Team Building Retreat in Georgia: Private Lake House for 27

The best team building retreat doesn’t happen in a hotel ballroom. It happens somewhere your team can drop the usual routine, work through a few real topics, and then go jump in a lake together.

That’s the Ark on Lake Lanier. It’s a private 12,000+ square foot lakefront estate in Gainesville, Georgia, one hour north of Atlanta. It sleeps 27 guests across 13 bedrooms and 2 private cabins, with several spaces for meetings and breakouts, a private boat dock, a heated pool, 2 new pickleball courts, and hospitality handled for you. When you book it, the whole property is yours.

If you’re planning a team building trip, a leadership weekend, or just a few days away to reset your group, here’s what it looks like, what to do, and how to plan it.

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Why a Team Building Retreat Works Better at a Lake House

Hotels and conference centers are built for strangers. A lake house is built for people who want to spend time together. That changes everything.

Your team eats breakfast at the same table. The conversation that starts in a morning session keeps going on the porch. Quiet people talk more when they’re not sitting in rows. And nobody is rushing off to a separate room, a separate floor, or a separate building.

At the Ark, work and downtime live in the same place. You can run a morning session, break for lunch, play pickleball, and be back in a meeting room without anyone getting in a van.

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What the Ark Gives a Team

Spaces to work. There are multiple spaces on the property for meetings, workshops and breakouts. Use a living room for the full group, the dining area for a working lunch, or the screen porch for a smaller discussion. High-speed internet and air conditioning run throughout the house.

Rooms for everyone. 13 bedrooms and 2 private cabins, with 8 king beds, 3 queen beds, 1 full bed and 15 twin beds. Everyone has a real place to sleep, and you can assign rooms before anyone arrives. See the rooms and photos.

Things to do together. 5 private acres of lakefront with:

• A private boat dock on Lake Lanier
• 2 pickleball courts
• Heated pool and hot tub
• Large fire pit
• Basketball court, corn hole and a trampoline
• Billiards and table tennis
• A 16-seat private home theater

Browse the full amenities list.

Food, handled. With a background as a chef and restaurant owner, Jackie Page coordinates hospitality throughout your entire stay. She works with a preferred team of chefs, caterers and local restaurants, with options from breakfast, lunch and dinner to pantry stocking, all customized to your group’s preferences, dietary needs and budget. Learn more about catering at the Ark.

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Team Building Retreat Ideas That Work

The best activities are simple, a little competitive, and easy to join. Here are ones that work well at a lake house.

Outdoors

• Pickleball tournament. Two courts means you can run brackets, mix up teams, and keep everyone playing. No experience needed. This is the one people remember.
• Dock challenge. Kayaks, paddleboards and a swim off the dock. Split into teams for a relay.
• Corn hole and lawn games. Casual, social, easy to run during a break.
• Scavenger hunt. Hide clues around the 5 acres and send teams out together.
• Sunset at the fire pit. End the first night with a conversation, not a presentation.

Indoors

• Cook-off in the full kitchen. Teams plan and cook a course together, then everyone eats. This works well with the groups that already love food.
• Game night. Billiards, table tennis, board games, or a trivia game you write about your own team.
• Movie night in the 16-seat theater. A good way to finish a long day.
• Workshop sessions. Strategy, planning, communication, whatever your group needs, in a space where people can actually focus.

Quiet time

• Coffee on the porch, a walk along the shoreline, an hour with no schedule at all. Teams that get this do better in the next session.

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Sample Two-Day Team Building Weekend

Day 1

• Morning: Arrive, settle into rooms, coffee and a light lunch.
• Early afternoon: Opening session in a living room. Set the goals for the weekend.
• Late afternoon: Pickleball tournament, lake time, or a dock relay.
• Evening: Dinner together, then the fire pit.

Day 2

• Morning: Breakfast, then a focused working session with a break halfway.
• Midday: Group lunch on the porch.
• Afternoon: A final session to land decisions and next steps, then a cook-off or lake time before everyone heads home.

Adjust it to your group. Some teams want more work time and some want more play. The house is flexible either way.

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What Destinations Work for a Team Building Weekend With Meeting Time in One Place?

Look for a private property, not a venue. You want:

• Enough beds under one roof so the whole team stays together
• More than one room to meet in, so you can split into breakouts
• Outdoor space for activities and fresh air
• Reliable internet
• Food that’s taken care of, so nobody is planning meals
• Privacy, so your conversations stay yours

The Ark was built around exactly that kind of stay. For help comparing locations, read our guide to business retreat locations in Georgia, or our tips for planning a group getaway your team will talk about.

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Planning Tips for Your Team Building Retreat

Pick two or three goals. A weekend can’t fix everything. Decide what you want to leave with, and build the schedule around that.

Mix work and play. Aim for short working sessions with real breaks. People engage more when they’re not sitting for four hours.

Include everyone. Choose activities where all fitness levels and personalities can take part. Pickleball and corn hole are good for that.

Leave some time empty. The best conversations usually happen between sessions, not in them.

Book early. Dates fill quickly, especially in fall and spring. Reach out as soon as you have a window.

Plan travel. Most teams fly into Hartsfield-Jackson and arrive in about an hour. Read more about the location.

Want a look at how a stay flows? Read A Day at the Ark on Lake Lanier, or see how pickleball fits into a group trip in Pickleball Getaways in Georgia. For work groups looking for a private venue, see the Ark for work groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions About a Team Building Retreat at the Ark

How many people can the Ark host for a team building retreat?
The Ark sleeps 27 guests across 13 bedrooms and 2 private cabins.

Does the Ark have meeting spaces?
Yes. There are multiple spaces on the property for meetings, workshops and breakouts, plus high-speed internet throughout.

What team building activities are available on site?
Two pickleball courts, a private boat dock, a heated pool, corn hole, basketball, billiards, table tennis, a fire pit and a 16-seat home theater.

Is food provided?
Jackie Page coordinates meals with a preferred team of chefs, caterers and local restaurants, from breakfast, lunch and dinner to pantry stocking. Everything is customized to your preferences, dietary needs and budget.

How far is the Ark from Atlanta?
About one hour north of Atlanta via I-985, in Gainesville, Georgia.

Is the property private?
Yes. When you book the Ark, the whole property is yours for your stay.

Can we bring a pet?
Yes, the Ark is pet-friendly.

How far ahead should we book?
For busy seasons, as early as you can. Contact Jackie to see what’s open.

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Ready to Plan Your Team Building Retreat?

Tell us your dates and group size, and we’ll tell you what’s open.

Phone/Text: 470-600-8442
Email: jackie@arkonlakelanier.com
Address: 6250 Old Dawsonville Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506

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