Fifteen minutes outside Charleston, West Virginia, sits a lake most people driving past on I-64 have never heard of — and that’s exactly how the families who live there have always liked it. Lake Chaweva was carved out of Depression-era farmland in the 1930s by a fountain pen salesman named Ed Killen, who reportedly started the whole project with “$15 in my pocket and an idea.” Nearly a century later, it’s still a private, member-based lake community, and one of its lakeshore homes just hit the market at $129,900.
The Property
This is a 1,152-square-foot single-family ranch at 28 Lake Shore Dr, built in 1970, with 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. It sits on a quarter-acre lot with direct views of Lake Chaweva — the listing specifically calls out the water view as one of its defining features, and at this price point, a genuine lakefront outlook is hard to find anywhere in the Charleston metro area.
Inside, the layout keeps things simple: an eat-in kitchen, a living room, laminate and tile flooring throughout, and a full basement for extra storage. The home runs on gas forced-air heating with central air conditioning, and it’s connected to municipal water and sewer — a detail worth noting, since a lot of lake properties in this part of West Virginia still rely on well and septic systems. A deck off the back gives direct access to take in the water view without leaving home.
Why Lake Chaweva Is Different From a Typical Lake Listing
Most buyers searching “lake house West Virginia” picture a vacation rental market or a public reservoir lined with boat ramps and tourist traffic. Lake Chaweva isn’t that. It’s a private, gated community that’s operated as a members’ club since the 1930s, and it still functions that way today — around 150 families call it home, roughly split between full-time lakefront residents and those who use it more like a standing summer camp.
The lake itself covers about 42 acres and has weathered its share of history, including a 1997 dam crisis that led to a lawsuit, a $1.5 million settlement, and a full repair that kept the lake open for the community that depends on it. That’s the kind of detail you won’t find on a listing sheet, but it says something about how much residents value keeping this place intact.
For a buyer, the practical upside is straightforward: private-lake amenities — fishing, swimming, boating — without the crowds or public access that come with a state park or reservoir.
The Numbers
| Price | $129,900 ($113/sq ft) |
| Address | 28 Lake Shore Dr, Cross Lanes, WV 25313 |
| Home Size | 1,152 sq ft |
| Bedrooms / Bathrooms | 3 / 2 full |
| Lot Size | 0.25 acres |
| Year Built | 1970 |
| Heating / Cooling | Gas forced-air / Central air |
| Water / Sewer | Municipal |
| HOA | None |
| Annual Taxes | $911 |
Who This Home Makes Sense For
At under $130,000, this isn’t a luxury lake estate — it’s an entry point. That makes it a realistic option for a first-time buyer who wants water views without a waterfront price tag, a downsizer looking for single-level living, or an investor eyeing the steady appeal of a small, tight-knit lake community just outside a state capital. With no HOA and low annual taxes for the region, the ongoing cost of ownership stays manageable, which is often the bigger hurdle on lake properties.
Cross Lanes itself rounds out the picture: a quiet, suburban-feel community in Kanawha County with above-average public schools and easy access to Charleston for work or errands, without the traffic or density of the city itself.
Interested in touring 28 Lake Shore Dr or want more details on Lake Chaweva’s membership and amenities? Reach out to the listing agent below. Zillow
