dam im 1930, Lake Murray was the largest man-made lake in the world for power production purposes and Dreher Shoals Dam was the largest earthern dam in the world. The Dreher Shoals Dam is approximately 1.5 miles long and 213 feet high.  Lake Murray was named for William S. Murray (the orginal project engineer) and The Dreher Shoals Dam is named for the Dreher family that owned land in the immediate area where this dam is built.

In 2005, a seismic remediation of the Saluda Dam was completed consisting of a new backup dam (also 213 feet high) immediately downstream of and adjacent to the original dam.

 Lake Murray is 41 miles long, 14 miles wide at its widest point and has approximately 640 miles of shoreline. The lake covers a surface area of approximately 48,000 acres.


Dreher Shoals Dam at Lake Murray


I have an informative webpage on my Lake Murray website with more information about the dam at Lake Murray with some really cool pictures.

Dreher Shoals Dam at Lake Murray webpage


Mel Coker
Lake Murray Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011

Lake Murray Scenes



Barbara on our PWC at Lake Murray's 5 Towers (Dreher Shoals Dam)

Boating on Lake Murray during the past few days provided some nice picture taking opportunities!

Tiki Gets a Kayak Ride

Panoramic Shot of 1.5 mile Dreher Shoals Dam
(Click for larger image size)

Mel Coker

Lake Murray's Realtor

RE/MAX Metro Associates

(803) 223-6214

Columbia / Lake Murray Real Estate