Says resident Shawn Zwilling: “I grew up here. After moving to Atlanta, starting a business and getting married, my wife and I decided to return to LaGrange to start a family. We wanted a safe, small town with Southern charm that was close to Atlanta.

“LaGrange offered all of that and more.”

Land of opportunity
“This is a small town with a lot of opportunity,” says lifelong LaGrange resident Cammie Long. Long’s grandfather and father established Solomon’s Department Store in 1942. “LaGrange offers the best of both worlds – proximity to Atlanta and Columbus, with a hometown feel. The Troup County school system is excellent, as is the West Georgia Hospital System. Attending a performance by the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, relaxing in nearby parks and spending an evening out in the vibrant historical downtown are experiences that only scratch the surface of LaGrange’s Southern charm.”

The opportunities Long speaks of are due in part to the Callaway Foundation, Inc. Its assets, as of September 2010, were valued at $184,096,970. Its mission is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in LaGrange and Troup County by making it a special place to live, work, learn, and play.

“The Downtown LaGrange Development Authority has placed an emphasis on the development of the downtown area, which is starting to really thrive with the help of the Callaway Foundation,” says Hardman Knox, a real estate developer in the area. “In addition, LaGrange boasts a vibrant arts community – Lamar Dodd Art Center, LaGrange Art Museum and Legacy Museum as well as an active parks and recreation department with top-notch amenities. Access to higher education and continuing education opportunities at LaGrange College and West Georgia Technical College are a huge plus,” he adds.

“You get more house for your money here and the quality of life is tenfold that of other places,” says Joel Upchurch, a real estate agent with Re/Max Results, who calls LaGrange a bedroom community for metro Atlanta. “There are amenities here you just don’t see in other towns this size – the symphony, the lake, dining destinations, an upbeat downtown area and more.”

These features, along with LaGrange’s quick access to the Atlanta airport and the regional economic hub of West Georgia – Columbus – make this small town a favorite among those with ties to bigger surrounding cities.
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“Here, homes are more than a place to offer shelter from the elements,” says Knox. “Sites are gracious in size – with each one exceeding an acre – and carefully planned to enable access to the lake while blending in with the rolling topography and dense tree canopy.”

As a waterfront community, access to the lake is Retreat’s number one amenity. A close second? A wet slip permit for each home site in the community.

Joey Mines, host of “Outdoors with Joey Mines” on Fox Sports for 29 years, built a “green” house in Retreat constructed of earth-friendly materials and containing energy-saving appliances.

“I have had the pleasure of visiting some great places in North and South America for my show,” he says. “But my favorite place, without a doubt, is sitting on the deck at my house with my wife, Betty, and our two dogs, Bug and Nic, overlooking West Point Lake.”

According to Knox, Retreat is the first development of its kind on the lake that employs a community dock system.

“By working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and implementing a community dock program, we were able to protect over 40,000 feet of shoreline – a huge plus as this adds to the pristine look of the lake from the water,” he says.

Charles and Fran Holland, a couple from Conyers, Georgia, are like many who are anticipating making LaGrange home as they build in this lakeside enclave.

“We liked that it has a small-town feel and offers amenities like shopping, entertainment and cultural arts,” says Fran Holland. “We are very impressed with the way the city and county government have controlled the growth in the area while adding more amenities.

“There are still so many green spaces and few traffic jams. The historical area has stayed vibrant even through the economic downturn and we can still get to downtown Atlanta easily. There is also Callaway Gardens nearby and Columbus for sightseeing.”

Solid value
According to Upchurch, current prices on lake lots are from $45,000 to $150,000 and waterfront homes run from $125,000 to $540,000.

“It seems the value of the properties have not taken as big a hit as in other areas of Georgia,” says Charles Holland. “Even though the values have dropped, we believe they will recover faster than other areas because businesses seem to be thriving in this area – whereas they are closing up shop in other areas.” 

For Knox, the major draw to the area was West Point Lake, followed closely by the thriving community.

