Docks
Default Nickajack build — stable levels and steep banks favor pile-driven construction.
Steady year-round levels and a 46-mile stretch of Tennessee River shoreline make Nickajack one of the easier TVA lakes to build on. We design, permit, and build across all 10,400 acres — from Chattanooga's south side down to the Nickajack Dam.
Nickajack stretches 46 miles downstream from the Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga to the Nickajack Dam at the Tennessee River Gorge. At ~10,400 acres across Hamilton and Marion counties, it's smaller and quieter than its upstream neighbors — with year-round operating levels that make scheduling much easier.
Most of our Nickajack work is fixed docks and boat lifts. Steady levels and steep banks favor pile-driven construction, with floating systems showing up on the rare property where depth or shoreline angle calls for it.
Start a Nickajack Build
Default Nickajack build — stable levels and steep banks favor pile-driven construction.
Tide Tamer cable lifts, Floatair platforms, jet ski platforms — sized to the slip and hull.
Custom drawings designed around Nickajack's steep banks and shoreline access.
Every Nickajack project needs one. We file, pay the $1,000 fee, and manage TVA review.
Nickajack's minimal seasonal swing — about 2 feet — makes scheduling and design simpler than the upstream reservoirs. The lake's tradeoff is shoreline: many Nickajack properties sit on steep banks above the water, which puts a premium on shoreline access and dock approach design.
Lower-river residential and recreational dock work below the Chickamauga Dam.
Marion County mid-lake residential market with active dock construction.
Southwest Marion County shoreline; second-home and lake-cottage builds.
Steep-bank properties near the western end of Nickajack and the dam.
Steady levels, year-round scheduling, manageable shoreline. TVA permits handled and fees included on every build.
Stable seasonal levels (about 2 feet of fluctuation) and clearer scheduling. Fixed docks behave well year-round and lift sizing doesn't have to account for big drawdowns.
Yes — Nickajack is TVA-managed. Every dock, lift, and demolition needs a 26a permit. We file and cover the $1,000 fee on every build.
Yes. Steep banks are common on Nickajack. We design longer gangways, shoreline stairs, and platform-style entries that handle the grade.
Below-dam properties have their own rules. We've built there — the design constraints are different, but the path is the same.
Quieter than Chickamauga or Watts Bar but still active — especially on summer weekends. We spec mooring and lift positioning with that in mind.
Other lakes we serve
Address, community, or nearest landmark — we'll find you. Most Nickajack site visits happen within the week.
We'll reach out within one business day.