Cones Lake

The dam at the southern end of Cones Lake, with Jackson Camp Creek flowing over its wall. Remnants of a bridge footing are seen to the bottom left.

Cones Lake was an artificial lake located in Caldwell County, North Carolina. It is located along Jackson Camp Creek, approximately 1 mile northwest of the Yadkin River.

History

The 1936 Morganton Quadrangle (1/125000) is the first recording of Cones Lake.

Cones Lake first appears in the 1936 USGS Morganton Quadrangle. The naming of the lake is not known, however, it is thought to have been made by Moses H. Cone, an entrepreneur and known conservationist. Cone purchased 3,500 acres of adjoining parcels of land in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and lived on the property in Flat Top Manor. Cone is credited for creating Bass and Trout Lake, two artificial lakes that include terraced, stone-lined pools and spillways. Given the similarity in names, it is presumed that Cones Lake was originally owned by Moses Cone. Since Cone died in 1908, it is postulated that Cones Lake was likely constructed before 1908.

Use

The lake was used as a trout hatchery in the early 20th century, as claimed by Paul H. Broyhill in 2019, whose trust now owns the lake.

Appearance

Cones Lake was a dammed valley reservoir, with the dam wall spanning from east to west across the southern end of the lake. The wall is constructed of concrete, and has a tiered structure supporting the outside of the wall, rising up along the terrain on both sides. A small dirt path runs along the west side of the valley along the lake. The wall stands approximately 6 feet tall, with a spill valve in the middle of the wall.

There are multiple stone-walled pools and spillways in the northern section of the lake area, similar to those found at Bass and Trout Lake. These were likely used as brooding and spawning areas for trout. The remnants of a structure including a foundation, roof materials, and piping stand in the area directly between the road, pools, and lake. The area where the lake once occupied is now completely infilled with sediment. Jackson Camp Creek now flows through this sediment and over the top of the dam wall.

Cones Lake. Clockwise from upper left: The release valve within the dam wall, stone and concrete walls of the different pools and spillways.

References

This article "Cones Lake" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Cones Lake. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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