“The more time I spend here, the more impressed I become,” he says. “I’ve found LaGrange to be a progressive Southern town bustling with cultural and historic venues, outstanding dining options, as well as an active and involved business community – all while maintaining small-town values,” he says.

Adds Fran Holland: “The community is well-planned for casual living in a beautiful setting. We are looking forward to spending time on the walking trails and our dock, to riding bicycles around the neighborhood and driving a golf cart to a neighbor’s house. This is a very different lifestyle than we are living now.”

Downtown delights
After a day on the lake, families congregate in Historic Downtown LaGrange, where boutiques and eateries welcome sun-soaked water lovers. Just five minutes away, West Point Lake’s accessibility to a charming downtown area means those who live here literally have it all – the peace and quiet of a day in nature coupled with the convenience of a gourmet dinner come sunset.

C’sons in downtown is the best place to reconnect with old friends and linger over savory delights following a day outdoors. The menu features seasonal market fresh ingredients like locally-grown mixed greens which come to life with the masterful touch of chefs who add toppings like creamy ginger vinaigrette to wake up the taste buds.

Anything-but-small-town shops line the square: Maize ‘N Grace beckons visitors with irresistible eye candy that’s been featured in the likes of ‘O’ magazine, Redbook and InStyle, and on television’s “Ellen DeGeneres Show”; Plum Southern, which specializes in kitchen and home decor from tabletops to furniture, is elegance with flair; and the upscale White Orchid stocks fine and casual china, glassware, crystal and more in a gallery setting.

“Once you spend time here, you won’t want to leave,” says Upchurch.

Anchoring it all is LaGrange College, the oldest private college in Georgia, founded in 1831 and renowned for its offerings in drama, music and art. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the once all-female college now has a diverse student body of just over 1,000 people representing 19 states and 15 countries, with 53 academic and pre-professional programs.

“LaGrange College is a hidden gem,” says Long.

Sort of like LaGrange itself.

Info
Getting there: From Atlanta or points north, travel I-85 South to exit 18 for GA-109 toward LaGrange. From Columbus or points south, travel I-185 North to exit 42 for US-27 toward LaGrange. From Birmingham or points west, travel I-20 East to exit 205 for AL-46 toward Ranburne. Turn right at AL-46 E and turn right at Co Road 49/Frank Ledbetter Memorial Dr. Continue onto Co Road 111. Turn right at Stateline Rd. Turn left at GA-5 N. Take the first right onto GA-100 S. Turn right at GA-1 S/GA-100 S/US-27 S.

LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce: www.LaGrangeChamber.com
706-884-8671.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: WestPt.sam.usace.army.mil, 706-645-2937.

Realtor: Ken Breland, Director of Sales and Marketing, Retreat on West Point Lake and Broker, West Point Lake Realty LLC, 706-298-0917, Ken@Retreatwpl.com

River Club: JJones@JTJonesRealty.com, 706-883-6123
Recently sold: River Club, $395,000

LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, www.LaGrangeChamber.com

HI- and LOW-RES Images Available

Media Contact:
Laura Jennings
LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce
www.LaGrangeChamber.com
706-884-8671

About LaGrange-Troup County
Ideally-located less than an hour from both Atlanta and Columbus and sharing a 35-mile border with Alabama, LaGrange-Troup County – named for the estate of French and American hero General Marquis de Lafayette and Governor Troup – is home to 67,000 residents. The thriving community, where textiles are big industry and a recently-established Kia Plant plays a major economic role, harbors the nearly 26,000-acre recreational wonder known as West Point Lake and the four-year liberal arts and science institute, LaGrange College, and West Georgia Technical College.

Image: Shawn Zwilling and his wife chose West Point Lake as the ideal place to raise a family. Credit: Shawn Zwilling

Image: Joey and Betty Mines on the deck of their house. Credit: Joey Mines

Image: An evening in Downtown LaGrange is the happy-ever-after to a fairy-tale day. Credit: LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce
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