The Largest Private Lake in Georgia

Known as one of Georgia’s largest private lakes, Lake Spivey takes up 600 acres in Clayton and Henry County. Eight different private communities surround the lake, and property owners have exclusive access to the water. The area around the lake is known for being the inspiration for the fictional setting of Tara in “Gone With the Wind”.

Essentials Near Lake Spivey

Lake Spivey sits between two cities, Jonesboro and Stockbridge, which provide essentials like groceries, pharmacies, and restaurants. Additionally, Stockbridge has Piedmont Henry, offering medical services; if you need to fly, the Atlanta International Airport is just 30 minutes away.

Part of Pop Culture History

In 1943, an Atlanta dentist, Walter Spivey, bought land that had previously been used as a cattle farm and peach orchard. He and his wife then constructed a land dam across rum creek, and the land began to flood. By 1957, nearly 600 acres of land were underwater, creating Lake Spivey, and they later built several communities and a park around the lake. The area was not always private, however, as the original owners kept it public for many of its first years. While it was public, the lake was a popular day resort that attracted numerous figures in pop culture.

During its time as a public day resort, the lake brought in almost 500,000 visitors per year. It was also a popular concert venue, hosting bands such as Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, and more! Additionally, Burt Reynolds stayed on the lake while he was filming Smokey and the Bandit in Jonesboro. However, Emilie Spivey transferred ownership of the lake to the Lake Spivey Civic Association in 1984, which still owns it today. As part of the new ownership, the deed stated that the lake is only for property owners, and has been private since.

Fun on Lake Spivey

Although private, residents still praise the lake for its excellent recreation opportunities including fishing, boating, and more. With several creeks and bays flowing into the lake, it provides superb fishing waters and is also home to the Georgia record for black crappie. Along with black crappie, anglers can catch largemouth bass, hybrid bass, and channel catfish here. In addition, the communities frequently host a Monday night fishing tournament for residents, where they compete for the largest fish.

Adjacent to the lake, Spivey Splash Waterpark offers families a fun day of lazy rivers, water rides, and more! Golfers can tee up at Lake Spivey Golf Club, which prides itself on being Atlanta’s most convenient golf course. The Golf Club invites golfers of all levels to play 18 holes with a balance of distance, contour, wooded roughs, and water.

Georgia’s Best Private Lake

For those looking for a private lake, Lake Spivey offers the ultimate experience to the residents of the surrounding communities.