Clarks Hill Lake, also called Strom Thurmond Lake, stretches across the Georgia–South Carolina border as one of the largest reservoirs in the eastern United States. Formed by the J. Strom Thurmond Dam on the Savannah River, the lake covers more than 70,000 acres and offers miles of quiet coves, pine forests, and rolling hills.
What makes Clarks Hill Lake unique is how its natural beauty blends with the culture of the surrounding region. The area around the lake has inspired local writers and appears in regional storytelling, most notably in Terry Kay’s novel The Runaway, which draws on the rhythms, personalities, and rural landscapes of small Georgia towns similar to those that border Clarks Hill. The lake and its surroundings echo the novel’s themes of Southern community, tradition, and the closeness between people and place.
Beyond its literary ties, Clarks Hill is known for exceptional recreation—clear water for swimming and boating, and a strong fishery that draws anglers for striped bass, largemouth, and crappie. Its combination of scenic shoreline, rich sense of local culture, and a landscape that has sparked storytelling makes the lake a special and memorable destination.
