Waterfront living in Loudon County has a clear center of gravity: Tennessee National, a 1,492-acre gated community on Watts Bar Lake, about 35-40 minutes from downtown Knoxville. If you’ve been searching for a community home near the water in East Tennessee, this guide covers the home types, the costs, and the amenities that actually exist here — no guesswork.
What “waterfront community home” means at Tennessee National
Tennessee National is a planned, gated waterfront golf community. Homes here are custom-built in a Craftsman architectural style, set among 80 miles of navigable shoreline on Watts Bar Lake. You are not buying a generic subdivision lot — you are buying into a community with a private marina, a Greg Norman signature 18-hole golf course, and 400+ active members.
There are a few ways to own here, depending on your budget and timeline.
The home types you can buy
Custom lake homes. Most residents build a custom home on their lot. There is no timeline to build after you buy land, so you can purchase now and design later. More than 300 homes are already built and occupied.
Townhomes and cottage packages. If you want lower-maintenance living or a faster move-in, townhome and cottage packages are available. These suit second-home buyers and retirees who want the lake lifestyle without a full custom build.
Dockable lake lots. For the first time, a limited number of dockable lake lots are being offered. A dockable lot lets you keep a boat at your own shoreline. These command a premium — a dockable lot can add roughly $250K-$500K over a comparable interior lot — and supply is limited.
What it costs
Lots at Tennessee National run from $99K to $850K, depending on location, view, and water access. The single-family HOA is $150 per month. Tennessee has no state income tax, which is one of the most common reasons buyers from higher-tax states make the move.
Compared with coastal waterfront markets, the math here is favorable: freshwater lake frontage, four mild seasons, and no state income tax on your retirement or investment income.
The amenities that come with it
This is a golf-cart community built around the water and the course. Owners get:
- A full-service marina with boat slips on Watts Bar Lake
- A Greg Norman signature 18-hole golf course, plus reciprocal golf at 800+ courses worldwide
- Gated, secure entry
- An active social calendar with 400+ members
The 80 miles of navigable shoreline mean real boating — not a pond. Watts Bar is a TVA freshwater reservoir, so you get open water, fishing, and long cruising without the corrosion and upkeep that ocean frontage demands.
Where it sits
Location is the quiet advantage. Tennessee National is in Loudon, Loudon County, in East Tennessee. Downtown Knoxville is 35-40 minutes away. Farragut is about 22 minutes — handy for guest lodging and shopping. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is the nearby commercial airport, and Chattanooga makes an easy 90-minute day trip.
That puts you close enough to a real city for healthcare, dining, and flights, but far enough out to wake up to water and quiet.
How to choose your spot
Walk the community at different times of day. Look at how the lot sits relative to the water and the course, confirm whether the lot is dockable, and review the HOA documents so you understand what the $150/month covers. Talk to current members about day-to-day life — the golf-cart culture, the social calendar, and the seasons.
If waterfront access and an active golf-and-boating community are what you want, Loudon County’s clearest answer is Tennessee National.
Ready to see what’s available? Explore current properties at Tennessee National and find your spot on Watts Bar Lake.
