Virginia Travel Gets a Major Boost as Smith Mountain Lake Eyes New Nashville-Style Attraction

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Virginia Travel could gain a fresh entertainment draw as a proposed Nashville-inspired destination takes shape near Smith Mountain Lake. The planned Black Angus Company would redevelop the former Sunken City Brewing Company property at 40 Brewery Drive in Hardy into a broader dining and entertainment venue. The concept proposes a restaurant and central tavern, indoor and outdoor live-music areas, a billiards lounge and western-themed retail. The project is not yet open and remains in development. Yet Smith Mountain Lake already has a powerful tourism base built around boating, fishing, hiking, golf, accommodation and scenic Blue Ridge Mountain landscapes.

Smith Mountain Lake Travel Could Gain a New Entertainment Powerhouse

The proposed Black Angus Company represents a potential change in how visitors experience Smith Mountain Lake.

JCPA Properties has announced plans to acquire and redevelop the former Sunken City Brewing Company property near Westlake Towne Center. The proposal also includes some surrounding acreage.

The concept is designed as more than a conventional restaurant.

The proposed destination would combine dining with live entertainment and western-inspired experiences.

Plans currently include a central restaurant and tavern, indoor and outdoor music spaces, a billiards lounge and a western-themed retail and mercantile shop.

Because the project remains proposed, its design, construction schedule and opening date could change.

That distinction is important for travellers.

The venue should currently be regarded as a potential future attraction rather than an operating tourism site.

Why the Proposed Venue Could Transform Virginia Travel

Smith Mountain Lake already attracts visitors through outdoor recreation.

The lake is described by Virginia’s official tourism organisation as the state’s second-largest freshwater lake, extending approximately 40 miles with about 500 miles of shoreline. It is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and spans parts of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties.

That creates a strong foundation for leisure tourism.

Visitors already come for boating, fishing, swimming, sailing, hiking and golf.

The proposed entertainment destination could add another reason to remain in the area after outdoor activities finish.

A traveller could spend the afternoon on the lake and the evening at a restaurant or live-music venue.

That creates a more complete itinerary.

Smith Mountain Lake Already Has a Powerful Tourism Base

The lake is far more than a scenic body of water.

Virginia’s official tourism resources promote boating, canoeing, sailing, parasailing, swimming, fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and jet skiing.

The region also has marinas, boat-rental businesses, guides, lakefront accommodation and golf courses.

Virginia tourism information identifies five golf courses and five wineries around Smith Mountain Lake, alongside hotels, conference facilities and other visitor services.

This gives the proposed development an existing tourism ecosystem to connect with.

The new attraction would not need to create an entirely new visitor market.

Instead, it could potentially provide another experience for people already travelling to the lake.

Nashville-Style Music Could Extend the Tourism Day

Live music is expected to be one of the most important elements of the proposed Black Angus Company.

The plan includes both indoor and outdoor performance areas.

This could be particularly significant for Smith Mountain Lake because the area’s traditional tourism is heavily associated with daytime outdoor activities.

Music could help create evening demand.

Travellers could move from boating, fishing or hiking during daylight hours to dining and live performances after sunset.

The concept could also attract visitors who are less interested in water sports.

That would broaden the potential audience for the destination.

Autumn Could Become More Attractive for Smith Mountain Lake Travel

The lake is not only a summer destination.

Virginia’s official tourism material promotes Smith Mountain Lake for outdoor activities across different seasons.

Autumn can bring cooler temperatures, changing foliage and mountain scenery.

A future live-music and dining destination could complement those experiences.

Visitors could spend the day hiking or taking scenic drives before heading to an evening performance.

This type of itinerary could help strengthen shoulder-season tourism.

It could also encourage visitors to stay overnight instead of making a short day trip.

What Travellers Can Experience at Smith Mountain Lake Now

The proposed Black Angus Company is not the only reason to visit.

Smith Mountain Lake already offers a broad selection of activities.

Boating and Water Sports

The lake provides extensive opportunities for boating, sailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing and other water sports.

Boat rentals are available through local operators, while guides provide fishing and boating services.

Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation also promotes Smith Mountain Lake State Park as a destination for boating and other water-based recreation.

Hiking and Nature

Smith Mountain Lake State Park contains more than 1,500 acres and offers hiking trails, campsites, cabins, picnic areas and ranger programmes.

The state park currently lists more than 12 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to moderate routes.

This makes the area suitable for families and travellers who want to combine lake activities with walking and nature exploration.

