Hurricane Lake Dam
Hurricane Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Nelson County, Kentucky, built in 1950. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hurricane Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hurricane Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hurricane Hills Resort Inc (private). It impounds the Wilson Creek near West Point.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 535 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 06/11/2025.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Nelson |
| Nearest City | West Point |
| River/Stream | Wilson Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.83306, -85.64083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 535 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 535 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 406 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | HURRICANE HILLS RESORT INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00091 |
| Federal ID | KY00091 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |