A front view of the new Event Center at Don Carter State Park. It has a pitched roof, double entry doors and tan hardy plank siding. There is a large concrete pad in front.

The new event center at Don Carter State Park was nearing completion in May.

The late Don Carter, namesake of Georgia’s only state park on Lake Lanier, envisioned its 1,316 rolling acres in the foothills as a get-away for the working class. The soon-to-open event center, the most significant upgrade since Don Carter State Park opened in July 2013, offers a serene and unfussy setting for folks to wed, gather with families, meet with co-workers and host parties.

The one-story Hardy board structure with a peaked foyer and stone accents sits on a cul-de-sac overlooking a calm narrow stretch of the northern Chattahoochee River before it widens into the greater lake. Located near the park’s cottage loop, the 116-person capacity event center is accessible via gated entry designated for guests renting overnight stays at cottages or RV campsites or reserving the event facility.

Park Manager Jamie Madden said the center fills a need for “an enclosed space for gathering.” The park’s beach pavilion and four picnic shelters provide no protection from inclement weather. “Guests can have events (at the new facility) rain or shine.” She expects reservations for weddings, reunions, corporate meetings and team-building activities to start in early August. She has already heard from park-goers desiring to wed there this fall. As of May, she could not say how much it would cost to rent the center.

Madden said she is excited about the park’s upcoming ability to host gatherings and provide accommodation for event guests at its 44-site RV park and eight cottages, minutes away. Georgia State Parks spokesperson Kim Hatcher echoed Madden’s enthusiasm. “This is the first indoor group facility at Don Carter, so we’re excited to offer this gathering spot to the community. It’s perfect for weddings, family reunions, parties, meetings, etc. It’s built to commercial standards, in the architectural theme of Georgia’s State Parks.”

An indoor photo of construction progress on the event center's main gathering room.

A construction crew works on the floors and ceilings of the main gathering room.

The state appropriated most of the $2.65 million construction cost, Hatcher said. Atlanta architectural firm Warner Summers designed the facility, which is similar to others the firm has worked on for the park system. The firm has drawn up plans for cottages, clubhouses, group shelters and dining halls at 10 Georgia State Parks, including mountain venues Vogel, Fort Mountain, and Cloudland Canyon. Regular park-goers will recognize the architectural motifs of simplicity and natural fit with the surroundings in rock and wood-like materials.

The state contracted Athens-area builder Oconee Construction Services for the job.

On a recent tour of the new construction with Lakeside News, Madden pointed out double French doors at the main entry, simulated wood-planked vaulted ceilings and light streaming in through multiple windows of the main gathering room. A bridal suite and commercial kitchen provide ample space for event preparation.

Cinder blocks and building materials on a gravel path that will become a fireplace and sitting area beside the lake.

The back patio of the new event center features a gas fireplace and lakeview

The back lakeview patio features a large gas fireplace, which will be inlaid with stone. A wide grassy path leads downhill to the lakeshore. As of May, final touches remained, including flooring and ceiling finishes, lighting, furniture and kitchen appliance installation, and landscaping with native plants. Madden expects to host a ribbon cutting in July.

The park is named for the Gainesville real estate executive who worked 29 years for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and helped DNR acquire more than 29,000 acres for state parks, historic sites, wildlife management, natural areas and river corridors. Carter, who had input into the park’s design, did not foresee a fancy lodge or restaurant. “I wanted it to be something for the blue-collar people,” he told Lakeside News during a drive around the rugged wooded coves in September 2012. The “rich folks” have their digs on the south side of the lake, he said. He wanted the park overlooking the quieter northern tributary to attract vacationing families, anglers and outdoors people. The new event center gives them an unpretentious indoor place to celebrate.

See the Lakeside News Outdoor Calendar for monthly activities at Don Carter State Park.

Photos: by Jane Harrison