Part of the Gauley River National Recreation Area, the dam was finally finished in 1966. The 390-foot tall dam results in a lake roughly fourteen miles long which encompasses almost three thousand acres - the largest impoundment in the state. The releases in the late summer and fall make for excellent whitewater rafting. Amenities include a beach, boating facilities, campground, marina, and picnic areas. The annual Gauley River Festival is held in the town of Summersville on the 3rd Saturday in September.