Life on Lake Lanier: Everything You Need to Know

What is life like on Lake Lanier? How big is it? Is it safe for my family and is there really a town under the lake? Today I’m answering all of those questions and more–including the most popular question I get which is ‘where are my favorite spots to eat at on the lake.’ Ok, no one asks me that but you should know!

Lake Lanier is a 38,000 acre reservoir that is located about an hour north of Atlanta and spans through 5 counties, primarily Gwinnett, Hall and Forsyth in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains. It is a huge tourist destination and we welcome almost 12 million tourists each year. 

Lake Lanier came to be in 1956, when the Corps of Engineers completed Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River by blocking the water flow. The Corps built the lake to manage navigation and flood control of the Chattahoochee River, provide hydroelectricity, and supply water for the city of Atlanta. And Lake Lanier is named after Georgia native Sidney Lanier who was a poet and novelist. In fact, when the lake was built, it was actually built on top of communities. 700 families had to move to make way for the lake. Some moved their homes, but others just moved their belongings. Any buildings and structures that would be tall enough to extend above a water depth of 35 feet at the high water level were removed. The 160 islands that grace this beautiful lake are actually the hilltops of those farms. In fact, a drought in 2007 exposed part of the stadium stands of an old race track that was flooded over when the lake was constructed, which you can see in this picture.

The lake encompasses 38,000 acres or 59 square miles of water, and 692 miles of shoreline at normal level, a “full pool” of 1,071 feet above mean sea level  The states of Georgia, Alabama and Florida all have rights to the water of the reservoir, as it feeds rivers going through those areas.  Lake Lanier was also hosts to the rowing and canoeing events during the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Not only is Lake Lanier a huge tourist destination but it is also a popular place to live. On the lake, you will find a variety of home styles, neighborhoods and prices. You will find everything from small single family bungalows to sprawling estates priced in the millions, the popular active adult community, Cresswind on Lake Lanier, and apartment complexes that give you pretty great views–there is something for everyone. 

As mentioned before the Army Corp built the lake and they also manage and control the lake and its surrounding properties, including issuing dock permits. The Army Corp stopped issuing permits in 2016 which has caused the prices of lake homes to increase steadily along with strong demand that we have in this current real estate market, and the demand in the North Metro Atlanta area. Some other things to note are you don’t (always) own all of the land leading down to the lake. It depends on the property lines, but sometimes the chunk of land right next to the water is owned by the Corps. And as with anything in the government you have a lot of rules and regulations about what you can and can’t do on that property. 

If you aren’t familiar with Lake Lanier, most visitors and potential lake home buyers are surprised to find that the docks on Lake Lanier are floating docks. As I mentioned earlier, the water levels vary because of the Buford Dam. Docks have to be floating in order to give way for higher levels, and when levels drop. This creates the need to go out and bring in your dock if you are in a cove with lower water levels, as well as bring your dock in during periods of heavy rain. Many potential homeowners are also surprised to find that you need to get the Army Corps approval before doing anything to your dock on Army Corp land. The size of the dock permit is what is allowed at the property, you can go smaller, but cannot go bigger than what is permitted for.

I mentioned that Lake Lanier is a huge tourist attraction and you don’t have to live on the lake to enjoy it. You can access the lake through 76 boat ramps you can bring our boat to and put in at. User fees are charged for launching at most boat ramps, and most boat ramps are open year-round, but may close due to low water levels. If you don’t have a boat, no problem. There are a variety of boat rental companies offering everything from jet skis to pontoons and mega cruisers.

There are nine marinas that serve Lake Lanier throughout the five counties it is located in.  Combined, they can hold over 7,500 boats in their wet and dry slips. They are open year-round and offer complete boating amenities.  There is gas available which is super handy. Some of the marinas have lakeside restaurants, so there are several places to eat right on the lake, many of which you can ride your boat right up to. I made a whole video about restaurants on Lake Lanier on my YouTube page, but my favorite has to be PigTales which is located at Aqualand Marina.

Lake Lanier is also huge for fishing. The BassMaster Elite Series often takes place on Lake Lanier, which you’ll know if you are big into fishing is pretty cool. If you don’t have a boat and want to experience the lake and summer fun, make sure you check out  Margaritaville at Lanier Islands (formerly known as Lake Lanier Islands and still referred to that by locals) has a huge water park that was recently revamped and is an awesome place to take the kids and your whole family year round for some fun. They upgraded the islands, added an awesome new RV park, and added fun new adventures like their Margarita Cruises where you ride around on the huge boat, drink margaritas, and enjoy the scenery. Also a great way to enjoy the winter on the lake with their Lakeside Lights Spectacular. During the summer, you can drive there or ride right up on your boat.

One of the questions I get asked frequently is how crowded does the lake get and does it have a party atmosphere and I have to tell you–that all depends on what you are looking for. It is not uncommon for the lake to be crowded in the main parts of the lake during the weekends and holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day. If you want to cruise around and people watch, this is a great time to do that. If you are seeking a party atmosphere, well, it’s not uncommon to find 5-6 boats tied up in a cove or quieter area of the lake to create their own party atmosphere. Families will often meet up together in one spot and claim it for the day. and of course you can always head to Cocktail Cove or Sunset Cove, these two areas of the lake are known for a more party-style atmosphere. If you are looking for a family friend atmosphere–you can find that no matter the day or time of the year. Because Lake Lanier is so huge, there are tons of places for families to gather and find peace and quiet. You’ll often find pontoons and small cruisers beached on the beaches of the islands, and it is so much fun to pull up to a beach and hang out for the day. You kids can play on the beach, have a picnic, and soak up some sun. You’ll hear music playing, kids splashing and dads grilling out on the beaches. You’ll also find plenty of room for tubing, water skiing, and the ever popular wakeboarding and wake surfing. Again, because the lake is so big, you don’t have to worry about the crowds–any day on the lake is a great day!

If you don’t have a boat and you don’t want to go to the waterpark, you can find four different campground parks for a unique lake experience, or visit one of the many public uses day parks that the lake has. There are 12 different parks that have public beaches, picnic tables, and playgrounds to enjoy. These are really popular and very beautiful areas to spend the day enjoying the lake without needing to rent a boat or any other equipment.

Lake Lanier offers something for everyone and you should definitely visit. In fact, many people love it so much they decide to make it their year round vacation spot, or buy a second home. I help buyers and sellers from all over buy and sell property on and near Lake Lanier, and I would love to do the same for you.

If you have any other questions about what it’s like living on Lake Lanier or want to know more about the area, head to my YouTube channel where I post all kinds of videos talking about just that.