1. Lake Country Has Only Two Lakes, Neither Of Them Are Natural, But That Doesn’t Make Them Any Less Fun
You would think "Lake Country" would mean the area had a plethora of natural lakes, but there are only two lakes and both of them are man made.
Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee were each created by the damming of the Oconee River that flows through east-central Georgia. But that doesn’t make them any less beautiful.
2. Because Even If You Can't Afford A Place On The Lake You Can Still Enjoy The Lake
Georgia Power, which manages both lakes, operates a number of public recreational facilities for boaters, swimmers, anglers, campers and day trippers. All are quite affordable. The National Forest Service also operates public use areas on the water.
3. The Best Place To Eat And Drink Doesn't Have A Sign Out Front, A Website Or A Facebook Page
The Silver Moon on Lake Oconee Parkway has been around for years and doesn't advertise because it doesn't need to. Try the fish and chips. You won't be sorry. And don't tell anyone else!
4. The Place Goes Bonkers During The Masters Tournament
Lake Country is only an hour away from Augusta. The place is pretty much booked solid during Masters Week each April. And everyone talks about Masters Week for the rest of the year.
5. When Famous Writers Lived Here It Wasn't Called Lake Country
Flannery O'Connor wrote her masterpieces on a family farm in what today is part of Lake Country, though lakes weren't part of the country back then. Other notable writers from the area are Joel Chandler Harris (of Uncle Remus fame) and Alice Walker, both born and raised here.
6. But These Days You Could Also Call It Bulldog Country
Lake Country is just south of Athens, home to the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Bulldogs. That's why you see those little statues of bulldogs in everyone's yard.
7. And People Here Take Their Local Sports Very Seriously
In the sports section of all the the small town papers, pro and college sports take a back seat to little league and high school teams.
8. There Are Lots Of Men In Pickups Wearing Overalls Hauling Random Stuff Around
Because it's the country.
9. Beyond The Lakes And The Farms And The Forests It's All Mayberry
Lake Country is home to a handful of Mayberry-like small towns:
- Greensboro
- Madison
- Eatonton
- Milledgeville
And all of them have their own police departments with a young Barney Fife or two.
10. If Someone Isn't A Hunter, They're Probably A Golfer
This is rural America and hunting is the favorite pastime, except for Lake People, who are mostly into golf. And there are lots and lots of golf courses on what used to be forested hunting lands.
11. But This Country Is A Paradise For Antique Hunters Too
More antique shops exist in Lake Country than any other kind of business. Every town is filled with them, especially Madison.
12. Because The Antebellum Trail Runs Through It
Georgia's Antebellum Trail is a 100-mile trek that runs right through the heart of Lake Country, and it’s one of the reasons there are so many antique shops. Much of the area escaped General Sherman’s burning rampage through Georgia. And speaking of escaping Sherman...
13. Madison Is Filled With Homes Sherman Refused To Burn
The legend goes that Sherman found Madison so pretty that he refused to burn it to the ground like he did everything else in his path at the end of the Civil War. Truth is, an old West Point chum of his had a home there so there was an agreement made to spare the town from destruction. It's all politics.
14. Small Town Newspapers Provide Unintended Entertainment
Every small town in Lake Country has it's own little newspaper covering the big local news—traffic accidents, reprinted church bulletins and school board meetings where the cops are called in to restore order. Oh, and also…
15. It's A Place Of Mysterious, Ancient Rock Formations
Rock Hawk and Rock Eagle are two large bird depictions made out of stones centuries ago by nomadic tribes. No one knows exactly who made them or why, but apparently humans have been vacationing here since prehistoric times.
16. An Ugly Office Building Known As "The Pyramid" Is A Major Landmark For Giving Directions
At a major intersection near Lake Oconee sits one of the ugliest office buildings known to man. Everyone references it when giving directions, i.e. "turn left at the pyramid" or "go three miles past the pyramid."
17. There's Lots Of Two-Lane Blacktop Cutting Through Rolling Farmland
Getting to the lakes is always a scenic drive through the pastoral countryside.
18. Farmers On Tractors Share The Roads With Lexus And Mercedes and BMWs
The only traffic jams out here are the ones caused by slow moving tractors on the roads, delaying all the golfers headed to the links.
19. Wear Bright Orange When Walking In, Or Anywhere Near, The Woods
Hunter's wear camo and stay silent to blend in, but you should wear bright orange and make a lot of noise to stand out.
20. Beware Of Logging Trucks Everywhere At All Times Of Day
Lake Country is also timber country. The logging industry is huge here. Logging trucks whiz by at all hours of the day, usually going faster than the sports cars.
21. Road Biking, Yes. Mountain Biking, Not So Much
For a place with so much public forestland you'd think there'd be a great system of mountain biking trails. But the trails here are more often trafficked by ATVs. Road biking on the rural roads, however, is much more common.
22. Lake Oconee Is Where Old Rich People Move To Get Away From Their Kids And The Big City
Reynolds Plantation is the big draw, a master-planned community where those who can afford it go to live out their sunset years or just keep a multimillion dollar lake mansion that they visit maybe twice a year.
But they rarely spend time on the lake they live on, so even in the middle of summer you can have the lake to yourself around Reynolds Plantation. Rich, old people like to live on the water, but they don't like to get in it.
23. There Are Lots Of Gated Communities To Keep Out The Country Riff Raff
Along with Reynolds Plantation, there's Harbor Club and Cuscowilla. You can't just drop in on anyone unannounced at these places because of all the gatehouses and security guards.
24. There Are Two Kinds Of People: Lake People And Town People
And rarely do the twain meet, unless it's at the local Publix or Home Depot.
25. It's So Conservative, Democrats Don't Even Try Anymore
Everyone here is either a Reagan Conservative or a member of the Tea Party. Democrats don't even bother holding rallies because they know it would be a waste of time and money.
26. It's Fancy Enough To Have A Ritz-Carlton
That there's a Ritz-Carlton resort on Lake Oconee completes the paradox of Lake Country. Most people who live in the area have never set foot on the grounds of the resort, nor could they afford to stay and eat there even if they wanted to, but it draws hordes of golfers and their families to spend days at a time on a man made lake in the middle of nowhere.
27. There Are Bugs, Bugs And More Bugs
This is the rural, humid South with forests and lakes, so, yeah, bugs are an issue. Ticks, mosquitoes, fire ants, carpenter ants, those bugs that like to buzz around your head and then dive bomb into your ears. Even ladybugs are a problem here.
What do you love about living in Lake Country? Let us know in the comments below!
