I’m back today with a fun tour of Lake Martin, AL from the vantage point of a boat ride. We had such a nice weekend getaway with Mark’s sister and brother-in-law as well as his parents. The time away definitely made me forget about the pandemic for a few days and the weather was perfect. Lake Martin is a 44,000-acre reservoir with over 750 miles of wooded shoreline. It’s a big lake that’s very spread out and a gorgeous hidden gem in AL. It’s very popular with AL natives for 2nd homes as well as Georgia people.
Come along for a boat tour of homes on Lake Martin. I visited Lake Martin for the first time when I was living in Birmingham and it’s been at least 11 or 12 years since I’ve been there. It’s still the pretties lake I’ve ever seen. Our GA lakes don’t even come close to the beauty of Lake Martin in my opinion.
Kim and David are in a secluded slough (pronounced sloo) on Lake Martin in The Harbor neighborhood. It’s quiet and peaceful and it was fun to watch everyone on their docks, floating in the water and enjoying the weekend weather. This is a neighboring house.
And this one is too. Notice the waterfalls that many people build on the sloped properties. There is a lot of beautiful landscaping and rocks brought in for rustic beauty.
I won’t talk about every picture, but enjoy the views. I love that Lake Martin has a variety of homes, all unique. Some are big and some are small cottages and it was nice to see both.
I loved this little lake cottage with the screened porch across the back.
Mark and I on the boat.
Someone told me this little island has a name, but I can’t remember it now. It’s a house on it’s own little island near some other houses.
Chimney Rock is a famous vantage point on Lake Martin. Note the graffiti and it has two spots for rock jumping that people use, a lower one and upper one. That upper one looks pretty harrowing to me! The first day we were out, there were only jumpers on the lower rock.
But the next day, the top rock had jumpers. We heard a man jumped off while we were there from the top rock and had to be air lifted to the hospital, so accidents do happen here. Kim said it happens quite often that people get hurt jumping. Definitely not something I would do even from the lower one.
You can see a jumper here on the lower rock.
And one on the upper rock jumping here.
So many beautiful homes on Lake Martin.
Lots of rock brought in on this lot and such a pretty look from the water.
Another neighboring house to their house. I loved this one and it just sold.
Another view of the house I called Tara, it was stunning and all decked out for Memorial Day.
Mark was relaxed and enjoying the ride.
I remember seeing this house the last time I was at Lake Martin, but this one is famous for being the former home of convicted felon and businessman Richard Scrushy from Birmingham. He built this house, I think and it’s something else! This is the side view with the boat house and docks.
And this is the front of the house. It sits on a beautiful point. I have no idea who owns it now, but it will forever be known as the Scrushy house I imagine. We just watched a documentary about him on Netflix, part of the Trial by Media series and it was so interesting. I heard that story when I was living in Birmingham, but it was interesting to see the whole thing.
This house was one of my favorite. Reminds me of Cape Cod and Nantucket.
Another shot of it.
Loved this little cottage on a beautiful grassy point.
They took us to see this home of lawyer Jim Scott, who is famous around Lake Martin for his gardens. It was gorgeous but my pics really don’t do it justice. There were plants and garden art all over and the house was so pretty tucked into the woods. I found out the house was a Bobby McAlpine designed house.
This article from Birmingham Home and Garden, A Not So Secret Garden tells the story of Jim’s garden and how it came to be as well as lots of gorgeous pictures. We only saw it from the boat, so I can imagine what a treat it is to see and go to a party there. Definitely do yourself a favor, click that link and go read it!
If you want to see more pics of Jim’s garden, here’s a Style Blueprint article with yet even more pics. I loved his quote in that article, “I’ve killed about a million unhappy Yankee plants, and everybody says you can’t grow them in the South, and, by God, I prove that they are absolutely right.”
And that’s a wrap from Lake Martin, AL! Hope you enjoyed this tour. We sure enjoyed being there!
