5-Star Review for The Ark at Lake Lanier

We hosted a small couples retreat at The Ark at Lake Lanier and it was truly exceptional! The property is stunning—immaculate, spacious, and beautifully designed to create a peaceful and welcoming environment. What made our experience unforgettable was the incredible hospitality provided by Jackie, the host and hospitality coordinator, who went above and beyond to care for our group and bless us with amazing meals. While we didn’t have the chance to meet the owner, Jeff, during our stay, he was incredibly helpful and friendly in the early stages of our booking. We also appreciated learning more about the story and purpose behind The Ark—the spirit of generosity and mission-driven hospitality at its foundation is still very much alive in the energy of the home and felt in every detail. We wholeheartedly recommend this property without reservation for any group looking to gather, reflect, and reconnect. We hope to return soon! ”

Fabulous!

Our family had an amazing vacation at the Ark! Our kids enjoyed the pool and the big swing in the yard as well as the lawn games. Thank you so much ? ”

One of the best homes anywhere

If you are looking for a great home to have family and friends join you....this home is it! Host was fantastic! The home is amazing with lots of room for everyone. Amenities are all right there for you to enjoy. Highly recommend this home to our members! ”

Even better the 2nd Time

We just stayed at the Ark for a second time and it was even better this time around. The property is amazing and a truly one of a kind lake compound. The property has every single amenity that you could ask for and it's large enough for just about any group size. Jeff, the owner is gracious, helpful, and truly wants you to have a great time at his property. I highly recommend the Ark for a trip to Lake Lanier! ”

Phenomenal Estate in Serene Setting!

The house and grounds are even better than the pictures! Jeff (owner) and his wife have thought of everything. The decor is beautiful and every little detail is perfect. This estate is exquisite and immaculately clean. If you enjoy the finer things in life, you will NOT be disappointed with your stay here. I've stayed in five star resorts and many vacation rental homes, and the Ark is in my top 2! There is ample room for large families/groups. Everyone can have their own space and yet there are numerous common areas to gather and socialize. The theatre room, kitchen island, large dining table, living room, screened porch, and outdoor living areas were our favorite places to congregate. The nights were cold when we visited, which provided great weather for gathering around the large fire pit and soaking in the hot tub under the stars. Everyone enjoyed cooking in the gourmet kitchen and outside on the grill. There are two refrigerators and freezers for stocking up. We ended up only going out to eat one time because I couldn't imagine any setting that would be better than the Ark for a meal. There are views from every room! If you don't feel like cooking, you can easily hire a caterer or have food delivered. I must mention the master suite. It's luxurious and romantic with plush linens, a fireplace, remote control window treatments, a steam shower, a jacuzzi tub, large closet, a TV, tons of natural light, and gorgeous views. It provided a great escape for this busy mom. Of course, I finally caved and did let my daughters in to try the steam shower and the big bath tub. All of the other bedrooms, bathrooms, apartments, and suites were impressive, as well. Everyone in our group said the beds were comfortable, and they were extremely pleased with their accommodations. The house is so comfortable and filled with so many activity choices, that you never have to leave during your stay. However, this part of Georgia is pretty amazing! Atlanta is a short drive away if you want to explore the big city. Gainesville is the closest town and has everything you need - restaurants, grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target, movie theatre, mall, golf course, etc. If you love nature, like our family does, you will have endless options. Our favorite thing to do is hike in the mountains, and we found fabulous hikes within 30 minutes to an hour of the house. I highly recommend exploring the mountains, forests, streams, and area waterfalls. If you aren't able to hike, take a scenic drive and visit some of the wineries and boutiques in the surrounding towns. My husband loves to fish and enjoyed fishing from the private boat dock and from one of the provided kayaks. He caught several large mouth bass. I kayaked with 2 of my daughters over to the nearby island. Life jackets were provided, so we felt safe and enjoyed the lake scenery, ducks, and geese. All of our children, ages 10-18, enjoyed the in-ground trampoline, pool, hot, tub, outdoor games, Nintendo Wii and numerous board games (any and every game imaginable). They also brought their hammocks and were able to unplug and enjoy quite a few books while lounging throughout our stay. I cannot end this review without thanking Jeff and his family for their gracious hospitality. They made sure that we had everything we needed and were available for questions anytime. ”

Extraordinary

The Ark is a perfect house to share with good friends. The property is spacious and very well equipped. From the firepit (with gas starter) to the in ground trampoline to the home theater, we enjoyed it all. The owner was accommodating and accessible for our needs. We would love another visit!”

Amazing Property

We just spent a long weekend at the Ark on Lake Lanier and loved everything about it. The property is basically a small resort with every amenity you could ask for at a lake house. We spent all weekend playing games outside (with all equipment provided), around the pool & hot tub, fire pit, and even watched part of a movie (just to get the theatre experience in the fully equipped movie room). When we first toured the property, it felt like it just kept going and by the end of the weekend, I still felt like I didn't have a chance to experience the whole property. We had 22 people in our group and at times, the house seemed empty due to the sheer size of the grounds and house. All of the amenities and interior accommodations were first class and flawlessly executed. I also really appreciated the detailed house manual that answered just about every question that came up. Everyone in our group came away from the weekend wanting more Ark and thankful that we were able to spend time at such an amazing place. Would highly recommend to any large group regardless of the reason for the outing and we would absolutely come back if the opportunity presents itself. Thanks to the owner Jeff for being so accommodating to our group; we couldn't have asked for a better location for our get together. ”

The Ark

We planned a gathering of family at the Ark, the owner could not have been more gracious. The facilities are perfect, the house is clean, well organized and has everything you could every want or think of in a vacation home. The beds are very comfortable, the water pressure for showers is great...The Ark has all the bells and whistles, it is like staying at your own private resort... I must admit I am on the picky side and I will be staying at the Ark again. ”

Large group at The Ark at Lake Lanier

I organized a reunion for a large group of college friends at The Ark. I had not seen it before arriving for the beginning of our week, and all 16 of us were very pleased with the house and the grounds! There is abundant room for large groups to spread out and not feel cramped or in each other's way. The finishes are very nice, and the multiple large spaces allowed for us to gather in a variety of spots all week. The owner is extremely helpful and welcoming, as are the others he has helping out. The caterer and masseuse he recommended were wonderful. The house, out buildings, hot tub, pool and recreational areas are situated on a quiet cove with a beautiful vista out over the lake. I highly recommend The Ark!”