About Clayton's Lake Burton

Our local Rabun County Board of Realtors just passed a vote to change to Georgia MLS.

Till now we have had or own local system. The thought was only we could list the properties in our county in the MLS system so listing with a local agent was the only sensible solution for a seller.

We thought it a little irresponsible for an agent from another area to list because the local agents would not see it on our MLS system. Of course, I still believe it makes more sense to list with an agent that lives in the area of your property for sale, but sellers do have a choice.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out but it could open the market both ways in a positive manner.

When the market saw a slow down we saw more traffic from out of town agents bringing in customers to show property in our area but needing the local agent for all of the information.

My guess is when an agents own market recovers they again will be happy to send a client for a referral.

Lets just remember we are all in this together.

Is anyone else seeing their local MLS systems go away?

Lake Burton Facts

• Lake Burton covers 2,775 acres and has 62 miles of shoreline
• It is the highest Georgia Power Lake in Georgia
• Elevation is 1,866,5 feet above sea level
• Of the total 1,172 lake lots, 328 are fee simple lots and 844 are Georgia Power lease lots.... 72% of the total lots are Georgia Power lease lots.

Lake Burton History

In the early 1800's until the time of its removal in 1917, the town of Burton was the largest community in Rabun County with a population of approx 200. The Tallulah River supplied power for number businesses in and near the city. Commerce grew and by the time the town was bought by the Georgia Railway and Electric Company in 1917 it boasted three general stores. One of the purchasing agents for the railroad was John LaPrade, whose land on what now is now the shore of Lake Burton on Georgia 197 would serve as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and today is the site of LaPrade's Marina and Water's Edge Restaurant. The lake was built in a deep valley located along a ten mile stretch of the Tallulah River. The Lake Burton dam (128 ft in height with a span of 1,100 ft and capable of holding 5 billion cubic feet of water) was closed on December 22, 1919 and the river rose to form Lake Burton. The lake was completely filled by August 18, 1925 and has maintained a full pool ever since. The water is normally lowered in November and raised in March of each year to allow property owners to build and make repairs to their boathouses, dock sand sea walls.

The MAGIC of LAKE BURTON

Day dreaming while riding in a boat on Lake Burton, it's easy to forget the troubles that plague your life. Comfort is inevitably found in the gentle rocking motion of the vessel and the sound of lapping waves as you stare into the robin's egg blue sky and watch the Red Tail hawks and an occasional bald eagle soar overhead.

Life on Lake Burton is simple, yet sophisticated. The mix of lifestyles is evident as are the variations of architectural styles of both the homes and the boat houses. While some houses are large and elaborate, others are quaint and their humble beginnings as mere fish camps are obvious. It's always fun to take first time visitors for a tour around the lakeshore to look at the boathouses. Many are more elegantly constructed than the houses they belong to.

Small or large, old or new, impressive opulence or faded glory, each house on Lake Burton sports its own name. From ‘Sticks ‘n Stones', an elaborately detailed Adirondack style home with 7 bedrooms and 9 baths to ‘Uncle Fred's', a bungalow ‘up the river', directions can be followed by those in the know simply by going past ‘Uncle Fred's' up toward Camp High Harbor or by taking a right turn at ‘the water safety man'.

Hungry fish wait for fishermen at the Cat Gap ‘put in' in the Persimmon Valley. The regular lake-goers and locals have their favorite spots to eat around the lake. The snack bar at Anchorage Marina serves both hotdogs and enormous hamburgers cooked and topped however you request. Joanie's, located just off the lake on Laurel Lodge Road, is noted for the fresh seafood that arrives weekly. Families used to crowd around the outdoor tables to share the many Italian style dishes served at Pazzo's near the southern entrance to Laurel Lodge Road, but a sign posted there as of February 2009 states the restaurant is for lease. If and when it re-opens, I'll let you know.

Situated on the mountain to the north and overlooking the lake is Waterfall at Lake Burton . Many Lake Burton home owners are members of the club and find it a welcome respite for activities on rainy days. Golfers love it because they play on what Golf Magazine called 'One of the top 5 golf courses in Georgia'! The most recognized name of all places on Lake Burton is LaPrade's. Originally a fish camp opened in 1925 by the LaPrade's family, the new LaPrade's is now a full service marina with slip rentals, boat rentals and the only water front dining on the lake at both the Lakeside Grill and the Water's Edge Restaurant. LaPrade's and Joanie's are both also noted for the famous faces that show up from time to time. While these folks may be notables, no one takes much notice. Lake Burton is just that kind of place.

No matter your reason for being at Lake Burton, you can't help but fall in love with the lake and everything about it. As you watch the sun sparkle off the clean, clear mountain water and hear the sounds of laughter and happiness all around, it is impossible not to be transported into a time of joy and relaxation.

Lake Burton's magic touches everyone; all you have to do is be ready to embrace it.

For a tour of Lake Burton by car or by boat, give me a call or send me a message. I'd love to show you around!

The New York Times recently referred to Georgia's 'mountain-lakes' area as 'the Hamptons of Atlanta". Rabun County, Georgia - "Where Spring spends the Summer" - is unique in that while the area can be accessed in under two hours from any part of metro Atlanta, Asheville, Greenville, Gainesville or Athens, these mountain lakes are still a well-kept secret. The three lakes in Rabun County are Lakes Burton, Seed and Rabun. All three were built in the early 1900s by Georgia Power and remain three of the most pristine lakes in the United States. Fed by the Talulah River and numerous smaller tributaries ,but no longer used primarily for producing hydro-electric power, the lakes offer boating and water sports and numerous other opportunities for family fun. In addition, visitors and residents enjoy white water rafting, fabulous fly fishing, hiking on the Appalachlian Trail, Georgia's highest state park - Black Rock Mountain State Park, numerous waterfalls, Foxfire and the Talulah Gorge.

