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Douglas Lake Dock Builder

Douglas Lake covers 30,400 acres on the French Broad River — with one of the biggest seasonal drawdowns in the TVA system, sometimes 40+ feet between summer and winter pool. Floating docks dominate. We design, permit, and build the full catalog.

30,400Acres
43 miLength
~38 ftSeasonal Drawdown
4Counties Served
Douglas Lake

One of the largest drawdowns in the TVA system.


Douglas Lake sits on the French Broad River, impounded by the Douglas Dam in 1943. 30,400 acres of shoreline stretch across Sevier, Jefferson, Cocke, and Hamblen counties — with a seasonal drawdown that defines every build decision on the lake.

Douglas's drawdown can hit 38 to 40 feet between summer full pool and winter pool. That swing makes floating docks — with pile-guided systems rated for the full travel — the dominant build. Fixed docks are rare and require careful design.

Start a Douglas Build
Custom Blue Horizon dock at Douglas Lake
Services on Douglas

Full Catalog, Across Douglas Lake


Docks

Marine-grade lumber, galvanized hardware, decades of life. Pile-driven foundations.

Boat & PWC Lifts

Tide Tamer, Floatair, WaveArmor, American Muscle — sized to your hull.

Blueprints & Design

Custom drawings, permit packages, build estimates — designed for the lake.

TVA 26a Permits

We file every permit, pay the $1,000 fee, and manage TVA review end-to-end.

Finished Blue Horizon dock build at Douglas Lake
Drawdown Strategy

Built for a 40-Foot Swing.


There's no way around it: Douglas Lake's seasonal drawdown is enormous. Designs that work on Watts Bar or Chickamauga don't translate. Pile-guided floating systems with full-travel hardware are the default. Anchoring, gangway design, and lift sizing all account for the swing.

  • Pile-guided floating docks with travel rated for 40-foot range — the only practical year-round build.
  • Long-travel gangway ramps with shore-side hinges to handle the grade change.
  • Floatair lifts integrated into the dock frame so they ride the same drawdown.
  • Anchoring system spec'd for the low-pool depth, not summer.
Douglas Communities

Where We Build on Douglas


Sevierville, TN

Sevier County's major lake-front market — residential and vacation.

Dandridge, TN

Northern Douglas shoreline; lake-cottage and second-home builds.

White Pine, TN

Northeast Douglas communities and dock activity.

Cocke County

Eastern Douglas shoreline near the French Broad headwaters.

Ready to Build on Douglas Lake?

TVA permits handled, fees included, in-house crew on every build. Same-week site visits typical.

Frequently Asked

Douglas Lake FAQ


Is Douglas's drawdown really 40 feet?

It can be. The lake can drop close to 40 feet between summer full pool and the deepest part of winter drawdown. That's why floating docks dominate.

Can I build a fixed dock on Douglas?

Possible but uncommon. The dock would either be unusable at winter pool or require very long ladders/stairs to the water. We typically recommend floating.

Do I need a TVA 26a permit on Douglas?

Yes — Douglas is TVA-managed. We file, cover the $1,000 fee, and manage TVA review on every Douglas build.

How are lifts sized for that much drawdown?

Floating lifts (Floatair) ride the same drawdown the dock does, so cradle-to-hull alignment stays consistent. That's the cleanest answer to the lift question on Douglas.

Where on the lake do you work?

Across all four counties — Sevierville, Dandridge, White Pine, and Cocke County shoreline. Lake-wide service.

Douglas Quote

Tell us where you are.


Address, community, or nearest landmark — we'll find you. Site visits typically within the week.

HoursMonday – Friday · 8:00am – 5:00pm

Douglas Lake Inquiry

We'll reach out within one business day.

We reply within 1 business day.