Words by Alli Patton
Welcome to the Calm Luxury of Southern Waterways
Picture it: You awaken to the gentle lap of water against hull. The bright rattle of morning cicadas swells to greet you. Somewhere in the distance, a bird calls excitedly, and a pillowy splash wets your waking mind.
You rouse to this symphony just as you were tenderly rocked to sleep by it the night before. You rise knowing that just outside the window is your destination. All you have on your schedule today is relaxation. This is the innate joy of houseboating.
With houseboats, it’s all there in the name. These often motorized vessels come fitted with living spaces, dining quarters, and all the necessities—and often much more—to take waterfront living and vacationing to the next level. Designed to traverse calm waters, these floating homes offer something that traditional accommodations simply can’t: the opportunity to be directly on the water at all times, unplugging, experiencing nature, and enjoying life afloat.
While a handful of houseboating hubs dot the South’s bayous, keys, and Gulf Coast, southern Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland sits at the heart of Kentucky’s claim as the “Houseboat Capital of the World,” a title the state received in a 2014 proclamation by then-Gov. Steve Beshear. The expansive reservoir is 101 miles long, covers over 60,000 surface acres, and spans five counties in southern Kentucky. It not only boasts a hefty fleet of houseboats but also flaunts the perfect setting to experience the calm luxury that comes with them.
“When you get on this houseboat and you cruise down the lake, you’re only going 8 or 10 miles an hour, at the most,” says John May of his experience houseboating on Lake Cumberland. “The shoreline is sliding by, and you can just enjoy what’s going on.”
May and his family have been vacationing in the area since 1966. What started as camping trips around the lake with his wife and three young children has since blossomed into several multiday trips via houseboat every summer.
“During those years, while we were camping, we saw the houseboats moving around on Lake Cumberland,” May shares, recalling how the large vessels were out of the young family’s budget then. “We thought, ‘This looks cool,’ but, you know, the tent was working.”
Fast forward to the late 1980s, well after camping had lost its rustic charm and the success of the Mays’ Louisville-based photography business made renting possible. A houseboat wasn’t just a distant mirage from the shoreline anymore. May and his family booked the smallest boat available at the lake’s State Dock Marina—a 65-foot-long, four-bedroom vessel with an outboard motor—and, quickly, they were hooked.
“A floating condo is what it amounts to, and so it’s very comfortable,” he says of the experience. “You wake up in the morning. You have your bacon and eggs or whatever. You’re right there on the water. You’re ready to go take the kids out and ski and do whatever they want to do.”
Like a vein pumping life through southern Kentucky, Lake Cumberland has been a year-round playground for decades. The area features premier hiking trails and a number of golf courses, but the lake itself provides incredible views with its many coves, waterfalls, and miles of shale-lined shores. There, visitors can partake in various water sports, like skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding, as well as exceptional fishing, the water abundant with bass and trout.
All of this can surely be enjoyed from the array of hotels, resorts, campgrounds, and cabins that dot the area. However, staying directly on the lake, where you can commune with its natural beauty and fully immerse yourself in its laid-back culture, makes Lake Cumberland all the more accessible.
As houseboating for the Mays became an annual—and, eventually, a bi- and tri-annual—affair, their group only grew, and with it, their boating needs. What was perfect for a family of five soon needed to accommodate friends and a growing brood, and it wasn’t long before the Mays were renting houseboats with seven bedrooms, able to sleep 14.
May shares that it does become quite the party. Still, whether they’re taking their accompanying runabout vessel out on the water or watching the sunset fade against the lake’s glassy surface with a drink in hand, houseboating has gifted the Mays something so much more than fun.
Now, at 86, John May feels especially grateful for these summer vacations during which he and his family can vacation together comfortably and relax on Lake Cumberland. Hearty breakfasts together, raucous evenings over games of gin, days spent zipping around the lake and braving the water skis once more for the grandkids—these small moments afloat have become the stuff of life.
John May’s Houseboating How-To:
Plan, Plan, Plan — From breakfasts in the morning to activities at night, it’s important to have a plan in place. “It’s going to require an extra cooler or two to bring your hamburgers and steaks and hot dogs or whatever you’re going to bring,” May offers. “Are we going to play cards? Are we going to play games? Maybe we could play charades. Plan those things.”
Travel time and houseboat pickup will also need to be considered, so map out your journey ahead of time. Also, if you’re bringing a boat along with you, plan, plan, plan.
Be Aware of What You’re Bringing — Once at the marina for pickup, you will have to load and unload what is being brought onboard. A place like State Dock Marina has carts for efficient transfer, but this could take several trips.
As May explains: “It can be crazy, all these people moving all this stuff in.” Therefore, it’s helpful if roles are determined beforehand and everyone pitches in to organize items from cart to cabin with ease.
Pay Careful Attention to Instruction — Don’t be afraid of driving the houseboat. Marina personnel will be there to instruct you before you ever embark. Everything, from the boat’s engine to each onboard feature, will be explained in depth, with a manual available to provide further guidance.
After a 30-minute walk-through, an employee will navigate your vessel for you out of the slip and the marina’s no-wake zone. Once the houseboat is properly positioned on the greater lake, they will then exit the houseboat, board a getaway craft, and head back to the office.
“Now, you’re left alone on your houseboat,” May explains, “and you’re in control.”
The Captain Calls the Shots — May says the person who rents the boat—in other words, the captain—should take control when delegating tasks and matters such as who is going to sleep where.
Unplug, Relax, and Simply Float — The above tips and tricks will help ensure the best possible experience when out on the water. Once everything is planned, organized, and delegated and clear instruction is followed, the only things left to do are unplug, relax, and simply float.
Houseboating on the South’s Many Waterways
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky — If the size of Lake Cumberland feels a little too cumbersome for first-time houseboaters, the neighboring Dale Hollow Lake, which straddles Tennessee and Kentucky, is a smaller but equally beautiful option about an hour south.
Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana — Here, you can experience the United States’ largest river swamp up close and personal. Louisiana’s cypress-rich Atchafalaya Basin is home to several houseboat landings and marinas for you to enjoy an authentic bayou vacation.
Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas/Missouri — While houseboat fleets don’t seem as abundant here, Bull Shoals Lake, which spans parts of Arkansas and Missouri, still offers this option for exploring the many wonders within the Ozark Mountains.
Lake Travis, Texas — Looking for an escape just outside of Austin? Nearby Lake Travis is the move. Whether you’re looking to kick your feet up on a professionally captained vessel or to stay on the area’s “Famous Float House,” you’ll discover a number of options for houseboating through the Texas Hill Country.
