Lake Floyd is a private, spring-fed lake and residential community in Harrison County, West Virginia, tucked into the hills near Bristol between Clarksburg and Salem. Built in the early 1920s and run as the members-only Lake Floyd Club ever since, it’s one of the state’s oldest private lake communities — a quiet, clear-water retreat for fishing, boating and swimming among its property owners. This guide is part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
Lake Floyd at a glance
- Location: near Bristol, Harrison County, north-central West Virginia
- Type: private, spring-fed lake and residential club community
- Built: 1922–1923 by Duffy Floyd; the Lake Floyd Club dates to 1923
- Access: private — for members and residents of the Lake Floyd community
- On the water: largemouth bass, catfish and panfish, plus kayaking, boating and swimming
A historic private lake
Lake Floyd was created in the early 1920s when Duffy Floyd dammed a hollow of clear spring water, and by 1923 it had become a private fishing-and-hunting club. A century later it remains a residential community rather than a public lake — homes and cabins ring the shoreline, and use of the water is reserved for members and property owners. Its clean, clear water has always been the community’s centerpiece.
Is Lake Floyd open to the public?
No. Lake Floyd is private; the lake and its beach are for members of the Lake Floyd Club and residents of the community. It is not a state-managed public fishing lake, and there is no public boat ramp or day-use access. We include it here for reference because it’s a well-known West Virginia lake — but plan to use the water only if you’re a guest of a member or exploring real estate in the community.
Fishing and recreation
For those with access, Lake Floyd offers classic small-lake fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish under West Virginia’s statewide creel limits, along with kayaking, canoeing, small-boat use and swimming from the community beach. The setting — wooded hills and quiet water — is the real draw.
Good to know
- Private access: members and residents only; no public day use.
- Looking for public water nearby? See our guides to West Virginia’s public lakes and reservoirs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Floyd, WV public or private?
Private. Lake Floyd is a members-only residential community; the lake is reserved for members of the Lake Floyd Club and property owners.
Where is Lake Floyd?
In Harrison County near Bristol, between Clarksburg and Salem in north-central West Virginia.
What fish are in Lake Floyd?
Largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish, fished by members under West Virginia’s statewide regulations.
Related: explore the smaller lakes of West Virginia, or return to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
Explore more West Virginia lakes: the largest lakes in West Virginia and the deepest lakes in West Virginia.