Lake Anna - FAQ'sFor those that live at Lake Anna, some of these questions will make you smile, they did me. But for those who haven't been to Lake Anna (the other 304,059,720 Million of the population) they are valid questions.
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Q: I am looking to install an internet connection to my Lake Anna area home,
and I was wondering what my options are. A: The answer will entirely depend on where on the lake you live. But I will give you the list in the order of fastest to slowest internet choices. Cable - provided by Comcast. There are a handful of subdivisions that are actually getting Cox Cable and section running down 208 on the Spotsylvania side. I would check this first, just in case you have this option. Cons: A lot of people tend to get angry at this company because of the undependable and poor customer service. Verizon High Speed or FIOS - The difference here, is High Speed comes over the phone line but does not necessarily have to be a fiber optic line to receive the service. FIOS if available is fiber optic and also can deliver your phone, TV, and Internet all in one nice package. Cons: Per FIOS option, if you loose service you just lost your phone, TV and internet...try reaching customer support now. Customer support is going downhill very very fast! The next two are not it order of preference because the jury is still out. Air Card - Provided by cell phone service companies. It uses the same connection a cell phone uses, through the air (aka satellite). This is a good choice if you have a good cell phone reception around your computer, but not all is lost if you don't because there are extensions to be able to move the receiver away from the computer a bit, and there are some expensive antennas to help draw in the signal also. Cons: You must purchase this service for each computer and if you have more than one, this can be expensive. Some of the cell phone companies give you a limit on the incoming and outgoing data then start charge, but this seems to slowly be disappearing. Customer service will depend on which company you choose to provide this service. VA Broadband - This is another company that is coming through the area, and the speed is much better then your satellite option which you will read below. This service uses an antenna that shoots to one of the VA Broadband towers that are in your service area (a 2 mile radius) then travels by fiber optics to the servers. If you go over your data limit they won't bring your service to it's knees as Hughesnet, but will start charging by the gigabit your are over. The amount of data is regulated by the month. Cons: You are regulated to the amount you can upload and download and can get very expensive if you love (sharing) files on the internet. Hughesnet - This company uses satellite that shoots from the dish mounted at your home (with a clear view of the southern sky). You are limited to upload and download according to the plan you purchase, which is regulated every 24 hours. But if you go over that amount in a 24 hour period they don't start charging you, instead they knock your service down to the point it becomes slower then dial up for the next 24 hours. Cons: Customer service tends to make you want to go outside and start laying fiber optics to your nearest Verizon box! And last but slowly being forgotten, Dial Up. We just won't go into this one, because the question is basically asking how not to have to have dial up! :) Q: I would like more information about swimming--the places, the hours. If swimming is possible in September.
A: Places that have beaches you can get into for a fee. Lake Anna State Park and Lake Anna Marina. Those give you beach access and parking.
It is possible to swim all year long as long as your willing to get into the water. :)
Q: I was just wondering how much it cost to get into the beach at Lake Anna.
A: There is actually more then one place at Lake Anna that offers a public beach in which to enjoy the lake at. The largest by far is located at the Lake Anna State Park. But there are also marina’s that have sectioned off part of the shoreline for public beach use.
Q: I noticed that boaters are allowed to stay on the lake overnight. I was wondering if it was also allowed to find a spot on the shoreline to beach your boat and camp out overnight.
A: Yes, you can stay on your boat overnight, but you can't pull up to the shore and camp out. Most of the land around Lake Anna is privately owned, so you would be trespassing on private land at that point. But there are several places around the lake that offer camping and boat launching. So you can spend the day and night in either place.
Q: Where do I check in at Lake Anna?
A: Every business on the lake will say HERE! Lake Anna spans 3 counties, so it is not a "private" lake that you have to enter at any given point. Think of it like when you head to the ocean, you have places for rent right on the water or near the water; you have public facilities that allow you to launch boats, camp, fish. You have a lot of private land that would not look kindly on you "camping out" in their yard. So it would be easiest to find a place to stay that fits your needs and budget, and then decide what activities are of interest to you and your family and find the facilities offering that. The best place to find lake rentals are the local real estate companies. If you are looking for a day trip you can always hang out at the Lake Anna State park. If you want to bring a boat with you, the lake has many marinas’ that offer launching ramps and stores.
Q: Can I bring my dog to Lake Anna?
