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Franklin County

Hardy, Wirtz & the West End

The commuter's end of the lake. Closest to Roanoke, narrower protected water, and the best odds of keeping a real job while living on a lake.

Who this area suits

Is this your part of the lake?

People still working in Roanoke, buyers who want protected water for kayaks and small children, and anyone who wants waterfront without the wide-open exposure.

Boater's shorthand: Roanoke channel, roughly R55–R80 toward the Hardy Bridge.

Genuinely commutable

Thirty minutes to Roanoke is the difference between a weekend house and a life. The west end is where full-time working buyers most often land.

Narrower, calmer water

The upper Roanoke arm is tighter than the main body. Less chop, more protection, easier paddling — and correspondingly less of the big open panorama. Depth also matters more up here; ask about the water depth at your dock at low pond, not just at full pond.

More off-water value

Because the water narrows, there is a bigger inventory of off-water and water-access homes at real prices. If you would rather have the house than the shoreline, this end rewards you.

Franklin County services

Rocky Mount is the county seat and about twenty-five minutes. Westlake is your closer everyday stop.

One thing to watch here

Upper-arm waterfront can get shallow. A dock that floats in April may sit on mud in a dry September. Verify depth at the dock and ask whether the community has dredging history.

The practical facts

County
Franklin County
Towns
Hardy, Wirtz, Glade Hill
Roanoke
30 min
Roanoke-Blacksburg airport
40 min
Rocky Mount
25 min
Westlake
20 min

Schools

Franklin County Public Schools, with Roanoke County private options within reasonable reach.

Communities in and around Hardy & the West End

A starting point, not a complete list — there are more than 320 waterfront subdivisions across the lake.

CommunityWhereWhat it is
The CovesWaterfront · EcoMoneta, Franklin Co.Solar arrays, eco-conscious design and a community amphitheater.
Highland LakesMixedWirtz, Franklin Co.A larger mixed-character community on the west end of the lake.
Fox ChaseMixedWirtz, Franklin Co.Established mixed-character neighborhood on the Franklin side.

Browse the full community directory →

What are you looking for here?

The agent who is right for a waterfront estate in this area is not the agent who is right for a condo. Pick what fits.

Off-Water & Water Access

Lake life at a fraction of the price — if you understand exactly what "water access" does and does not include.

What to know

Lots & New Construction

Building at the lake is the highest-variance path there is. It can be the best value on the water or an expensive lesson.

What to know

Rentals

Renting first is the smartest thing most lake buyers never do. We will help you find it — even though there is nothing in it for us.

What to know

Other parts of the lake

Bedford Co.

Moneta & the North Shore

The classic lake side. Cottages and chalets tucked into wooded coves, the State Park, and the county where short-term rentals are permitted.

Explore this area
Bedford Co.

Huddleston & the East End

Deep water, wide views, and the quietest stretch of main channel — the lake between the bridges and the dam.

Explore this area
Franklin Co.

Westlake & Hales Ford

The center of gravity. Groceries, the clinic, Bridgewater Plaza, and the bridge everyone crosses — plus the lake's densest cluster of condos and townhomes.

Explore this area