Who: Mike and Melanie Ward and their daughters, McKenzie and Hayley

Where: Lake Sinclair

Photos by CHRISTOPHER OQUENDO / Special (ENLARGE)

The Wards' home on Lake Sinclair in Eatonton.

(ENLARGE)

Mike and Melanie Ward (from left) hang out with Vicki Jermain.

(ENLARGE)

Whimsical decor plays off lively room colors in the four-bedroom, three-bath lake house, which features cathedral ceilings.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Melanie Ward describes the interior as a cross between a lake house and a beach house. 'It's just a great escape.'

GETTING THERE From downtown Atlanta, take I-20 east to Exit 114 (U.S. 441), turn right. Travel about 29 miles to Lake Sinclair.

When purchased: Three years ago

Their home: A four-bedroom, three-bath lake house with features such as cathedral ceilings and whimsical decor. Room colors including rain-washed blue, turquoise, lavender and pale pink mix with pink flamingos, palm trees, fish, mermaids and antique furniture. Melanie describes the interior as a cross between a lake house and a beach house. "It's such a fun house that you have fun being there," she said. "It's just a great escape."

How far from home: Two hours, from Fayetteville.

How they found it: "It's always been in the back of our minds," Melanie said. Both enjoy fishing, and they did research before deciding on Lake Sinclair because of factors including its stable water level and cleanliness, she said. They looked for two years before finding the property that met their requirements, including having a deep-water dock and a great view. They also didn't want to take their boat under bridges going to the main part of the lake. "It just took us forever," she said. "It's not easy to find all those things." During their search, on a house-hunting trip from a boat, she spotted a "beautiful lot" on a point. It had a trailer on it, but the couple didn't want to build a home. They continued searching, and after a few months when they returned to the lot, they discovered a builder had a home under construction and for sale.

How often they're there: Typically three times a month. They'll often arrive on Thursday afternoons, armed with their computer if they need to work from there, and return on Sundays, or sometimes Monday mornings.

What they love about it: "There's so much to do because we both are water lovers," Melanie said. "We've made friends with different people on the lake. We cruise back and forth a lot on our pontoon boats and have dinner together."

LAKE SINCLAIR

Lake Sinclair, which has more than 400 miles of shoreline, was created in 1953 and is owned by Georgia Power. The 15,000-plus acre lake is located in Putnam, Hancock and Baldwin counties. Waterfront listings range from $45,500 (for a lot with a trailer) to $4.5 million.

RECENT SALES

$250,000, home on nearly 1 acre, with a boat slip and dock

$382,000, home with about 2,000 square feet with a boat dock

Sources: Re/Max Lake Sinclair, Putnam County Board of Tax Assessors

WEB RESOURCES

Lake Sinclair

Georgia's Lake Country

Eatonton and Putnam County Chamber of Commerce

City of Eatonton government

Putnam County government

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