I have been an active REALTOR since 1978 - working in the metro Atlanta market until coming to Rabun County in 2004. Twice Realtor of the Year for the Metro-South Association of Realtors; twice President of the Metro-South Association of Realtors; recipient of the JL Christian Award; graduate of the Realtors' Institute (GRI), holder of M-ABR, E-Pro, served as chairman of 8 statewide committees for GAR including the first 2 year chair of the Georgia Realtors Political Action Committee (2003-2004) and Education Commitittee Chair in 2007; actively involved in Senator Johnny Isakson's campaign. Currently a member of the Rabun County Board of Realtors, the Rabun County Multiple Listing Service and The First Multiple Listing Service in Atlanta.

Occasionally I have the opportunity to work with persons who require anonymity and that trust is a respected part of my business. Entertainment and sports figures feel comfortable here because they and their families can lead a 'regular' life - free from the hubbub of their workday worlds.

If you're looking for excitement other than that of landing a trout, dodging a family of wild turkeys as they cross the road, finding a waterfall at the end of a trail, making a great golf shot or 'shooting' a canyon in a raft on whitewater - you'll need to find somewhere else for your home. Georgia's mountain lakes are easy to get to, but those of us who live here or come for vacations or the summer, find it almost impossible to leave.

For more details about Lake Burton, contact me at lynda@lyndahester.com

One of my many avocations is being an e-PRO Trainer for the National Association of Realtors and the Internet Crusade who administer the certification for NAR.

This involved traveling to nearby boards and associations of Realtors to deliver the e-PRO message and give a short presentation about what the course will do for you to bring you up to speed with today's technology.

Yesterday (July 24th) I had two associations to visit. First up was the Haywood County Association of Realtors located in beautiful Waynesville, North Carolina and about a hundred miles southeast of Knoxville. It's a beautiful drive along Interstate 40 skirting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I was here last year; great people, and Lisa Brown the AE is a e-PRO graduate. She told me she was able to build the association website after becoming an e-PRO.

We had a small turnout but everyone was enthusiastic about the program and all of them signed up to take the e-PRO course.

My next gig was about 60 miles away in Clayton, Georgia, a popular summer getaway and vacation home for the Atlanta area residents. There are also a lot of Florida residents who come to this part of the country to get away from the summer heat.

My journey took me by the quaint little town of Dillsboro, North Carolina, home of the Great Smoky Mountain Mountains Roadroad. Since my next class wasn't until 3:00 PM I stopped by for a quick visit. The GSMR is a private railroad that runs excursion trips through the Smoky Mountains for about 50 miles or so. I've been on a couple and it's a great way to spend the day and see some scenary you probably would not see any other way.

Here's the train loading up for another trip.

The GSMR has been featured in several movies including the crash scene in "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford. They still the wrecked bus(s) the train ran over in the escape scene.

On to Clayton. I got there about 12:30; still lots of time before my 3:00 pm show so I wandered around. Clayton is a charming little town up in the north Georgia mountains.

Since it was about lunch time I paid a visit to the Clayton Cafe located right on Main Street.

If you're ever in Clayton around lunchtime you need to pay them a visit. The place was packed when I walked and one of the watresses said "Honey, you can sit down there at the community table if you want." Worked for me so I went and sat down. Turns out the community table is a long table in the rear where the local go to visit with each other.

There were two charming ladies already sitting there. They both smiled and started up a conversation. One was from Atlanta and her and her husband own a weekend home near there; she left him taking a nap while she came for lunch. The other lady was a local resident who retired to Clayton because her two daughters live near there.

I ordered the meat loaf with mashed potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, of course a big glass of iced tea, and peach cobbler for desert. WOW! It was delicious; I ate every bite plus 2 glasses of tea.

I wandered around Clayton for a bit after lunch. Found this interesting looking rock house down the street from the cafe. My fellow Realtors later told me you can rent it for gatherings, meetings, social events, etc. It's called, not surprisingly, "The Rock House"

Found a great bookstore that invited you to come in, have a cup of coffee, and browse so I did. Lots of interesting books about local events, places, history, and great coffee.

It was now after 2:00 pm so I headed back down to the Rabun County Association of Realtors for my last class.

Their AE, Mary Ann Rich is a very gracious lady who not only welcomed me but gave me a big bag of fresh vegetables one of her members had dropped off at the association for the membership. I got some fresh summer squash and cucumbers, mmmmmmm.

Did the class and ended up staying awhile to visit with some of the attendees.

Clayton and Rabun County Georgia has some pretty pricey real estate for a sleepy little north Georgia town.

You can buy this beautiful, log B & B on Apple Pie Ridge Road for only $199,999

They also have quite a few listings on the area's many lakes that are priced in the low 7 figure range.

All in a all a fun day and a great road trip. I saw some countryside I've never visited before, made some new Realtor friends, and got a big bag of fresh vegetables not to mention that great lunch at the Clayton Cafe.

If anyone is thinking about becoming an e-PRO, my trainer website has a short video that explains all about the course. It's taught 100% online and unlike other NAR designations (e-PRO is a certification), there is NO RECURRING ANNUAL FEE to maintain.

I can also get you a $25.00 discount if you'll email me directly instead of signing up online.