Lake Lanier Islands
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Lake Lanier Islands are a small group of islands located on Lake Lanier, the largest lake in Georgia, located north of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The islands were previously large hills that became the largest land chain remaining after the flooding of the Chattahoochee river valley located near Gainesville by the Buford dam, creating the popular lake.
Lake Lanier Islands were originally owned by the State of Georgia, but was sold to private ownership in the early 1990s. It has now become a vacation resort.
The islands are a primary recreational destination for the Atlanta area, with one mile of shore line and a Beach and Waterpark which includes 13 water slides, the state's largest wave pool and a Fun Dunker.
Lake Lanier Islands contains a luxury hotel and full service Conference Center, [Emerald Pointe Resort], two golf courses, Equestrian Center and full service Day Spa. Lake Lanier Islands operates the largest harbor on Lake Lanier, Harbor Landing, with boat rentals from small pontoons, to luxury houseboats to group yachts for up to 150 people. A previous hotel, Pine Isle Resort, was closed after nearly 30 years of operation. It will be demolished and replaced with a 5-Star property in 2009.
Popular events at the resort include the Annual Independence Day fireworks on the lake, and "[Magical Nights of Lights]", the largest animated light show in the world.
In August of 2005, it was announced that local businessman Virgil Williams had bought the Islands from the KSL corporation. He officially took control on August 26. The purchase was for 14.5 million, a seemingly low sum for such prime real estate, but it doesn't include the actual land, which still stays under government control.
Virgil Williams previously owned the Arena Football League's Georgia Force.