Kings Mountain Lake Dam #1
Kings Mountain Lake Dam #1 is a buttress dam located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kings Mountain Lake Dam #1
The primary purpose of Kings Mountain Lake Dam #1 is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Kings Mountain (local government). It impounds the Kings Creek near Kings Mountain.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 203 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/22/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cleveland |
| Nearest City | Kings Mountain |
| River/Stream | Kings Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.20130, -81.34950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 203 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Kings Mountain |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00112 |
| Federal ID | NC00112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |