There’s something special in the air here, in the natural rolling landscape and expansive lakefront. Sure, communities may start in a myriad of ways, but Reynolds’ story is different. This isn’t a resort or a crossroads for commerce. This is a place where people found themselves drawn to the area’s natural beauty first. And that drew them together.
A century ago families would come to spend a few days in this idyllic retreat on the banks of the Oconee River, adjacent to the scenic Oconee National Forest. By the early 1980s, after the river had been dammed to create a spectacular lake with many tendrils of waterways, the location—midway between Atlanta and Augusta—proved the perfect place to lay down permanent roots.
Today Reynolds Lake Oconee is a multifaceted luxury community and club with almost 4,000 residents and members who take advantage of everything the surrounding area has to offer, enjoying a wide range of outdoor activities, social engagements, and cultural experiences while pursuing the exact lifestyle they choose.
With 12,000 diverse acres to draw on, each neighborhood of residences is understandably varied, from homesites on the golf course and lakefront parcels to lake-access lots and expansive wooded properties. Yet, it’s the direct connection the different mini-communities have to the land itself, along with the people who make them even more special. Richland Pointe Village opened in 2021 and occupies almost 35 acres on the eastern shore of the lake. The walkable neighborhood of distinct cottages not only connects to the water via a new marina, but it also boasts a new wellness center, pool complex, and waterside restaurant. There are also homesites in the neighborhood adjacent to the village, which offer easy access to these amenities, along with the new Tom Fazio course (set to open in fall 2024). For families who dream of legacy properties, The Homesteads launched in 2019, offering a limited number of large, secluded multi-acre lakefront parcels that are nevertheless convenient—by boat or car—to the extraordinary amenities of the community.
Even these amenities are inspired by the land itself, and new, noteworthy additions are always being announced. Golf architect Tom Fazio, who’s renowned for his ability to incorporate natural surroundings into his designs, has created a new course opening later this year by combining nine new holes with the Bluff nine of his National Course, creating a new 18-hole layout that will bring the community’s total golf courses to seven.
Water enthusiasts will welcome a new marina this year. With four already existing marinas, there are now even more opportunities for residents to easily take advantage of the many lake sports: boating, fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing, for example.
Epicureans have new restaurants to try, including taverns, lakeside venues, cafés, and pool bars featuring cuisines that highlight Southern dishes, Italian specialties, seafood and steaks, and pub fare, among others. Plus, the waterfront Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, which is open to residents, adds even more opportunities for unique dining and entertainment experiences.
All this barely scratches the surface of the activities available to residents. There are multiple pools, tennis and pickleball courts, plus fitness and spa facilities, while the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds offer miles of off-road excursions, a private fishing experience, and courses for clay shooting and archery.
With a true, “carved from the land” feel, Reynolds Lake Oconee promotes an easygoing, active lifestyle nurtured by the beauty of its surrounding environment. From its roots as a family getaway to growing into a cherished place to call home, this is the only place to experience a rhythm like this.