Every year, this popular destination entices millions of visitors, beckoning them with its invigorating waters and radiant sunlight. Yet, unbeknownst to many, this artificial reservoir conceals a dark history, responsible for approximately 200 fatalities in the last thirty years alone.
Since its establishment in 1956, Lake Lanier has amassed a staggering death toll surpassing 700, cementing its position as one of the most perilous bodies of water in the United States.
From The Jerusalem Post:
However, the true story behind Lake Lanier's ominous past unveils a trail of rape, murder, lynching, and the tragic deaths of over 700 people. Eerily, remnants of a once-thriving community lie submerged beneath the lake's surface, providing a chilling reminder of the darkness surrounding the area. Beneath the depths of Lake Lanier, the remnants of Oscarville lie in solemn repose.
Oscarville was once a vibrant city with a thriving black community, home to African-American carpenters, blacksmiths, ranchers, and more. In 1912, the body of 19-year-old Mae Crow, a white girl who was allegedly raped and murdered, was discovered in the nearby woods.
Blaming the black community, their white neighbors unleashed the Night Riders, a violent gang that sought vengeance. They apprehended a 16-year-old boy suspected of the crime, brutally murdered him, and displayed his lifeless body on a telephone pole in the city's center.
As white families seized control of what remained of Oscarville's properties, the land gradually transitioned into government ownership over the years. In 1956, the creation of Lake Lanier resulted in the flooding of tens of thousands of acres, including the remnants of Oscarville. Originally intended to generate hydroelectric power and aid in navigation and flood control of the Chattahoochee River, the lake's construction displaced around 250 families and 15 businesses.
The tale surrounding this lake sounds straight out of a movie, but unfortunately, it's all true.
I know some folks scoff at the idea of "cursed lands," but considering the horrors that occurred before the lake was created, I'd say this place definitely earns that title.
