Permanent Vacation
Vacation homes make living out your dream lifestyle a reality.
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ShareJuly 1, 2005
Mercer’s own home within the massive development sets the standard for what he calls a “mansion in the woods.” Located at the end of a secluded dirt road, surrounded by tall trees, the 20,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home sits on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Oconee. It has a lodgelike feel, with exposed beams, lots of stone and woodwork and expansive verandas. The chef from the Ritz-Carlton often prepares meals for Reynolds and guests in the home. A spacious garden behind the residence overlooks the lake and features a separate outdoor kitchen. Several guesthouses provide lodging for Reynolds’ guests.As the head of the development, Reynolds has the power to maintain the property’s many virtues—a fact he is grateful for. “It feels like you are in the deep woods,” he says. “You can see the stars at night. And it is going to remain that way. That’s why we don’t light our streets at night.”
When in residence (typically four months a year), Reynolds enjoys fishing for large-mouth bass on Lake Oconee, hiking and playing golf. Both presidents have visited Reynolds, and both have hung the “Gone Fishin’ ” sign on the door.
“I took [George W.] Bush out fishing just before the 2000 election,” he says. During those frenzied days leading up to November 4, the chance to hike through the woods like Huck Finn was, Reynolds says, very welcome.
