Thursday March 28th, 2024 10:52AM

Lake Lanier Islands continues pattern of growth and improvement

By Marc Eggers and Joy Holmes

LAKE LANIER ISLANDS – It’s the heart of winter, trees are leafless, frost coats the windshields of the few cars parked near Legacy Lodge; warmer weather and the excitement it brings to Lake Lanier Islands seem so distant.

Nonetheless, planning and work at the 1200-acre arboreal peninsula continues according to Grier Todd, Vice President of Hospitality for Lake Lanier Islands. 

Todd updated members of the South Hall Business Coalition Tuesday morning on the status of the development, saying that an increased measure of attention was now turning to the site of the former Renaissance PineIsle Hotel and Golf Club, officially closed in late 2005 after three decades as the doyen destination on Lake Lanier.

“Last year the state appropriated some funds for us to do a study, an economic impact study, a market study, some initial designs and plans for a new conference center/hotel and that’s what we’re in the middle of right now,” Todd said.

Todd has worked at LLI for eighteen years and sees that concept as having enormous potential.  “That will be a huge economic impact for this area if we can get a 300-room hotel and convention conference center attached to it.”

When asked about the footprint of the semi-abandoned 18-hole PineIsle golf course that once hosted an annual LPGA event, Todd replied, “I’m not sure we would need two 18-hole golf courses…we have talked about a 9-hole executive course, a par-3 course…we’re looking at all options.”

Since Lake Lanier Islands was first developed as a state park in the early 1960s, and then privatized under Georgia Governor Zell Miller in the 1990s, “best use” of the interconnected island compound has been varied and debated.

Following its acquisition in August, 2005, by investor Virgil Williams, the direction of the park has become more fluid and defined.

A year ago Williams, who serves as chairman of the LLI Management Company, told the South Hall Business Coalition at a similar event, “We've been looking since fall 2005 for an opportunity to partner with people who are experts in their field and are geniuses at creating good opportunities, a high quality product with good service.”

That goal was accomplished as Williams brought in Knoxville, Tennessee, based Safe Harbor Developments and Margaritaville Holdings.  They partnered to work on upgrading the resort aspects, including the marina, promoting special events and activities on the property, as well as expanded and specialized food and beverage services.

“They have done a lot of really neat things,” Todd said Tuesday morning.  “They are our recreation partner…they operate the water park, the marina and boats, the campgrounds and the equestrian part of our business.”

“This has been our first year with them and we’re real excited about where that is going,” Todd said.

“They are also in the process right now of working on the campgrounds.  They’re rebuilding all the sites to new RV sites,” Todd added.  “This is going to be the ‘Mac Daddy’ with the concrete pads, the sewer, the internet, electricity, everything.  They hope to have that open in the spring.”

 

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