Public beach by dam on Lake Murray making major changes for those looking to visit
Dominion Energy is making major changes for anyone who plans to visit the beach at Lake Murray Public Park.
Reservations will now be required to visit one of the few public beaches in the Columbia area, Dominion Energy officials said Tuesday in a news release. Dominion is the utility that runs the reservoir.
On March 19, Dominion will launch a new online reservation system for those looking to enter the park on the Lexington side of Lake Murray, just beyond the Dreher Shoals Dam, according to the release. All visitors will need to reserve a pass on Dominionenergy.com when the park opens on April 9, officials said. The beach season traditionally runs through Labor Day, which is on Sept. 1 this year.
As a result of the reservation system, the park will no longer accept cash payments at the entry gate, according to the release.
The new system ends the previous first-come, first-served policy, officials said.
Visitors will now be required to purchase their reservation in advance to guarantee entry, according to the release. Reservations can be made for a single-use pass up to three weeks in advance of a planned visit, officials said.
The price for single-use passes remains $5, and the passes will be valid for the entire day, according to the release. In the past Dominion offered season passes for $50 per vehicle, but that no longer appears to be available.
Visitors will not be able to re-use the pass once they leave the park, officials said.
“We know this change will take some getting used to, but in time we hope that families will embrace it when they no longer have to rush out the door early Saturday morning to get a spot or be disappointed when they arrive and the park is already full,” Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said in the release. “We thank everyone for your patience as we implement the changes and trust that it will ultimately create an even better experience when visiting Lake Murray.”
Signs will be placed outside the park to remind visitors of the new policy, according to the release.
In the past, the beach has attracted 100,000 people a year to Lake Murray, according to Dominion.
Officials said that reservations will not be required for Dominion’s other park sites along Lake Murray and Lake Monticello — including the boat launch on the Irmo side of the dam at Lake Murray.
The nearby boat launch is open to the public 24 hours per day, year-round. But don’t try to go swimming there. State law prohibits swimming within 50 feet of boat landings.
There might be temptation because Lake Murray, a nearly 48,000-acre reservoir built in the early 20th century, has fewer public beaches than any of South Carolina’s largest recreational lakes, The State previously reported.
Located in one of South Carolina’s biggest metropolitan areas, Lake Murray has developed almost exclusively as a place for waterfront property owners and boaters to enjoy. Of Lake Murray’s nearly 650 miles of shoreline, 392 miles are privately owned.
“Lake Murray is one of the most beautiful gems in our beloved Palmetto State, and we want everybody to have an opportunity to enjoy it safely and conveniently,” Kissam said. “That’s why we continue to make improvements to the process for visiting our very popular park.”
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This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Public beach by dam on Lake Murray making major changes for those looking to visit."
