Lake Lanier, one of the largest lakes in Georgia is known for its stunning view which attracts millions of visitors each year. However, more than being a picturesque location, the lake is gaining fame for its dark history of tragedy and mystery that has haunted the region for decades now.
According to data compiled by USA Today and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), over 200 individuals have lost their lives at Lake Lanier between 1994 and 2022. These grim statistics paint a chilling picture of a seemingly cursed waterway.
The statistics mentioned that years 2018 and 2019 had eight drownings each and in 2020, seven lives were tragically lost. This continued with four in 2021 and six in 2022. In addition, there were 48 boating fatalities during the same period as well.
With the haunting figures continuing, this year, there have been eight drownings with the latest one being reported on Saturday evening. However, this year there have been no reports of boating fatalities thus far.
These haunting figures surely raise a doubt that the lake is really haunted. Well, Lake Lanier’s history has paved ample reasons for this assumption to be true. The lake, constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1956, was built by displacing more than 1,000 people along with 20 cemeteries, 15 businesses, and six churches. Among these, the town of Oscarville, predominantly Black, was among those sacrificed to make way for the reservoir.
There have also been speculations that over 700 souls have perished in its depths since its inception, leading to a chilling belief that the lake is cursed and haunted. One of the most infamous tales haunting Lake Lanier is that of the "Lady of the Lake." In 1958, two women met a tragic end when their car veered into the lake near Lanier Bridge. Both vanished without a trace. A year later, a fisherman made a grim discovery—a body, later identified as the Lady of the Lake. In 1990, during bridge expansion work, another woman's remains were found inside the submerged car, likely Susie Roberts.
The tales of vengeful spirits may also be connected to the 20 cemeteries disturbed during the lake's construction. The restless souls of those buried there, angered by their disturbance, are believed by some to be responsible for the eerie occurrences in the vicinity.
However, despite the haunting legends and rising death toll, Lake Lanier remains a popular destination, drawing millions each year. The question of whether it is genuinely cursed or merely a tragic coincidence remains unanswered, leaving more and more visitors curious about the haunting waters.