JEFFERSON COUNTY LAKE INFO
Tucked among the hills and forests of Jefferson County are a number of beautiful lakes surrounded by homes that range from one bedroom camps to lakefront estates. Many of these lakes are 25-40 acres, very serene with wonderful homes, however there are four lakes in the county that range from 95 acres to over 200 acres in size.
These are the lakes I’ll concern myself with here. Should you have additional questions on these or any of the other lakes in the county, please don’t hesitate to drop me an e-mail. The order they are reviewed is, from the closest lake to St. Louis to most distant.
All the lakes have clubhouses where active Property Owner Associations hold monthly meetings, along with covered dish dinners, holiday parties for both children & adults and big festivities over the July 4th holiday.
All of these are "gated communities", so please call or e-mail me for entry hours prior to setting out to look at these lakes. Entry & hours vary lake by lake & some vary by season. None of these lakes allow mobiles or modular homes.
Jefferson County lakes have whatever you’re looking for; skiing, swimming, fishing & quiet pontoon rides under a setting sun. Why go away on vacation when you can live it everyday? The boat can be waiting at your dock!
LAKE TISHOMINGO
 This is the largest lake in Jefferson County at over 200 acres and is the closest lake to St. Louis County. As it is one of the older lakes in the county, starting out as a “weekend retreat” lake in the late ‘40s, there is a mix of homes. Some of these are small homes that would make wonderful summer retreats with no fix-up, many others are relatively new full time homes.
The fishing is excellent with stockings done regularly. There is a 40 hp limit on the lake with no jet skis allowed. Skiing is also only allowed from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., before and after those times are “no wake” hours for all boats. This allows for quiet morning fishing and sunset pontoon rides on a “mirror flat” lake. Click to see aerial photo of Lake Tishomingo.
LAKE WAUWANOKA
Entering the lake you’ll find yourself at a white sand beach, the center of all lake activities. It’s the gathering spot during the summer with a roped swimming area, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits & a playground area for younger children.
This 95-acre lake is also one of the older lakes in the county, thus offering weekend homes and newer full time homes. There is excellent fishing at Lake Wauwanoka as they have an active Rod & Gun Club that not only watches over the fishing, but also manages activities on several hundred acres of property the lake owns.
This is a lake made for quiet, afternoon hammock tending, as there’s a 10 hp limit on all boats. Residents find it’s calm waters ideal for pontoons, canoes, fishing boats & sailing.
RAINTREE PLANTATION
This gated lake community is the “Country Club” of Jefferson County lakes as it has an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse with full service restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pool and four lakes. The lakes range in size from the 126-acre main lake where water skiing & jet skiing are allowed, to a quiet 53-acre lake and finally two small 11 & 6-acre fishing lakes. The main lake also has a picnic area with shelters, grills & a beach with a roped swimming area.
For water skiers, this may be the lake of choice as there is no horsepower limit, only a speed limit that’s reasonable enough for skiing on the main lake. Raintree Plantation also allows a few "grand-fathered" jet skis on the main lake, however, no new ones are allowed.
SUMMERSET
The three lakes of Summerset’s gated community offer a multitude of water activities.  For the family gathering, there’s a picnic area with grills and a beach with roped swimming area on the 95-acre main lake. Great water skiing is available on this lake as engines up to 175 hp & ski boat lengths of up to 19’ are allowed. This lake then connects via a canal to an 18-acre fishing lake that has many of the old trees & snags left in place for fish cover. Summerset has an active fishing committee with regular fish stockings of the lakes.
There’s a third lake that’s not connected to the others where quiet & solitude abound. Whether it’s fishing, skiing or quiet sunset cruises, these lakes have just what you need.
I hope this has answered your questions concerning the larger lakes of Jefferson County. Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to drop me an e-mail at mike@mikehiggins.com or give me a call. I look forward to meeting you at the lake!
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