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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Loved by Gwinnettians but now a victim of ‘progress’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Highlands, N.C. — It’s the inevitable sign of change, of what can happen to prime real estate in a booming town that’s nestled in mountain beauty.
Old Creek Lodge, a resort on the outskirts of this vacation/retiree town in Western North Carolina, has fallen victim to change. The 6-acre getaway has 15 cabins, a main lodge area where guests gather for an evening social hour, a waterfall and creek, and a gazebo that overlooks the playground. You can check out free movies and games, play checkers and chess. Relax.
The lodge offered character that’s hard to duplicate. The kind of character that made the two-hour drive a worthwhile trip. The kind of character missing in the swank hotels and inns in charming downtown Highlands. The kind of character that’s vanishing fast in Gwinnett, practically obsolete.
If I want to see a community of townhomes and condos, I can stay in Gwinnett. If I want to see wholesomeness diminish, replaced by projects some praise as progress and others curse, there’s no need to leave town.
Old Creek Lodge offered respite. It was quieter, prettier, and put most people in the mood to be friendlier. And that’s what drew my family there for several years, drew many Gwinnettians there, time and time again.
Don’t take my word for it, though.
Read the lodge’s guest book.
“Here again,” wrote Ken and Angela Moss of Dacula on 11/20/05. “Celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary.”
“Third time here,” beamed Doug and Denee King of Lawrenceville, on 2/10/06.
“I love it here,” wrote Jessica Brusich of Sugar Hill, on 12/2/05.
So did my kids.
When Olivia learned that the lodge would face the wrecking ball, she prayed to save it. Miles wrote a letter to Mario C. Gomes, CEO/general manager of the Old Edwards Hospitality Group LLC.
“Please don’t tear down Old Creek Lodge,” he pleaded. “You’re breaking our hearts!”
Old Creek Lodge closes for good on Wednesday. According to lodge employees and local business owners, plans are to tear it down and build townhomes with a starting price range of $800,000.
Last weekend, several families spent a bittersweet weekend at the lodge. We watched our kids play hide-and-seek for hours, took in a little football (poor UGA; yeah Tech), went sightseeing, sipped cocktails by the fire and wondered. Where are we going to stay next time?
Of course, there are plenty of places to bunk down. That’s not the point. Something’s been lost, a sense of place. Our home.
“It’s been hard telling people that this is the last weekend,” said Wendy Latta, a front desk supervisor who’s worked at the lodge for five years. “People have actually cried.”
Latta and other locals say residents are torn over developer interest in the community. Some embrace it; others detest it. It’s obviously a touchy subject. Gomes, the CEO, abruptly declined comment on Monday.
His silence spoke volumes, though. In small towns, people generally don’t like change.
And in Highlands, there’s lots of it.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875. Or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
