Lake Lanier Islands
Encyclopedia
Lake Lanier Islands are a small group of islands located on Lake Lanier
, the largest lake in Georgia, located north of Atlanta
, Georgia
, USA. The islands were previously large hills that became the largest land chain remaining after the flooding of the Chattahoochee river valley located near Gainesville
by the Buford dam, creating the popular lake.
Lake Lanier Islands were originally owned by the State of Georgia, but was sold to private ownership in the early 1990s. It has now become a vacation resort.
The islands are a primary recreational destination for the Atlanta area, with one mile of shore line and a Beach and Waterpark which includes 13 water slides, the state's largest wave pool and a Fun Dunker.
Lake Lanier Islands contains a luxury hotel and full service Conference Center, [Legacy Lodge], two golf courses, Equestrian Center, Lake Lanier Canopy Tours and full service Day Spa. Lake Lanier Islands operates the largest harbor on Lake Lanier, Harbor Landing, with boat rentals from small pontoons, to luxury houseboats to group yachts for up to 150 people. A previous hotel, Pine Isle Resort, was closed after nearly 30 years of operation. It will be demolished and replaced with a 5-Star property in 2009.
Popular events at the resort include the Annual Independence Day
fireworks on the lake, and "Magical Nights of Lights", the largest animated light show in the world.
In August 2005, it was announced that local businessman Virgil Williams had bought the Islands from the KSL corporation. He officially took control on August 26. The purchase was for 14.5 million, a seemingly low sum for such prime real estate, but it doesn't include the actual land, which still stays under government control.
Virgil Williams previously owned the Arena Football League's Georgia Force
.
Lake Lanier Islands is owned by the U.S. Government and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is leased to the Georgia
Dept. of Natural Resources and managed by the Lake Lanier Islands
Development Authority. Members of the authority are appointed by
the governor. Virgil Williams purchased the rights to operate
the resort for the State in 2006.
Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier is a reservoir in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and is also fed by the waters of the Chestatee River. The lake encompasses of water, and of shoreline at normal level, a "full...
, the largest lake in Georgia, located north of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA. The islands were previously large hills that became the largest land chain remaining after the flooding of the Chattahoochee river valley located near Gainesville
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
by the Buford dam, creating the popular lake.
Lake Lanier Islands were originally owned by the State of Georgia, but was sold to private ownership in the early 1990s. It has now become a vacation resort.
The islands are a primary recreational destination for the Atlanta area, with one mile of shore line and a Beach and Waterpark which includes 13 water slides, the state's largest wave pool and a Fun Dunker.
Lake Lanier Islands contains a luxury hotel and full service Conference Center, [Legacy Lodge], two golf courses, Equestrian Center, Lake Lanier Canopy Tours and full service Day Spa. Lake Lanier Islands operates the largest harbor on Lake Lanier, Harbor Landing, with boat rentals from small pontoons, to luxury houseboats to group yachts for up to 150 people. A previous hotel, Pine Isle Resort, was closed after nearly 30 years of operation. It will be demolished and replaced with a 5-Star property in 2009.
Popular events at the resort include the Annual Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
fireworks on the lake, and "Magical Nights of Lights", the largest animated light show in the world.
In August 2005, it was announced that local businessman Virgil Williams had bought the Islands from the KSL corporation. He officially took control on August 26. The purchase was for 14.5 million, a seemingly low sum for such prime real estate, but it doesn't include the actual land, which still stays under government control.
Virgil Williams previously owned the Arena Football League's Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
.
External links
- www.lakelanierislands.com
- https://www.audits.state.ga.us/rptSearch/report/7505
- http://agr.georgia.gov/01/home/0,2197,899735,00.html;jsessionid=11442AB2756E4AD7CF2E284F4E5F86F0
- http://www.lakelaniercanopytours.com
Lake Lanier Islands is owned by the U.S. Government and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is leased to the Georgia
Dept. of Natural Resources and managed by the Lake Lanier Islands
Development Authority. Members of the authority are appointed by
the governor. Virgil Williams purchased the rights to operate
the resort for the State in 2006.