About Us
Background
Lake of the Woods (LOW) is a private, planned residential community of single-family homes located in the northeastern tip of Orange County, Virginia. To tour our community you must be accompanied by a realtor or an invited guest of a Member. Any realtor can assist you, but be sure to connect with some of the realtors listed on our Real Estate page.
The main entrance to LOW is on Virginia Route 3, 15 miles west of I-95 and 18 miles east of Virginia Route 29, about halfway between the cities of Fredericksburg and Culpeper. It is approximately 70 miles south of Washington, D.C., 60 miles north of Richmond, and 26 miles northeast of the town of Orange, which is the county seat. Civil War battlefields and other historic sites are in the vicinity.
LOW was developed in 1967 by Virginia Wildlife Clubs, a subsidiary of U.S. Land, Inc., and subsequently bought and developed by Boise Cascade Corporation. The Lake of the Woods Association, Inc. (LOWA) assumed ownership and control in 1972. LOW has since evolved into a community of permanent year-round residents, seasonal residents, and weekenders. A broad range of recreational, cultural, social, community service, and other activities are offered. LOWA celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2017, click here to view photos.
The LOW community covers approximately 2,600 acres with 4,260 lots (850 with lake frontage) distributed among 16 sections (many named after well-known southern plantations). The community has more than 41 miles of paved private roads.
As a private, gated community, LOWA provides contract security services 24 hours a day year-round. Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc., provides round-the-clock fire and medical transport services for LOW and northeastern Orange County, and is based inside LOW.
Lakes and Dams
Lake of the Woods has two lakes - the Main Lake and Keaton’s Lake—two dams, and a front entrance pond. The Main Lake covers 500 acres and is fed by Flat Run and numerous springs. Veterans Memorial Dam, spanning 1,400 feet along the northwest edge of the Main Lake, was built in 1968. This lake has two marinas, seven lake access areas, and eight sand beaches.
Keaton’s Lake, also known as the Fishing Lake, is a 35-acre impoundment, at the northeast corner of the community close to Route 3 created by damming Keaton’s Run. The dam at this lake is known as Keaton’s Run Dam. The lake has one public launch area and one sand beach.
The small entrance pond with a fountain at the front gate serves as a sediment retention basin and provides an excellent location for the annual Children’s Fishing Tournament.
Amenities
Founded primarily as a residential and recreational community, LOW offers nearly limitless opportunities for social/recreational activities and programs for members and their families.
These activities include swimming and boating on the two lakes, a USGA golf course with Pro Shop and Fareways Cafe, an Equestrian Center, two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, Campground, a Clubhouse with food service and space for social and community and club events, Community Center, a Fitness Center and numerous parks with ball fields (three youth soccer fields and a lighted baseball/softball field), basketball courts, horseshoe pits, playgrounds, and walking/fitness paths.
The Association
Every lot owner is a member of the Lake of the Woods Association, Inc. (LOWA), a homeowners’ association governed by Virginia law and a seven member, volunteer Board of Directors (BOD) elected at large from among the LOWA membership. Each lot is entitled to one vote in all elections. The BOD functions very much like a town council, and is charged with the development of an annual budget and policies and strategies responsive to the changing needs of a growing community. Twenty(+) advisory Committees staffed by volunteers from among the membership support the work of the BOD.
Board meetings are held on the first Saturday of every month except September. Both BOD meetings and Committee meetings are open to all property owners and tenants. An annual BOD election and Annual Meeting of the Membership is held on Labor Day.
Covenants, By-laws, and Regulations provide an orderly structure for the proper operation of the Association. LOWA members pay an annual assessment set by the BOD, which finances the operation and maintenance of all facilities and services, and partially subsidizes amenity operations. As required by the Restrictive Covenants, this assessment must be paid by May 1, the beginning of our fiscal year. Upon payment of the annual assessment, lot owners are issued identification cards, which are needed for registration of vehicles and boats, access to amenities or other use of LOWA property, and entry at the front gate in place of a vehicle bar code.
