Something for everyone in Oconee County

Watkinsville

Ashford Manor (nine guest rooms) at 5 Harden Hill Rd., Watkinsville. (706) 769-2633. ambedandbreakfast.com

Greensboro

Durhamton Plantation, 2350 Randolph Church Rd. (706) 486-4603. Durhamtown.com.

The Potted Geranium, 201 W Greene St. thepottedgeranium.com.

Yesterday Café, 114 N Main St. theyesterdaycafe.com

More information: visitlakeoconee.com

Oconee County was once an agricultural hub serving rural Georgia between Atlanta and Augusta, but the county, following the lead of towns of Watkinsville and Greensboro, has grown up and changed economies. And around Georgia, people have noticed.

Tourism brought $34.06 million into Oconee in 2012, the Oconee County Tourism Department said.

It offers art galleries, highly regarded lodging, restaurants, water activities on Lake Oconee and championship golf courses you can play without breaking the bank. It is close enough to Atlanta for a day trip and it also offers a bucolic spot to spend the night for those attending the Masters next month.

Watkinsville

The town enjoyed growth early on as a stopover on the stagecoach route between Athens to Milledgeville, Georgia’s first capital. It’s a destination now and an arts and recreational center not just for Georgians but for those around the Southeast.

Each August and early September, Watkinsville hosts Georgia’s largest pottery exhibition, the Perspectives Pottery Invitational, which draws over 10,000 art lovers.

According to Justin Martin, the county’s assistant tourism director, Oconee is a popular spot for Masters’ patrons to stay each April.

“We know people want to get as close to Augusta as possible and not pay an arm and a leg. We see people from Atlanta and a good number of people from Tennessee,” he said.

Ashford Manor Bed & Breakfast is one lodging option in Watkinsville’s downtown. This 1893 Victorian home is more boutique hotel than traditional bed & breakfast, says co-owner Dave Shearon.

“We are a private five-acre estate that offers peace and complete privacy in the center of town,” Shearon said. “As for April (and the Masters), we’ve had people stay on a semi-regular basis and come back each or every other year for the practice rounds all the way to the final Sunday.”

Shearon says Ashford Manor frequently holds concerts and this year will host a 1919′s Mint Jubilee Kentucky Derby party on May 3, so bring your best classic sun hat. If that doesn’t interest patrons, there are options nearby.

“When guests aren’t golfing, the visitors can experience the shops and arts we offer, kayak, or try out some local restaurants,” he said.

Greensboro

Greensboro nestles next to Lake Oconee, which offers boating, fishing and water skiing. Only an hour from the Atlanta city limits, Greensboro has become a full-time residence for many seeking refuge from the metro area. Though the Great Recession slowed building, the area seems to be bouncing back.

“Greensboro and the Lake Oconee area are showing signs of significant growth and projects for new construction and new development,” said Harold Kolbe, president of Southeastern Business Intermediaries, LLC, an Atlanta firm engaged in raising and locating capital for commercial projects. “We are securing capital for a senior care housing project as part of what we see as the growth spurt to support the (area’s) development.”

Outdoors enthusiasts can stay at nearby Durhamtown Plantation, which offers cabin rentals and fun amenities such as ATV/dirt bike rentals to take for a spin on the miles of tracks and trails on property.

Visitors to downtown Greensboro like the quaint district, which features the Potted Geranium, rated by TeaMap.com as the No. 1 tea room in Georgia. Another Greensboro favorite tourists stop is the Yesterday Cafe for a piece of buttermilk pie. The owner has used the same family recipe for 30 years.

Reynolds Plantation

“Masters Week is kind of the kickoff to the (tourist) season,” said Gray Ferguson, senior vice president of operations at Reynolds Plantation. “We have limited space remaining and that will get us going this spring and all the way through the summer.”

Many Atlantans know about the expansive Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation Lodge and the level of service one can expect, but the resort also offers cottage and condominium rentals.

“Guests can choose from three different locations and properties that have from three to five bedrooms, along with kitchens and large porches,” Ferguson said.

The golf courses at Reynolds hold up against anywhere. Last month, they were selected as one of only 10 U.S. properties rewarded with a prestigious platinum medal by Golf Magazine. Diners can try the Linger Longer Steakhouse on the Oconee course. Kids will love the nightly s’mores roasts held behind the Ritz at dusk.

“With golf, Lake Oconee and easy access to and from I-20, we have something for every member of the family,” Ferguson said.