Fool Hollow Lake

Camping at Fool Hollow Lake: Sweat, No Boats, and a Secret Underwater Town

Camping at Fool Hollow Lake in August sounded like a great idea.

And, technically, it was.

The trees were beautiful, the scenery was peaceful, and nature was everywhere—which was especially impressive considering we were spending most of our time trying not to become part of the ecosystem.

It was hot. Not “grab an extra bottle of water” hot. More like “the tent is now a portable oven and sleeping bag is a punishment” hot. By midmorning, we were sweating in places we didn’t know could sweat. Even the camp chairs seemed warm enough to cook breakfast on.

Our main plan was to enjoy the lake, do some boating, and spend a relaxing afternoon on the water.

Unfortunately, the lake had other plans.

Because of the low water level, boating was pretty much off the table. The lake was looking less like a place for leisurely cruises and more like it had recently received a strongly worded letter from the rain. The boat ramps were giving off the general impression of, “You can try, but we’re not responsible for what happens next.”

So, no boating.

Instead, we admired the lake from shore and imagined what it would be like if there were significantly more water in it. It became a very relaxing exercise in visualization.

“Picture yourself in a boat,” we told ourselves.

“Now picture yourself not sweating.”

“Now picture the lake being full.”

At least we didn’t have to worry about accidentally falling into the water. That would have required finding water first.

But then we discovered something fascinating: there’s an old town under the lake.

Yes, apparently Fool Hollow Lake has a submerged bit of history beneath the surface. Somewhere down there are the remains of the original settlement, quietly sitting underwater while the rest of us roasted onshore. With the lake being so low, it was fascinating—and slightly eerie—to think about what might be visible beneath the water.

We came expecting camping, swimming, and boating. Instead, we got archaeology, heat exhaustion, and a lake with a secret past.

The old town under the water really made the whole experience feel like a low-budget adventure movie. We just needed a map, a flashlight, and someone dramatically shouting, “There it is!” Unfortunately, the only treasure we uncovered was a melted granola bar and a water bottle we had forgotten in the sun.

Despite the heat and the lack of boating, the trip was still a memorable one. The scenery was beautiful, the campground had plenty of character, and learning about the submerged town gave us something interesting to talk about besides how hot it was.

Although, to be fair, we talked about how hot it was a lot.

Camping in August at Fool Hollow Lake taught us several important lessons:

Always bring more water than you think you need.
Shade is not a luxury—it is a basic human right.
Check the lake level before planning a boating trip.
Never underestimate the power of a tent in direct sunlight.
There may be an entire old town hiding underwater, so keep your eyes open.

Would we go back? Absolutely—but probably when the temperature is lower, the lake is fuller, and our tent is less interested in becoming a convection oven.

Next time, we’ll bring a boat, more ice, and possibly a wetsuit—not for swimming, but because it might be the only outfit left that isn’t covered in sweat.