Old Hickory Lake Homes

A lake home is not just a house with a view. Before you buy one, you need to know where your lot ends, where the Corps of Engineers land begins, whether a dock is allowed, and how deep the water is at the shoreline. When you sell one, you need buyers to understand what the water adds.

Scott Hardesty helps people buy and sell homes on Old Hickory Lake, on the Mt. Juliet side in Wilson County and on the Old Hickory side in Nashville. You work with Scott directly, and he tells you plainly what he sees.

Why Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake is a Corps of Engineers lake on the Cumberland River, just northeast of downtown Nashville. It covers about 22,500 acres, with about 440 miles of shoreline. The lake filled in 1954. It was built for power and river traffic, and today it is also a lake for boating and fishing.

It is a "run of the river" lake, so the water level does not swing much during the year. Normal pool is 445 feet above sea level.

On the Mt. Juliet side, you have Cedar Creek Marina and the Corps campground and swim beach at Cedar Creek, both off Saundersville Road, and the Shutes Branch area with a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and a mountain bike trail. On the Old Hickory side, you have Blue Turtle Bay Marina and the Corps swim beach at Old Hickory Beach. Downtown Nashville is a short drive from either side.

Neighborhoods on and near the lake

These are some of the neighborhoods that sit on the lake or right next to it. Frontage, docks, and slips are different from one house to the next, even on the same street. Always check the specific address.

Mt. Juliet side (Wilson County, 37122)

• Hickory Isles. At the north end of Mt. Juliet off Saundersville Ferry Road. Some homes have lake frontage and a private dock. Others have lake views and no dock. It goes house by house.
• Horseshoe Cove. Off Nonaville Road, wrapped around a cove on the lake. Streets include Singing Springs Road and Horseshoe Court. Many homes here were built in the 1990s and have lake views.
• Lake Forest Acres. A small, older neighborhood on Shadow Lane, reached from Lake Forest Drive. Homes back up to the lake, and some have docks. Expect septic here, not sewer.
• Port Spencer. On a peninsula off Burton Road, on Pointview Circle and Burton Point Road. Several homes are lakefront, and some have existing dock permits.
• Camelot Cove. Off Burton Road, on a shallow backwater cove of Spencer Creek. In a past review, the Corps kept this shoreline as mowing only, with no private docks, because the water is so shallow. Lake views, yes. A private dock, don't count on it.

Old Hickory side (37138)

• Brandywine Pointe. Off Shute Lane in Old Hickory. Clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, and a community boat dock on the lake. Some homes come with a slip in the community dock. Check slip rights and dock fees with the HOA. I used to live here.
• Brandywine Harbor. A small gated neighborhood off Willow Bough Lane with a private community dock and a pool on the lake.
• Old Hickory Village. The historic village where DuPont built homes for its plant workers. Bungalows and larger older homes on tree-lined streets, a short walk from the lake. Most homes here are near the lake, not on it.

Have another street in mind? Call Scott and ask. If he doesn't know it well, he'll tell you, and then he'll go learn it.

What to know before you buy on the lake

The shoreline belongs to the Corps

On Old Hickory Lake, the shoreline itself is public land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Most lakefront lots end at a Corps property line, not at the water. What you can do on that strip, like mowing, a path, or a dock, depends on a Corps permit.

Not every lakefront lot can have a dock

The Corps sorts the shoreline into areas. Only some areas allow private docks. Others allow mowing only, and some allow neither. Even in an area marked for docks, a permit is not promised. The Corps looks at the lot, the water depth, and the effect on boat traffic first.

To qualify for your own dock, you have to own the lot that touches Corps land, with no road or common area in between. You need at least 65 feet of allocated shoreline, and docks must sit at least 50 feet apart. Docks on this lake are floating docks. They have to float at normal pool.

Dock permits do not transfer

A Corps shoreline permit does not go with the house. When you buy, you apply for your own permit. Before a sale, the owner can ask the Corps for a "realtor letter." It shows the shoreline class next to the lot and flags any problems with the current permit. Scott asks for one early, so there are no surprises at closing.

Flood lines and the lot itself

Some lake lots include flowage easement land, which the Corps can flood if it needs to. You can't build on it, and fill dirt is limited. Scott will also have you check the FEMA flood map for the address and price flood insurance before you commit.

Lake lots often slope toward the water. Look at the walk down to the dock, drainage, and any retaining walls. Many older lake homes are on septic, so ask for the septic permit and an inspection. And the Corps is updating its shoreline plan for Old Hickory Lake, so ask Scott what that could mean for a lot you like.

Why Scott knows this lake

I used to live in Brandywine Pointe in Old Hickory, right by the lake, so I know what daily life on this water is like.

Selling a lake home

Lake buyers ask different questions. Is there a dock, and is the permit current? How deep is the water at the dock? What is the shoreline class? Scott gets those answers ready before you list, including the realtor letter from the Corps, so buyers can say yes faster. Then he prices the home against real lake sales, not the average house in town.

Questions people ask about Old Hickory Lake homes

Does a lakefront home come with a dock?

Not always. Some have a permitted dock, some share a community dock, and some can't have one at all. Check the Corps permit for that exact lot.

Can I add a dock after I buy?

Only if the lot is in a shoreline area that allows private docks and meets the Corps rules, like 65 feet of allocated shoreline and enough water depth. Scott will help you check before you make an offer.

If the house has a dock now, is it mine when I close?

The dock can convey with the house, but the Corps permit does not. You apply for a new permit in your name. The seller can request a realtor letter first, so you know the status.

Does the water level change a lot?

Not much. Old Hickory is a run of the river lake, so it stays close to normal pool, 445 feet above sea level, most of the year. In big floods it can rise higher.

Mt. Juliet side or Old Hickory side?

The Mt. Juliet side is in Wilson County, with Wilson County Schools. The Old Hickory side is mostly in Davidson County, with Metro Nashville Public Schools. Some Old Hickory mailing addresses are in Wilson County, so always confirm the county and school zone for the exact address.

Talk with Scott about Old Hickory Lake

Thinking about buying or selling a home on Old Hickory Lake? Call or text Scott at 615-762-7556. He'll listen first, answer your questions, and tell you honestly what he would do in your spot.