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Lake Lanier Islands

Lake Lanier Islands Water tower, December 2015
Lake Lanier Islands
Geography
Location	Lake Lanier
Coordinates	34°10′39″N 84°01′48″W / 34.1776°N 84.0301°W / 34.1776; -84.0301
Archipelago	Lake Lanier Islands
Coastline	1 mi (2 km)
Administration
United States
State	Georgia
Additional information
Official website	http://www.lanierislands.com

Lake Lanier Islands is a resort complex built on a small group of islands on Lake Lanier, the largest lake in Georgia, located 60 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The resort complex was established in 1974 and includes a hotel, water park, golf course, multiple conference and meeting venues, beaches, boat docks, and a number of other recreational amenities.

History

The Lake Lanier islands were originally large hills near Gainesville. After the creation of Buford Dam and the flooding of part of the Chattahoochee River valley created Lake Lanier, the hills became the largest chain of islands in the lake. In 1957, The US Army Corps of Engineers leased the Lake Lanier islands to the Georgia Department of State Parks, which partnered with the newly created Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority (LLIDA) in 1962 to manage and develop a recreational venue for the citizens of Georgia to enjoy. Development included Harbor Landing boat docks, campgrounds, horse stables, beaches, a golf course and the PineIsle Hotel. The complex opened in 1974, and the PineIsle Hotel opened the following year. A water park opened in 1987. Events held at the complex include annual Independence Day fireworks, on the lake, full moon parties, and "Magical Nights of Lights." The State of Georgia contracted with the KSL Corporation to take over the day-to-day management and operations of Lake Lanier Islands.

In August 2005, Virgil Williams, through his venture, Lake Lanier Islands Management Company, bought the resort complex from the KSL Corporation. The purchase was for 14.5 million dollars. Since purchasing the resort, the KLL Corporation has worked to improve the islands. The PineIsle resort closed that year and was demolished in 2008.

Under the ownership of the Lake Lanier Islands Management Company, the property has received numerous upgrades and renovations. In 2008, it completed renovations at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center when the previous Emerald Point Hotel & Conference Center "was completely rebuilt using only the shell of the original structure." In April 2014, Legacy Lodge opened a saltwater lounging pool, replacing their previous pool and hot tubs. In the summer of 2016, Legacy Lodge & Conference center, the hotel on Lanier Islands, underwent a $2 million renovation. The upgrades included "214 rooms now have new hardwood floors, artwork and decor with an outdoors theme, as well as new bedding, mini-refrigerators and Keurig coffee makers. Other upgrades include newly painted woodwork and ceilings throughout the hotel, new wallcoverings in guest rooms and corridors, new carpets in corridors and new lighting and window treatments."

In 2018 the Lake Lanier Islands Management Company made a deal with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Development and SafeHarbor in order to invest millions of dollars into the island and theme park LanierWorld, and assume management.

References

1. Bessonette, Colin (January 13, 1974). "Lake Project Braces For Crowds". The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. p. 15-F. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Bessonette, Colin (July 27, 1975). "Lanier Hotel Opens; Omni Next". The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. p. 4-E. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Blackwood, Harris (April 4, 2008). "PineIsle Resort to be leveled to make room for $100 million hotel". The Gainesville Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
4. "Lake Lanier Islands Resort Completes First Phase of Transformation". Hotelexecutive.com.
5. "Press Release: Lake Lanier Islands Resort® Gets Into the Swim of Things in Time for Busy Season". Patch.com. April 24, 2014.
6. "How Jimmy Buffett will change Lake Lanier". Gainesvilletimes.com. Retrieved 2019-06-19.

• Bodies of water of Hall County, Georgia
• Lake islands of Georgia (U.S. state)
• Tourist attractions in Hall County, Georgia
• 1974 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
• Water parks in Georgia (U.S. state)