To maintain a quiet environment, only electric trolling motors are permitted to operate on the lake.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby, as is Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Today the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based on Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, the only federally recognized tribe in the state.

[5] On June 25, 1913, the Second General Missionary Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South convened in the new auditorium built here and named for Stuart.

A new hotel in 1921 was built on the same site, eventually to be named for Bishop Walter Russell Lambuth.

In 1923, a classroom building called Shackford Hall was constructed at the lake's west end.

Both Lambuth Inn and Shackford Hall have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The original, eventually restored, was moved to Mount Shepherd Retreat Center near Asheboro, North Carolina.

[6] In Spring 2021, the World Methodist Council sold its headquarters building, including a museum, to the assembly for $1.25 million.

Several musical events are hosted in Stuart Auditorium, including Folkmoot USA programs and Appalachian bluegrass concerts.

The Terrace Hotel and the Lambuth Inn, the community's primary accommodations, were extensively renovated in 2015 and 2018.

The board provides strategic direction, and budget approval for the Conference and Retreat Center, the Lake Junaluska Public Works, residential fees, and utility (water and sewer) rates.

[15] The amenities of Lake Junaluska include lodging, meeting facilities, dining (food service), trails, gardens, meditation areas, golf, and other recreation opportunities.

The maintenance of the public areas around the lake and the dam, which is inspected annually, are funded primarily through charitable giving and proceeds from lodging guests.

The lake was formed by damming Richland Creek (a tributary to the Pigeon River) which flows northwest of the community.

The closest high summits are 4,228-foot (1,289 m) High Top on Utah Mountain, 2 miles (3 km) to the north; and 5,071-foot (1,546 m) North Eaglenest Mountain (formerly Mount Junaluska), 4 miles (6 km) to the southwest.

The community is bordered by Waynesville, the Haywood county seat, to the south; Maggie Valley to the west, and Clyde to the east.

The community has engaged in a program to renew roads and systematically replace water and sewer lines without incurring debt.

A Community Council of elected representatives provides guidance to the public works office and Conference and Retreat Center leadership on issues that impact the community, such as utility rates, annual service charges, residential rules, and regulations.

The community of residents, year-round and seasonal alike, are a very diverse active group that enjoy many opportunities for involvement in recreation and fellowship.