We're bringing our brand, our fishing and lake-travel expertise, and our network of guest travelers to Lake Murray — 50,000 acres of world-class striped bass water just minutes from Columbia. The same playbook that packed calendars on Lake Hartwell is coming here.
Basecamp Getaways built a reputation on one of the Southeast's greatest fishing lakes — turning underperforming lake homes into some of the highest-earning rentals on the water. We're taking that same brand, our tournament and fishing-travel relationships, and our proven guest network, and pointing all of it at Lake Murray. If you own a home here, you're getting in at the ground floor.
Lake Murray sits on the doorstep of Columbia, Lexington, and Chapin — a metro of nearly a million people — yet quality, professionally managed lake rentals are scarce. That gap is the opportunity.
Home to trophy striped bass, largemouth, and giant blue catfish — plus a busy tournament calendar that drives year-round angler travel.
Minutes from downtown Columbia, USC football, Riverbanks Zoo, and Lexington — weekend demand that most lakes can only dream of.
Few homes are professionally managed. Owners are leaving real money on the table — exactly the situation we walked into at Lake Hartwell.
We're bringing an existing database of past lake guests, anglers, and travelers who already book with Basecamp.
Completed in 1930, Lake Murray was formed by the Saluda Dam — an earthen structure roughly 1.5 miles long and 220 feet high that, at the time, created the largest man-made reservoir in the world and powered the region with hydroelectricity.
Today it spans four counties just west of Columbia, stretching 41 miles long and up to 14 miles wide, with water reaching nearly 190 feet deep. Its 650 miles of shoreline are dotted with quiet coves, sandy islands, waterfront dining, and some of the best sunset views in the state.
The lake carries real history: during World War II, B-25 Mitchell bombers — including crews connected to the famous Doolittle Raiders — trained over these waters, and several aircraft still rest on the lakebed. One recovered B-25 is now preserved in a museum.
Boating, fishing, island beaches, birds by the hundred-thousand, and sunsets that empty the marina bars onto the docks.
Waterfront Docks
Trophy Fishing
Boating & Pontoons
Island Beaches
Quiet Coves
Bomb Island BirdsLake Murray is a nationally recognized bass fishery and a striped-bass powerhouse. It's the kind of water that draws anglers from across the country — and the kind of travel we already know how to book.
Lake Murray's signature fish. Landlocked stripers school and chase bait across open water — a bucket-list target that fuels a full guide economy.
A perennial tournament lake. Spring spawn and fall feed windows bring anglers to the coves, points, and brush all season long.
Trophy blue catfish push serious weight here, making Murray a favorite for catfish tournaments and family night trips off the dock.
Slab crappie around brush and bridges plus easy bream action make this the perfect lake for families and first-time anglers.
Bomb Island hosts one of the largest purple martin roosts in North America — hundreds of thousands of birds funnel onto the island at dusk each summer. It's a protected sanctuary and one of the most jaw-dropping wildlife spectacles in the Southeast, drawing evening boat tours all season.
Guests don't just book a house — they book a trip. This is the same deep local guide that helps our Lake Hartwell homes stay booked: where to eat by boat, where to launch, who to fish with, and what to see. Dive in.
The lake's flagship waterfront spot — upscale-casual Southern with a coastal twist, two floors of lake views, and 48 rotating taps.
Arrive by boatTwin venues on one lakeside deck — fine-dining seafood at the Anchor, casual grill at Catfish Johnny's, live music all summer.
Arrive by boatElevated Southern comfort food at the Lake Murray Resort & Marina complex — a full-service dining and boating destination.
Arrive by boatMid-lake American comfort food with chef touches, plus a small grocery — public marina slips added in 2024.
Arrive by boatDock-to-table Mexican with a brand-new 20-slip dock — margaritas on the water, minutes from mid-lake.
Arrive by boatFull-service marina with a well-equipped dock and a laid-back grill known for burgers, cold drinks, and snacks.
Arrive by boatMexican and margaritas tucked in the protected Buffalo Creek cove, with courtesy slips for boaters.
Arrive by boatEasygoing lake bar and grill with dedicated boat-dock parking — a classic Prosperity-side hangout.
Arrive by boatLakefront restaurant with big water views — a relaxed spot for a meal right on the shoreline.
LakefrontCasual food, cold drinks, and live music at Fat Frogs Marina on the Chapin side of the lake.
Arrive by boatBarbecue and Southern favorites at The Outpost — smoke, sides, and lake air.
LakesideSeafood and steaks with live music and a lakefront setting — a sit-down dinner destination.
LakefrontAn 80-foot yacht offering sightseeing and dinner cruises — a memorable way to see the lake from the water.
Yacht cruiseDockside community with a ship store, gas dock, and 24-hour security — one of the lake's premier full-service marinas.
MarinaNewly renovated with 200 deep-water wet slips on the Chapin side, next to Timberlake Country Club.
