Posted on 07/05/2025 9:49:00 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A Fourth of July boat trip on a “haunted” Georgia lake, where hundreds have died, turned tragic Saturday, after an explosion injured all seven on board, including a five-year-old.
Dramatic video shows the boat engulfed in five-foot-high flames, with thick plumes of black smoke emanating into the Lake Lanier sky, just a few feet from the shore.
The 23-foot cabin-cruiser was headed to the Margaritaville resort at Lake Lanier Islands when it exploded around 7 p.m., according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Music can be heard blaring in the background of the video, with revelers celebrating the holiday on the shore while watching the chaotic scene unfold.
Five people aboard were taken to the hospital with second and third-degree burns, including at least one who had to be airlifted, officials said.
Two others were treated on site for minor injuries, according to Now Habersham.
The passengers ranged in age from 5 to 45.
About 216 people have died in the lake between 1994 and 2022 from boating accidents, drownings and explosions, state data shows.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
216? Someone must only be looking in spot. I live near this lake and have a boat. I would NEVER eat any fish from Lanier.
Most every weekend, there is at least 1 or two deaths by drowning.
Lanier is a cursed lake. Built over several cemeteries and the bodies not removed. There is an old stock car track under water. The water in Lanier is so murky and disgusting.
Lemme guess; didn’t vent the engine chamber before hitting the ignition. Or maybe launching fireworks from the rear deck platform. Being the fourth and all.
Oh by the way, speedboats run up and down the middle of the lake racecars. Boaters beware!
Idiots and alcohol. I would be willing to be that someone will lose their between now and sunset tomorrow.
I’ve lived in Georgia all my life, and I’ve never heard of Lake Lanier being called a “haunted” lake.
Now I have read article after article of drownings and boat crashes but those have usually involved alcohol, ignorance, and stupidity. Many people think they can buy a boat and take it to the lake without any instructions on how to operate the thing.
ding ding ding! Likely winner here.
We live on Lake Lanier, the far NW end. ALL this sort of craziness, idiocy, drownings, collisions, general mayhem happens on the south end of the lake (too) close to the city of Atlanta.
Rumor control reports this boat was a rental, meaning someone rented the boat for the day/weekend. Probably rented it based on size/speed etc., and not familiar with an ‘older’ inboard. IT appeared to be a cruiser with a small cabin, maybe 10-15 years old (looked like it in several published photos).
Given the reports of a explosion followed by fire, fuel vapors (they were close to a lakefront fuel station) ARE the likely culprit here.
Very sad.
Robert Service should write a poem about the place. Sounds pretty creepy.
My friend is cruising on that lake now.
“ hundreds have died,”
And that’s just since President Trump signed the OBBB yesterday.
I lived in Alpharetta in 2000 when Lake Lanier dried up in the big drought. Nobody died on the lake that year because there was no water.
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lanier
I cremated Sam McNier.
I’ve lived in Georgia all my life, and I’ve never heard of Lake Lanier being called a “haunted” lake.
....
I think William Shatner had a show recently that did at least a small part of an episode about that lake.
That’s where Sam McGee used to vacation before he switched to Lake Laberge for the cooler waters.
And clearer. Like looking through air.
I have lived about five miles from the dam for 26 years and in the Atlanta vicinity for fifty years; and, I haven't heard a solitary soul refer to Lake Lanier as haunted either.
It was low, but never dry.
Lanier is a TVA lake, so it is a dirty sponge of toxic materials in the lake.
Surviving Lake Lanier explores the history of Lake Lanier, including the story of the former black community of Oscarville, the Cherokee burial grounds, and the experiences of those who have nearly drowned in the lake. The series is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Here’s a more detailed look at the documentary and the history it covers:
Oscarville:
.
The documentary delves into the history of Oscarville, a thriving Black community that was displaced when the lake was created.
Cherokee Burial Grounds:
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It also explores the Cherokee burial grounds and the “Summerour Mounds,” highlighting the Native American heritage of the area.
Drowning Incidents:
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The series examines the experiences of people who have nearly drowned in Lake Lanier, exploring the phenomenon of the lake’s reputation for drownings.
Creation of the Lake:
.
Lake Lanier was formed in the 1950s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with the dam built for flood control, power generation, and recreation.
Beyond the Surface:
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The documentary aims to go beyond the typical narrative of Lake Lanier, revealing the forgotten history of the area and the stories of those who lived there before the lake existed.
Other Documentary Appearances:
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Lake Lanier is also featured in the Netflix series “Files of the Unexplained”, which explores unexplained events in various locations, including Lake Lanier.
I remember it was REALLY low for several years. All the docks were high and dry. The lake had receded to a puddle. We had some meetings at the meeting facility there and it was ugly.
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