Why Old Hickory Lake is better than Percy Priest

Let’s get this out of the way: both lakes technically have water. But if you’re deciding where to actually spend time, make friends, dock a boat or build a lake routine you come back to year after year, Old Hickory Lake is in a different league than Percy Priest Lake.

Geography: Bigger, longer, better

Old Hickory Lake stretches roughly 97 miles along the Cumberland River and spans about 22,500 acres. It’s long, winding and full of personality — narrow channels, wide open stretches, quiet coves, shallow hangout spots and deeper cruising lanes.

Percy Priest is smaller (around 14,000 acres) and shaped more like a bowl. Which means:

• Boats stack up faster

• Noise carries

• And everyone ends up on top of each other by noon

Shallow water = More fun, less work

Old Hickory has intentionally shallow coves — especially places like Two Foot Cove — where boats naturally slow down and anchor. Anchoring in shallow water allows for a more community feel—you can get off the boat, walk around and socialize float.

And yes, Two Foot Cove (2’ Cove) is such a vibe that:

• A full-on concert was staged there for a music video

• Boats tie up

• People mingle

• Cameras roll

That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the space works.

On Percy, it can be exhausting just to exist: trying to keep your drink from spilling, keeping your float stable—all while treading water so you don’t drift into lake traffic.

Houses, docks and actual lake living

Old Hickory Lake is lined with real waterfront homes — from charming lake cottages to sprawling, multi-million-dollar estates. It’s also well known for celebrity-owned homes and high-profile properties, which says a lot: people who can live anywhere choose Old Hickory for privacy, space and actual lake living.

• Private docks

• Long-term residents

• Neighbors who live on the water year-round — not just for the weekend

That matters. Homes create permanence. Permanence creates community.

Percy Priest, by design, has a massive amount of public land and park shoreline. Translation: fewer private docks, fewer true lakefront neighborhoods, and less of that “this is our lake” feeling.

Old Hickory feels lived-in.
Percy feels borrowed.

Old Hickory Lake joins the Cumberland River system

Old Hickory Lake operates on commercially navigable waters, since it’s part of the Cumberland River system — and yes, that does make a difference. Because it’s designed to accommodate commercial traffic and larger vessels, you’ll naturally see bigger boats on Old Hickory: large pontoons, cruisers, sailboats and properly licensed charter vessels that simply wouldn’t make sense on smaller lakes. The wider channels, maintained depths, and lock-and-dam system create a lake that’s built for real boating, not just quick spins and weekend congestion.

In contrast, Percy Priest was designed primarily for flood control which means smaller boats, tighter spaces and more limitations.

In short …

Old Hickory Lake stands out because it offers space, variety, and a setting that supports real community, with waterfront homes, private docks, familiar faces, and coves where conversations, friendships, and even concerts happen naturally. It’s a lake built for people who come back year after year, not just once on a hot Saturday — and that’s exactly why Old Hickory doesn’t just feel better, it is better.