The name “Junaluska” honors Chief Junaluska of the Cherokee Indians of WNC. He was among those who walked “The Trail of Tears” west to Oklahoma in 1838 but slipped back to be with the remaining Cherokee members. He hid in the Great Smokey mountains, as their chief, til his death. The tallest mountain and the lake were named after him. It is now called Eagles Nest North.
After damming up Richland Creek, a tributary of the Pigeon River, Lake Junaluska was born. The Missionary Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South celebrated it’s birth on June 25, 1913 with 4000 attendees convening in the new open air auditorium. The lake was not yet filled at this time but 13 homes were built starting in 1913. Lake Junaluska is now and continues to be a place of healing and spiritual growth.

Lake Junaluska c.1918
oil on canvas 12×24
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