Ark on Lake Lanier

A Calling, a Vision, a Place of Peace

By Kathleen Boehmig

The Ark is a lovely, fourteen-bedroom, twelve-bath, five-acre estate on the shores of Lake Lanier; the result of the vision of Jeff and Alycea Hylton. The largest rental property on the lake, it can accommodate up to forty-five guests in the main house and its three cabins. It includes luxury features like a beautiful pool, hot tub, dock, volleyball court, theater, huge fire pit and gourmet kitchen, and guests have access to boat rentals, caterers and all kinds of other activities. Just over an hours drive from the Atlanta airport, its perfect for family reunions, retreats or corporate events.

Were a family-run business, Jeff says with pride. Alycea is involved with the interior dcor and furnishings, and I handle reservations and finances. Our friend, Rob Finney, is the property manager and helped conceptualize what the Ark eventually became.

The Hyltons bought their lakeside property in 2006 to enjoy with their three childrendaughter Brittany, and sons Brooks and Bennettas well as their extended family. The house was already a rambling structure; although, when it was originally built in 1942, before Lake Lanier was even in place, it was much smaller.

This house, Jeff continues, is like a calling. Its not what we originally imagined. Its as though theres a spiritual aspect to this placelike we were destined to buy it, improve it and add onto it until we felt it was right.

In 2008, a fire prompted Jeff and Alycea to move out for nine monthsin the middle of a drought and a market crashand to make major renovations and additions to the main house and the cabins. Jeff, a longtime financial advisor who is known for his practicality, says, Something kept telling us to renovate and add bedrooms.

The fire was a blessing in disguise, Alycea says. We were able to incorporate changes to make the house a unique reflection of ourselves. We added amenities, which we enjoy, to make it a place of peacea refuge, a safe-haven. People thought we were crazy to add more bedrooms to an already huge house during a bad economy.

Jeff continues, One day, my mother-in-law called me Noahthats when the Ark name clicked. I really did feel like Noah, building something so much bigger than anything we could have imagined. We did have goats, chickens, alpacas and a pony at the time, so the Ark name seemed to be a perfect fit. It has truly become a sanctuary.

In 2012, Jeff and Alycea invited eighteen guests from Adventures In Missions to take up residence with them at the Ark for several months. The Hyltons wound up moving out and allowing the missionaries to stay there for awhile longer while waiting for permanent housing to become available. Alycea smiles, We loved hosting them. The property served as a ministering place of sanctuary, sort of clarifying what it was meant to be. After their guests moved out, the Hyltons decided to make the Ark a vacation rental property.

The Ark is indeed a beautiful place of peace, with enormous rooms and soaring ceilings. The architecture is lakeside-lodge on a massive scale, with craftsman appointments and stone accents, plenty of space for gatherings or for privacy, and beautiful views from most rooms.

Upstairs near the largest master suite is a home theater with luxurious leather seats, which can accommodate sixteen. Original artwork by well-known and local artists grace the walls, including Alycea and Jeffs personal friend, Jonathan Bailey. The Ark is not the place for loud parties and events, Alycea mentions, but we do have a Sonos sound system indoor and out that can be used for soft background music.

The Arks location provides something for everyone. Jeff says, Alycea has decorated and furnished the house and cabins beautifully. You get the best of all worlds staying at the Ark because you can hide away on the property, and never venture out if you wish. You can get a masseuse to come in for a spa experience; you have access to all kinds of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, camping, water parks, mountain biking, river tubing, golf, and also, within an hour, you have access to everything that Atlanta has to offer. As well, the Ark is located near several marinas, some of the best north Georgia wineries and zipline canopy tour venues.

Of course, Alycea adds, renting boats and jet skis on Lake Lanier is a great option, too, with access to water skiing, knee boarding, wake surfing, tubing, wake boarding, relaxing cruises and flyboarding.

The Ark is available to whisk you away from the harsh reality of the world to a place born from the vision of Jeff and Alycea Hylton: a place of peace, of sanctuarya magical place of respite.

Ark on Lake Lanier
6250 Old Dawsonville Road
Gainesville, Georgia 30506
404-285-3266
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