We Are One Of The Lucky Few To Experience A Guided Tour Of The Buford Dam Power House At Lake Lanier!

Many thanks to Nick Baggett with the United States Army Corps of Engineers office at Buford Dam! Mr. Baggett set up a full tour of the Power House facility at Buford Dam. The Corps of Engineers does very few tours of this facility, and I must say that this one was a very special treat. For security reasons, photos are not allowed to be taken at most of the facility, but we were allowed to take a few photos from the observation deck on top facing the lake and from the river observation area facing downstream into the Chattahoochee River.

View of West Bank Park from Buford Dam @ Lake Lanier.

View from the lower level of Power House down the Chattahoochee River as water exits the dam.

View of West Bank Park from Buford Dam @ Lake Lanier.

The Lake Lanier Buford Dam Power House was built in the early 1950s when Lake Lanier was initially constructed. It was truly fascinating to go through the entire facility and see the remarkable construction and craftsmanship that went into building the dam and Power House.  I saw lots of working equipment with familiar names like General Electric and Westinghouse. Items that were still in use, clean, well-kept and almost perfectly conditioned as they likely were at installation time in the 1950s!  Large-scale items designed to lift heavy equipment were observed in many areas of the facility. It was a bit of a walk back in time. We toured many of the floors of the powerhouse as well as walking through damp tunnels surrounded by stone and traveling up an old, small elevator as we ascended from floor to floor. Once again, just a fascinating tour, almost like walking back into a time capsule. However, despite its age, the Power House is functioning quite well today, and it provides power that is used in many of the surrounding counties and communities. A testament to the longevity and the quality of what Americans can build! From the 1950s until today and still operating quite well!

After touring the Power House, we were taken to the United States Army Corps of Engineers office at Lake Lanier. Once we arrived at the office, we got a chance to meet some of the staffers in the Parks and Recreation Division as well as in the Shoreline Management Division. As you would expect, many agents had lots of questions for the folks over in Shoreline Management. As always, everyone in the Corps' office was helpful and very knowledgeable about answering our questions. They urged us to make sure that all of our clients reach out to the Shoreline Management Division when considering the purchase of a waterfront property that has a dock permit. This process can be initiated via email or via a phone call to the Shoreline Management Division. It's a great way for clients that are new to Lake Lanier to understand the permitting process, what they will need to do in order to put the dock permit in their name, and to make sure that the permit is in good order and free of current violations.

Again, I really want to thank Nick for treating us as a special group and providing us access to a facility that very few people are ever allowed to see. What an enjoyable and educational day! Here are a few more photos from the trip!

View from the lower level of Power House down the Chattahoochee River as water exits the dam.

View from the lower level of Power House down the Chattahoochee River as water exits the dam.

View from the lower level of Power House down the Chattahoochee River as water exits the dam.

Lake Sidney Lanier Homes is the most comprehensive online source for information on Lake Lanier homes for sale and Lake Lanier area real estate. View the latest Lake Lanier home listings, foreclosures, lots, land, sales trends and real estate topics on Lake Lanier. Arthur Prescott is an Accredited Buyer's Representative and Certified Residential Specialist with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. He has over a decade of Lake Lanier real estate experience. If you would like to schedule a free buyer or seller consultation, please feel free to contact us directly at www.LakeSidneyLanierHomes.com or 770-844-8484 or email us at Arthur.Prescott@BHHSGeorgia.com.

Photos Of Buford Dam And Lake Lanier Along Buford Dam Road!

Yesterday, as I was returning from my trip to Sugar Hill, I crossed Buford Dam and was amazed at the beautiful conditions on the lake.  It was cold and windy and the rains were approaching.  The wind was howling!  The water was just a gorgeous blue and the winds were creating white caps.  It was one of those very special times to see Lake Lanier and its beauty.  I decided to stop at the overlook park along Buford Dam and take a few photos of what I was seeing.  The photos below are what I captured of the overlook park, the Dam, and West Bank Park in the distance at Lake Lanier!

Lake Sidney Lanier Homes is the most comprehensive online source for information on Lake Lanier homes for sale and Lake Lanier area real estate. View the latest Lake Lanier home listings, foreclosures, lots, land, sales trends and real estate topics on Lake Lanier. Arthur Prescott is an Accredited Buyer's Representative and Certified Residential Specialist with over a decade of Lake Lanier real estate experience. If you would like to schedule a free buyer or seller consultation, please feel free to contact us directly at 678-513-2014 or email us at APrescott@PrudentialGeorgia.com.