MarinaFull-service marina about 12 miles from Lexington, anchoring the mid-lake south shore.
MarinaPublic access with boat ramps and dry, wet, and land storage — the most convenient launch from the metro side.
Marina · RampLakeside Chapin marina and home to Do'Little Watering Hole — fuel up, dock, and grab a bite.
MarinaResort-style marina complex with slips and The Cove restaurant on the mid-lake south shore.
MarinaPublic launches including the dam-area ramps and Crayne's Landing (paved ramp, floating dock, mini-mart).
Boat rampsA classic Lake Murray fish camp and landing operated by the same family for generations.
LandingPontoons, tours, and water toys out of Irmo — plus Lake Murray Boat Rentals, Better Boat Rental & the Carefree Boat Club for more options.
RentalsLongtime Lake Murray striper guide featured by Discover South Carolina — light-tackle and live-bait trips for schooling stripers.
StriperCaptain Terry's full-time striper operation — family-friendly trips targeting Murray's landlocked stripers year-round.
StriperDedicated striper charters chasing open-water schools across the main lake and creek channels.
StriperGuided striper trips built around Murray's seasonal bait movements and topwater blowups.
StriperTwo well-known guide services running striper and mixed-bag trips — a good fit for groups and first-timers.
Striper · BassLargemouth-bass techniques around Murray's docks, points, and brush — plus crappie and catfish options.
BassDozens more captains are bookable through FishingBooker — Lake Murray trips typically run about $300–$600 for stripers, largemouth, crappie, and trophy blue catfish.
Three islands linked by bridges with 12 miles of shoreline — sandy beach swimming, kayak & water-toy rentals, trails, playgrounds, a camp store, and lakeside villas and cabins.
State parkA 1.7-mile walkway along the dam for walkers, joggers, and cyclists — historical markers, a beach area, a love-lock gate, and paddling launch ($5 access).
Walk · BeachThe largest — and oldest — purple-martin sanctuary in North America. Hundreds of thousands of birds swirl onto the island at dusk; naturalist-led boat tours run all summer.
WildlifeA riverfront park just below the lake with trails, a splash pad, river paddling, and an environmental education center.
ParkOne of the nation's top zoos and botanical gardens — a can't-miss family day trip about 20 minutes from the lake.
FamilySC State Museum, EdVenture Children's Museum, and the Columbia Museum of Art, plus the Vista dining district and Soda City Market.
CultureOld-growth bottomland forest with boardwalk trails and famous firefly displays — South Carolina's only national park.
NatureThree Rivers Greenway, Harbison State Forest, and Sesquicentennial State Park for hiking, biking, and paddling.
OutdoorsUniversity of South Carolina football and events fill lake homes on fall weekends — a demand driver most lakes don't have.
EventsThe lake's marquee club — a scenic, well-regarded course right on the Chapin shoreline next to Timberlake Marina.
Semi-privateA classic championship course on the Lexington side of Lake Murray Country.
PrivateA nationally ranked 27-hole layout — the region's big-course experience.
27 holesA well-established club with full tournament facilities near the lake.
GolfA fun, walkable par-3 course and driving range — perfect for a quick round with guests of any level.
Par 3 · RangeTwo more private clubs ringing Lake Murray Country for members and their guests.
PrivateOne of the Southeast's great lake fireworks nights — a massive show over the water (Dreher Island area) that draws boaters from across the region.
Peak weekendA 35-plus-year tradition of a decorated-boat parade and fireworks on the Lexington side of the lake.
FireworksSouth Carolina's beloved fall festival — parade, music, food, and rides that pack the Irmo–Lake Murray area for a weekend.
FestivalA local food-and-drink showcase celebrating the lake's restaurants and makers.
FoodChapin's community events, Lexington's Snowball Festival, and year-round farmers markets keep shoulder seasons busy.
CommunityThe Saturday Soda City Market on Main and monthly First Thursday arts nights — 20 minutes from the lake.
CityLocal dining, marina, and event info compiled from Lake Murray Country and Experience Columbia SC. Details change seasonally — confirm hours and dock access before you go.
We're not learning on your home. We're arriving with a proven system, a fishing-travel brand, and a guest network already in hand.
Partnerships with tournament anglers, guides, and fishing media let us market a lake home the way anglers and lake travelers actually search and book.
We bring an existing audience of past lake guests and travelers — so a new Lake Murray listing doesn't start from zero.
Just like lakehartwellstays.com, lakemurraystays.com will drive direct bookings — lower fees, repeat guests, and a brand guests trust.
Dynamic, data-backed pricing captures peak weekends, tournament weeks, and USC game days that flat pricing leaves on the table.
Lake Murray is about to become one of South Carolina's most in-demand short-term rental markets, and most owners are leaving significant revenue on the table. We manage every detail so you don't have to — and we'd love to show you exactly what your home could earn.
Tell us about your Lake Murray home and we'll send a custom income projection.