A popular summer pastime is now being banned at Smith Mountain Lake. Even if you’ve never done it, you’ve probably heard about the cliff-jumping at the lake in Franklin County.
It’s been an attraction for years, and when Ten On Your Side was there Friday afternoon, there were about a dozen jumpers.
John Merritt is the project manager with Optima Properties, the company that owns the land. It's where The Coves are, a subdivision in Union Hall.
"One person that gets hurt is one too many,” he said.
Conservation officers say there have been minor injuries with the cliff-jumpers over the years.
Workers hammered in a new private property sign, which had Merritt telling the jumpers they were trespassing. If they’re caught, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says it will be a class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, the maximum penalty is a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
There are three cliffs where swimmers can jump. From lowest to tallest, they range from 15 to 45 feet high.
Merritt has used “no trespassing” signs in the past, but he said they just got torn down. Now, it’s officially posted and law enforcement can get stricter.
“It can be a liability, absolutely,” Merritt said.
Jumpers saw the signs, but they came anyway and don’t want to see the cliffs banned.
"Whenever I have friends come out here, that have never been to the lake and never been to the cliffs, I always bring them out here,” said one teen.
While safety is a big concern, Merritt also explained Optima Properties will develop that piece of land in the future.
“Well, to me the most important part of the cliffs is the beauty of it. After Smith Mountain, this is the most significant natural landmark on the lake,” Merritt said.
The jumpers slowly left throughout the day and we saw one last jump before we left. Although there could possibly be more jumpers in the future, they will be illegal.
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