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Lake Lanier Area Dining In Buford At Rico's World Kitchen!

The rains didn't stop us from enjoying a fantastic evening last night in Historic Downtown Buford near Lake Lanier.  We ventured across Buford Dam into Gwinnett County and headed to Rico's World Kitchen for dinner!  Well, the rave reviews were true, as Rico's World Kitchen did not disappoint.  While Historic Downtown Buford did not seem overly crowded, Rico's was packed.  Many of the diners were enjoying meals on the outdoor patio, until the rains came and everyone had to move inside.  This restaurant is really unique!  Think hot new dining spot in a restored old-time gas station or corner store!  If you've ever dined at Pure Taqueria in Alpharetta, the concept is the same.

The menu at Rico's is diverse and the beer and wine selection is as well.  Both are top notch!  We enjoyed samplings of steak, shrimp, crab cakes, and fried green tomato salad.  Of course, I can't forget the coconut cake for dessert!  In keeping with the theme, the beers and wine are "worldly" as well.  Really nice offerings from Europe, Asia, South America and of course the U.S.  Rico's is high-end food in an eclectic, casual atmosphere at a very reasonable price.  They post their dinner specials on their Facebook Page.  A great idea that is clearly approved of by their Facebook followers!  I mention this because their website menu appears to show mainly lunch fare.  We'll be returning to Rico's soon, and we'll get photos before the rains come.  But for now, be sure to visit Rico's World Kitchen in Historic Downtown Buford for an excellent evening dinner!

Lake Lanier Buford Dam Sunset Tour!

Come ride with us on this Lake Lanier Buford Dam Sunset Tour!  View the south end of Lake Lanier, Sawnee Campground, Buford Dam, and the power station as we drive east along Buford Dam Road!

Lake Lanier Housing Inventory

Today we are taking a look at the housing inventory on Lake Lanier to see how many homes with dock permits are presently for sale, the price range and other aspects of the market. According to my stats that I review, I am seeing 354 homes for sale. The prices range from $4,500,000 on the high end down to an opening price point of $98,000. That's a very wide range and indicative of the idea that there is something for everyone here on the lake. Many of the homes may have docks that are part of a community with a multi slip marina inside the neighborhood where the homeowner can lease or purchase a designated slip.

We made a trip out to the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Office at Buford Dam this morning in order to take a few photos. As we crossed Buford Dam, the posted water level for Lake Lanier was 1055.58. Wow! That's an incredible jump from a few weeks ago, and the highest level we've seen since back in the late summer. As I got out of the car to take a photo of the main office, I noticed a lot of Corps employees in the parking lot, prepping for the work day. I decided not to take the photos, as I didn't feel that I could get a worthy pic. No sooner did I return to my car when there was a tap on the window. One of the friendly Park Rangers asking why I was taking photos of the office. He asked me for my business card and details of identification. Well, I had all of the requirements to verify who I was and why I was taking photos. I encouraged him to visit my website and confirm my identity. Photo or not, the experience was evidence that we're pretty secure down here at the USACE Main Office! Thanks for checking!

www.LakeSidneyLanierHomes.com

Hope For A New Lake Lanier In 2009

Happy New Year! Here's to hoping that all of you had a fantastic holiday season! The rain is continuing here on Lake Lanier. It's been going on for so many days now that my joints are even starting to feel the change. Could this be the motivator that we've needed to get this market back on track? My wife drove over Buford Dam this morning and reported to me that the electronically posted lake level at the Dam was over 1055. The water level in this lake, in my opinion, is one of the most if not the most important factor in the overall real estate market here on Lanier. It just seems that whether the real estate market in the U.S. is good or bad, our lake market is ultimately tied to the water level. When levels are low, enthusiasm about lake property is about the same. So, if the level could just get back to about 1060 or higher, I think that enthusiasm might just rise as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I watch the gauge continue to rise!

www.LakeSidneyLanierHomes.com

Lake Lanier's Buford Dam Lower Overlook

Autumn weather is here, and it provides a perfect time for jumping outdoors and taking quick photos of the lake's gorgeous scenery. Today's clicks occurred at Lake Lanier's Buford Dam as we visited the Lower Overlook. The park has a nice sidewalk area in the trees along the side of the lake. Numerous picnic areas with tables and grills line the walk area. This was really a cool site, and a nice addition to this beautiful park area. I was able to capture a few photos of the site, as well as Buford Dam, the nearby West Bank, and an island in the big water. Check out the link above for all of my Lake Lanier photos!