Ark on Lake Lanier Celebrates 20 Years With $1.3 Million in Renovations

Ark on Lake Lanier is marking its 20th anniversary with more than $1.3 million in renovations and enhancements, including two brand new professional pickleball courts, renovated luxury suites, upgraded gathering and entertainment spaces, and expanded outdoor amenities across the property.

The investment reflects two decades of growth for one of North Georgia's most recognized private retreat destinations, a property that has welcomed nonprofit organizations, ministries, family reunions, alumni groups, and corporate retreats from across the country.

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Two Decades of Hospitality on Lake Lanier

The story of the Ark began in 2006, when Jeff Hylton discovered the property on Lake Lanier while out on a run. What started as a family home eventually became something much bigger. Following a house fire that required the property to be rebuilt and expanded, Jeff and his family opened their doors to missionaries serving Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. That experience shaped the deeper purpose the Ark has carried ever since.

"What started as simply helping people unexpectedly changed the direction of this place," said Jeff Hylton. "The Ark became more than a home. It became a place centered around hospitality, connection, refuge, and community."

In the years since, the Ark has grown into a 12,000+ square foot lakefront estate on 5 acres in Gainesville, Georgia, sleeping 27 guests across 13 bedrooms and 2 private cabins. It has hosted ministries, nonprofit organizations, family reunions, leadership retreats, alumni gatherings, corporate retreats, and multigenerational groups looking for a more intentional, experience-driven alternative to a hotel or conference center.

"For 20 years, the Ark has been a place where people come together," Hylton said. "Whether it's families reconnecting, ministries gathering, nonprofit leaders retreating, or corporate teams building relationships, we've always believed meaningful experiences happen when people share time together. These renovations allow us to continue investing in that vision for years to come."

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What's New at the Ark

The $1.3 million investment touched nearly every part of the property. Renovations and enhancements include:

• Renovated luxury suites throughout the main house
• Upgraded gathering and entertainment spaces, including the property's private home theater
• Enhanced outdoor amenities for groups of every size
• Extensive interior and exterior improvements
• Expanded recreational areas across the property's 5 acres
• Two brand new professional pickleball courts

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Two New Pickleball Courts

Pickleball is widely recognized as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and the Ark's two new pickleball courts give guests a dedicated space for it without ever leaving the property. The courts are available exclusively to guests for the length of their stay, with no outside bookings or time limits.

For the groups that stay at the Ark, the courts add a new layer to an already active property. Multigenerational families can play together. Corporate teams can build in a session between meetings. Reunion groups can run a tournament between meals. The addition expands what's possible during a stay, whether that means a casual afternoon game or a full group competition.

"With pickleball recognized as one of America's fastest-growing sports, the new courts expand the Ark's recreational offerings while creating additional opportunities for team building, multigenerational interaction, and group experiences," the team noted as the courts were completed.

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Renovated Suites and Gathering Spaces

The luxury suite renovations and upgraded gathering spaces were designed with the same group-first philosophy that has defined the Ark since 2006. Large groups need more than just bedrooms. They need places to actually be together, whether that's around the dining table, in the living areas, or in front of the 16-seat private home theater during a movie night.

The outdoor enhancements carry that same idea outside, giving groups more reasons to spend their days on the property's 5 acres of lakefront grounds rather than looking elsewhere for things to do.

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New Photos and a Full Property Tour Video

To go along with the renovations, the Ark has updated all of the photography on its rooms and photos page, giving guests an accurate, up-to-date look at every renovated suite before they book. A new full property tour video is also available, walking through the main house, the private cabins, the pickleball courts, the dock, and the rest of the grounds from start to finish.

For groups planning a stay, especially those coordinating room assignments for 27 guests across 13 bedrooms and 2 private cabins, the updated photos and video make it far easier to picture the property and plan the trip with confidence.

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A Place Built on More Than Hospitality

What sets the Ark apart from a typical vacation rental or event venue isn't just the size of the property. It's the story behind it.

"As destination-style retreats continue to grow, we're seeing more organizations and families looking for meaningful shared experiences," said Jackie Page, who leads the Ark's on-site culinary team. "The Ark creates an environment where guests can truly reconnect, spend time together, and create lasting memories."

That mission has made the Ark a regular destination for ministries, nonprofit leadership teams, and family reunions that return year after year. It's also made the property a meaningful part of the local Hall County economy, supporting area restaurants, caterers, marinas, golf courses, transportation providers, and recreational vendors throughout Gainesville and the surrounding region.

The Ark recently welcomed community leaders and regional guests, including Hall County Solicitor-General Inez Grant, as part of its continued commitment to community engagement in North Georgia.

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Featured on the Emmy-Winning Show Staycation

The Ark's reputation has reached well beyond Georgia. The property has been featured on Staycation, a destination-focused lifestyle program from Making It Media that won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Lifestyle category at the Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards. The show highlights some of the most distinctive private rental properties in the country, and the Ark's place among them reflects the same combination of scale, hospitality, and genuine character that has earned the property over 1,000 five-star reviews since the beginning.

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Looking Ahead

As Gainesville continues to grow as a destination for tourism, recreation, and quality-of-life experiences, the Ark on Lake Lanier remains committed to being part of that momentum. Twenty years after Jeff Hylton first found the property on a run along the lake, the Ark continues to invest in the same vision that started it all: a place where people gather, reconnect, and build relationships that last well beyond their stay. Read the full story of the Ark to learn more about how it all began.

Media tours, interviews, and photography opportunities are available upon request during the Ark's 20th anniversary year.

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Plan Your Stay at the Ark on Lake Lanier

The Ark is booking now for family reunions, corporate retreats, ministry gatherings, and large group getaways. Reach out to check availability for your dates or ask about the property's new pickleball courts.

Phone/Text: 470-600-8442

‍Email: jackie@arkonlakelanier.com

‍Address: 6250 Old Dawsonville Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506

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