Wildlife Experiences

The state park also provides wildlife-focused programming.

Recent official programmes have included bird-watching cruises, guided walks and nature activities.

The Discovery Center provides another educational option, with activities focusing on local flora, fauna and the lake’s history.

That gives families an alternative to spending the entire trip on the water.

The Former Brewery Has Its Own Smith Mountain Lake History

The proposed development would occupy the former Sunken City Brewing Company property.

The brewery’s official history described an 8,800-square-foot facility with a brewhouse, fermentation area, canning room, taproom and outdoor beer garden.

Its name reflected the history of Monroe, a community that was flooded during the creation of Smith Mountain Lake in the 1960s.

That history gives the property an unusual connection to the lake.

A redevelopment would therefore create a new tourism identity on a site already associated with food, drink and community experiences.

Virginia’s Tourism Strategy Supports Experience-Led Development

The proposed attraction arrives as Virginia focuses on expanding its tourism economy.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s 2026–2029 statewide strategy identifies product development, outdoor recreation, lodging and family-friendly attractions as priorities.

The state also announced more than $2.2 million in matching grant and sponsorship funding for 143 local tourism programmes in May 2026. The combined initiatives were expected to generate more than $6.5 million in marketing and event-production activity.

The wider strategy aims to strengthen visitation, extend stays and increase visitor spending.

A lake destination combining outdoor recreation with dining and entertainment fits naturally within that tourism model.

Could Music Tourism Strengthen the Smith Mountain Lake Economy?

The proposed venue could potentially create additional visitor spending across several sectors.

Travellers attending a live performance may also spend on:

Accommodation.

Restaurants.

Transportation.

Retail.

Outdoor activities.

Local attractions.

That is particularly valuable because tourism impacts can extend beyond the attraction itself.

A visitor who comes for music may book a hotel, eat locally and spend another day exploring the lake.

The result could be a longer and more valuable stay.

However, the actual economic impact cannot be determined until the project is constructed and operating.

Virginia’s Craft Beverage Culture Adds Another Tourism Connection

The proposed destination would also enter a state with a strong craft beverage tourism network.

Virginia’s official tourism organisation says the Commonwealth has more than 200 craft breweries and promotes regional beer trails linking breweries with other local businesses.

Virginia tourism also promotes brewery experiences alongside food, music and outdoor recreation.

That combination mirrors the broader concept proposed for Smith Mountain Lake.

The future Black Angus destination could potentially become part of a wider food, beverage and entertainment itinerary.

Smith Mountain Lake Is Already Accessible for Travellers

The lake’s location supports weekend and longer leisure trips.

Virginia tourism information says nearby airports in Roanoke and Lynchburg are less than an hour’s drive from Smith Mountain Lake. The lake is also around four hours from Washington, D.C., and about three hours from North Carolina.

That accessibility is important for regional tourism.

A visitor can travel from a major population centre, spend several days at the lake and combine outdoor activities with dining and entertainment.

The proposed development could strengthen that weekend-break proposition.

What Travellers Should Know About the New Attraction

The most important point is that The Black Angus Company is not yet an operating attraction.

The proposal remains in development following plans to acquire and redevelop the former brewery property.

Travellers should therefore not plan a trip specifically around the venue until confirmed construction and opening information is released.

Smith Mountain Lake itself remains fully relevant for travel planning.

Visitors can already enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, golf, dining, lakefront accommodation and state-park experiences.

The Bigger Future for Smith Mountain Lake Travel

The proposed project illustrates a wider shift in destination development.

Outdoor destinations increasingly need experiences that work beyond daylight hours.

Smith Mountain Lake already has the natural attraction.

The lake draws visitors during the day.

A music and dining venue could potentially provide another reason to remain in the area after sunset.

That could strengthen the destination’s appeal to couples, groups and weekend visitors seeking a mix of recreation and entertainment.

It could also support a broader year-round tourism strategy.

Conclusion

Virginia Travel could gain a compelling new attraction if the proposed Black Angus Company moves forward at Smith Mountain Lake. The Nashville-inspired project would bring together dining, live music, billiards and western-themed retail on the former Sunken City Brewing Company property in Hardy. Yet the project remains proposed, while Smith Mountain Lake already offers a substantial tourism experience through boating, fishing, hiking, golf, wildlife programmes and lakefront recreation. The potential addition is significant because it could give visitors a reason to stay into the evening and potentially visit beyond the peak summer season. For now, travellers can enjoy the lake’s established attractions while watching for confirmed announcements about the proposed entertainment destination and its eventual opening.