Aahhh, lake living. So serene and beautiful. You had perfect weather to relax and enjoy all of the stunning views. I’ve never been a daredevil either, so jumping off either of those points would not be for me. I’d be scared just watching others! Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures. My favorite, the one of you and Mark. You two make the Sweetest pair. So great to see your happiness. Now, back to read the articles.
Thank you, Doreen, we had such a nice weekend and the weather was perfect. So happy to have my sweetheart!
Oh my, such a beautiful area😍😍😍 Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Rhoda for sharing all these beautiful homes on Lake Martin for us! I enjoyed seeing them all but I have to admit my favorite is the smaller, cottagey homes rather than the grander homes. I do like the New England look homes as well but I think the cottage homes represent true lake living. We often rent a condo/home on Smith Mtn Lake (in VA) and love this beautiful area. In the Fall, they do a home tour and each year I say I am going but have yet to make it. Not sure they will do a tour this year with the virus.
HI, Teresa, I agree, the smaller cottages were so quaint and charming and those caught my eye as well. That’s all I would want or need!
Teresa. We lived on SML for 20 years, so wonderful. Now we are in Mn. on a small lake. Retirement and downsizing brought us home!
Gayle,
SML is such a beautiful area and I know your must have loved living there but its always nice to be back closer to home although you might miss the warmer VA climate. My husbands second cousin and his wife (The Burds) lived over in Wirtz on a small cove. They built right after the dam was flooded to make the lake and bought their lot dirt cheap. They both have passed away now but on of their daughters lives there now.
My parents had a house on Lake Martin for several years. I guess you would call it a cottage but it was perfect for them. The deck and patio overlooking the lake were such restful places for relaxing. My dad could fish from their pier, which made him very happy! They’re both gone now but I have many precious memories of visiting them there! Thank you for the little walk down memory lane.
We also live on a lake; not boaters so will have to settle for the view. So glad to see you posting regularly. Other bloggers have disappeared but others like you keep us occupied with interesting blogs and house tours; thanks.
HI, Susanne, thank you, I’m so happy to hear this! I’m trying to keep it going with fun things to post about as well as home projects too. I’ve slowed down some and can’t post as much as I used to, but I’ll keep going for now.
The house with the red canoe is ours. Feel free to stop anytime for coffee or a glass of wine on the porch. We love Lake Martin and we love new friends.
Hi, Julie, how nice to hear that! I had no idea if anyone that reads my blog would have a house there, so what a fun surprise. I had to go back and look for the red canoe, your house is so charming. I hope we get down there again soon!
Julie,
Your house is beautiful! I wish you could get with Rhoda and do a inside house tour!
What a gorgeous place…..and spectacular homes!!! Thanks for sharing.
Looks like you cruised right by my house. I was the old lady pruning shrubbery by the lake all day! I’m in the slough to the right of the ‘Scrushy” house….we like to give people directions by saying “when you see the gargantuan Scrushy house, look around the corner to the right for the ‘doghouse’ in the back of the slough!” Lake Martin is a beautiful place….glad you had such a lovely day to enjoy it.
Hi, Beth, I love that you live there too. Had no idea several of my readers had houses there. We so enjoyed our day, it was gorgeous all weekend!
Wow Rhoda….what amazing pictures. That would be such a fun place to visit or even live if you’re THAT blessed! Thanks for sharing. Loved it!
The one time I went to Lake Martin was in the midst of a drought with the water down with not a lot flourishing vegetation. What a difference adequate rain makes. Thanks for posting the photos. I do agree with another comment on here – so many blogs have disappeared – but I count on yours for my weekly dose. Have a great summer.
Hi, Becky, I’m so glad you all are still hanging with me! We’ll all get old together. Ha!
What a gorgeous lake and stunning homes! What a fun weekend you must have had. Lake life looks magical! xo
Lovely homes and beautiful area! Can’t say I’m not disappointed to see the graffiti on the rocks; though I‘m sure it’s a local legend, I can’t get the image out of my mind, of the natural beauty being defaced.
Thank you for sharing all of the beautiful homes. Looks like you had perfect weather for a lake vacation!
My husband grew up in a house on Lake Martin and spent much time at Chimney Rock.