A Lakefront Escape

on Smith Mountain Lake

Nestled on the tranquil shores of Smith Mountain Lake, Heron House offers 180-degree water views and a private dock just steps from the door. With 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and space for up to 10 guests across two living areas, a game room, and a playroom, there’s room for the whole family to spread out and unwind.

The House

5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms sleep up to 10 guests, with two living spaces, a game room, and a playroom to spread out in.
Amenities

Enjoy a private dock, kayaks, and a fire pit right on the water, plus a game room and playroom for the whole family.

Aerial view of a lakeside neighborhood with trees, houses, and boat docks along the shoreline, with a large lake in the background.

A backyard lakeside deck with a table, chairs, and an umbrella, overlooking a green, wooded hillside with a house in the background.

A lakeside outdoor setting with six green chairs arranged in a circle around a fire pit, surrounded by trees and overlooking the water on a sunny day with blue sky and scattered clouds.

A bedroom with light blue walls, a large window with blinds, a bed with a blue and white striped quilt, a wooden dresser, a ceiling fan with wooden blades, and a flat-screen TV on the wall.

Bright living room with a stone fireplace, gray and yellow couches, a blue fish-patterned rug, large windows, and a glass door leading to an outdoor patio with chairs and a pool.

Back of a two-story house with a large deck and porch surrounded by tall trees, with a well-manicured grassy yard in the foreground.

A spacious, bright living and dining area with large windows, a beige curved sofa, a fireplace with a stone chimney, wooden flooring, and a dining table with multiple chairs.

Living room with beige sectional sofa, wooden coffee table, stone fireplace with a wooden shelf, wall-mounted TV, hardwood flooring, and a view into the kitchen with blue cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Bright entryway with white walls, hardwood flooring, and a white console table with decor. Front door with glass panel, ceiling light fixture, and a decorative mirror on the wall.

A basement game room with a ping pong table, a dartboard on the wall, a small high table with three stools, a wooden bookshelf, and a closed white door.

A children's playroom with a colorful hot air balloon rug, transparent storage bin filled with building blocks, and a shelving unit with toys and books against a sloped ceiling.

Modern kitchen with light gray and blue cabinets, white countertop island, stainless steel appliances, and blue pendant lights. There is a sliding glass door leading to an outdoor dining area with wooden chairs.

Bathroom with light blue walls, white vanity with black handles, large mirror, and patterned floor tiles. Includes a window, toilet, and shower with a curtain.

A bedroom with light blue walls, a bed with striped bedding, and two nightstands with lamps. There is a window showing greenery outside, a ceiling fan, and a dresser on the right side.

A bright bedroom with two twin beds with matching black and white striped bedspreads, each with a multicolored striped pillow. A small white table with a white lamp sits between the beds in front of a window. The walls are painted light blue, and the

Bathroom with a shower area featuring gray and mosaic tile walls, a glass shower partition, and a wooden bench. The room has a modern design with recessed ceiling lights and light-colored walls.

Modern bathroom with a white vanity and round mirror, featuring black fixtures and a light fixture above. The floor has gray tiles, and sunlight enters through a window in a separate connected room.

Bright bedroom with light blue walls, wooden flooring, and multiple top windows. A large bed with blue bedding and pillows is on the left, with a nightstand and lamp beside it. Opposite, a wooden dresser with two speakers and a flat-screen TV mounted

A wooden deck with two Adirondack chairs and a blue outdoor rug overlooking a lake surrounded by green trees.

A bedroom with a sloped ceiling, light blue walls, wood flooring, and a large window. There is a bed with a beige quilt, two nightstands with lamps, a dresser, and a TV mounted on the wall.

Get to Know Smith Mountain Lake

A slice of pepperoni pizza on white paper with a glass of dark beer and salt/pepper shakers on a wooden table.

Grab a Bite

There are so many great restaurants around the lake. Some of our favorites include Benny Adelina’s for their famous 28" pizzas, The Copper Kettle, and Napoli by the Lake. Drifter’s and Jake’s Place are local and visitor favorites that are on the water and often have live music. You can even pull your boat up to their dock for a drink or meal and then get back to tubing! Feel like staying in but don’t want to cook? Try Farmhouse Catering and Meals to Go for delicious mains and sides to bring home.

A largemouth bass caught on a fishing line, being held near the water with a person's hand, with a fishing rod resting on a boat in the background.

Cast a Line

SML is the 2nd largest lake in Virginia with over 500 miles of shoreline and is considered to be one of the best fishing spots on the east coast. Bring your own equipment to fish right off the dock or a boat (be sure to check license requirements here), or book a private charter with an experienced fishing guide (Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guide Service and Hartman Guide Services are good options). A charter can provide the boat, equipment, bait, and knowledge of the best fishing spots to make the experience stress-free.

A lakeside scene with boats docked along a wooden pier, surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Explore the Marinas

Smith Mountain Lake has marinas all along its 500 miles of shoreline, but Bridgewater Marina is the most popular. Pull up to the docks and you'll find a whole lineup of restaurants and bars, including Mango's Bar & Grill, Pizza Pub, Moosie's, and The Lucky Duck, plus Ice Cream Cottage and SML Coffee House. Kids (and kids at heart) will want to hit Harbortown Miniature Golf and the Fun-N-Games Arcade. No boat? No problem — Bridgewater rents boats and jet skis right there, so you can get out on the water for the day and be back in time for dinner.

A wooden dock extending out into a body of water, with rocks along the shoreline and trees in the background.

Hit the Trails

Smith Mountain Lake State Park is about a 25 minute drive from Heron House and offers seven trails ranging from easy to moderate. Our favorite is Turtle Island Trail. If you want something a bit more off the beaten path, try the Smith Mountain Cooperative Wildlife Management Area trail, although be prepared that there are not any bathroom facilities. The SML Cooperative is also close to the State Park and the SML Dam Visitor’s Center.

What our Guests Say

Heron House was the perfect vacation spot for our family, spanning ages from 2 months to 75 years. The spacious layout gave everyone plenty of room to relax, and the screened-in porch quickly became our favorite hangout for evening games. “Fully stocked” doesn’t even begin to describe it—the kitchen had everything we needed to prepare big family meals, and the abundance of beach towels and floaties was such a thoughtful touch. We spent our days tubing, jet skiing, and swimming, and made memories we’ll treasure. We can’t wait to come back!

-- Stacy R.

I have been vacationing at SML for over 20 years. This is the first time I booked the same house in fact I committed even before I left. A total turn key vacation where every detail was perfect. Kid friendly and a great location on the lake. I can not wait to go back next year.

-- James B.

The Heron House is simply amazing. It has every amenity you could think of, especially the kitchen! The house was perfect for our family vacation of 3 generations!

-- Michael W.

A lakeside scene with three trees and a heron standing on the grass near the water's edge, with houses visible across the lake.

A group of children and teens, some wearing swimwear and others in life vests, walk down a wooden dock toward a boat offering ice cream on a lake.

Our family has dreamed of owning a lake house for many years, and we feel so fortunate to have finally made that dream a reality! We have two teenage boys, and we live full-time in Durham, North Carolina. Smith Mountain Lake is such a special place for our family, and we are thrilled to share it with yours so that you can also experience the magic of Heron House!

—Doug and Bridget Cook

Heron House

105 Elm Court, Moneta VA 24121

302 383 5358 (Bridget)

heronhouseonsml@gmail.com