A: Only if it is nice. :)
Q: Where can I launch my boat at Lake Anna?
A: Any of the many marina's, campgrounds, State Park, or if you have a friend that lives here with Lake Access.
Q: The private (warm side) and public (cold side) is confusing me, why are there two sides to Lake Anna?
A: The Lake was originally created for a power plant that keeps the lake pristine and a beautiful place to visit as well as live. They dammed off a section of the lake to separate the water. The private side (warm side, because the water tends to be warmer on that side) is just as it suggests. You need to be a land owner to access that side of the lake. It has no public facilities such as marina’s, restaurants and places for your boat to gas up. The people that live on the private side love the tranquility it gives them from being the smaller part of the lake and less activity.
The Public side is as it suggests. Places around the lake that offer the general public access.
Q: I was at Lake Anna last weekend and lost one of our floats from the boat, does Lake Anna have a lost and found?
A: Not an official lost and found, though I'm sure as the Lake Anna Chamber of Commerce grows we can add it as one of our many services. For now people are using the local paper, The Central Virginian and the websites that offer this service such as lakeanna-va.com
Q: Where can I camp at Lake Anna?
A: There are several places you can camp at Lake Anna, Christopher Run, Dukes Creek Marina, and the Lake Anna State Park has cabins. As I hear from the other businesses that offer camping I will add them. All of the above do have websites.
Q: Our friends said they went to Lake Anna and when they got back from their hike there car was gone, it ended up being towed. There wasn’t any No Parking Allowed sign either. Why was it towed?
A: That is hard to say, not knowing where they parked. But if they were gone for an hour or two, then I doubt they parked on someone’s private land, most people at Lake Anna understand how people new to the area can get confused and think they are on public land. If it was off the side of major road law enforcement may have thought it broke down and with no note on the windshield they would have to take some sort of action.
Q: Where is public parking at Lake Anna?
A: There is no "Public" parking lot at Lake Anna. But all of the businesses have made room for you car so you can stop in and stay for awhile. The State Park also has room for your car for the day or week if you wish.
Q: When is the best time (weather wise) to visit Lake Anna?
A: That would solely depend on how hot or cold you like it, and if you were coming to fish or swim. Lake Anna generally has mild winters and warm humid summers. The winter temperatures during the coldest month, January average from 27 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer temperatures during it's warmest month, July average from 68 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: Where is the best place for sailboats at Lake Anna?
A: The south end of the lake is the best spot for sailboats. The reason it is the largest area of water that is not going to run into a low bridge. Not the best thing for a sailboat. There are several bridges across Lake Anna, and the when you are in the south end of the lake the first bridge you will encounter is at Rt. 208. Locally known as the 208 bridge.
Q: We were out on Lake Anna and some of the jet skiers were being rude and very dangerous around our boat and our kids we were trying to pull on skies, who do you report that too?
A: To report an accident (I know it says accident) that has just occurred, please contact the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Dispatch Section at (804) 367-1258. A Conservation Police Officer will be dispatched to the scene to investigate the accident. If you are witnessing unsafe boating I'm sure you can call the same number and they can route you to the correct people.
Just a word about watercraft safety for those that live here and those that visit. We are by no means as bad off as those at Smith Mountain Lake, but we did have 23 accidents in 2007. I don't have the numbers yet for 2008. But that is 23 too many.
8 were due to carelessness
5 to operator inattention (sounds like carelessness to me. :)
3 to other (what constitutes an “other”)?
I know for sure that 13 of those accidents could have been avoided. You can teach and help people understand the ways of proper watercraft safety but as I heard a the last town meeting, you cannot teach manners or courtesy. Something that if we could spread through out the boating community I would believe would make Lake Anna the safest lake in the United States.
So leave the road rage at work. And let's see if we can help those that just don't know any better. Stop, flag them over without anger and explain when they "ride your waves" they are putting those you are pulling in danger of being killed and that takes away from any enjoyment you are allowed on the lake. I do believe ignorance is the cause of 95% of our inconsiderate and dangerous watercraft behavior. So if you live here, take a moment to step back and try to educate the person as to why you are not enjoying what they are doing.
It really is all we can do for each of us to help, one at a time. And if they don’t want to listen to reason, just call the number above to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Dispatch. Maybe they will be able to “help” them understand.
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FAQ's
