Lake Sinclair Blog

Lake Sinclair was created in 1953 when Georgia Power Company completed the Sinclair Dam. The dam, begun in 1929, is located at Furman’s Shoals on the fall line in the Oconee River. The Great Depression of the 1930s and the Second World War interrupted work on the dam. Increased demand for electricity after the war resulted in resumption of the project in 1949 and completion in 1953. The Sinclair Dam has been providing electricity for Georgians continually since its dedication.

The water in Lake Sinclair is not only used to produce electricity at Sinclair Dam, but also re-circulated through Wallace Dam as part of a pumped storage operation. During times of low electrical use, water from Lake Sinclair is pumped back up to Lake Oconee. Then, at times of heavy electrical use, the water is again run through the turbines at Wallace Dam to produce electricity. Plant Branch formerly on Lake Sinclair, a coal burning plant, closed in April of 2015.

The lake, set in the rolling hills and forest of the Georgia Piedmont, has 15,330 acres of water and over 417 miles of shoreline. It is fed by the waters of the Oconee River, Little River and many large creeks. The lake offers boating, fishing, swimming, skiing, camping, marinas and nationally-recognized fishing tournaments. Popular game fish in the lake include white, striped & hybrid bass, black crappie, bream, and channel catfish.

Lake Sinclair is located in Putnam, Baldwin & Hancock Counties. For golfers, the Milledgeville Country Club (a private club) offers members and their guests lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool and an 18-hole par 72 golf course. A second golf course, Little Fishing Creek Golf Course, is county maintained and is next to the Recreation Department on GA Hwy 22 W. It is an 18-hole par 72 course, also. Laid out by the firm of touring pro Gary Player, Little Fishing Creek is becoming one of the
 best courses in the Middle Georgia area. The course is open to the public seven days a week.

Of great interest is the history of Milledgeville, which is home to Georgia College & State University and Georgia Military College. The magnificent Old Governor’s Mansion, a National Historic Landmark which served as the home of ten Georgia governors, is now the office of the President of Georgia College & State University. Allied Arts is a community arts organization whose purpose is to serve the cultural needs of Milledgeville and Baldwin County. Allied Arts joins with the students of Georgia College & State University to perform plays and host other cultural activities.

Great fishing and boating, mild climate, convenient shopping, cultural activities, churches and one hour drive to the Atlanta International Airport make Lake Sinclair a great weekend get-a-way as well as a great place to live!  Lake Sinclair is very centrally located in the state.  We're just half an hour drive from Interstates I-20, I-16 & I-75.  But when you're here at Lake Sinclair you feel like the city traffic and noise are so far away.  At night you can see the starts and hear the frogs and crickets.  Come spend some time visiting Lake Sinclair and I promise you'll want to stay.