Dillard House Sold To Atlanta Developer
by MJ Kneiser
A popular eatery in Rabun County is about to undergo some significant changes.
According to a report in Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Dillard House was recently sold to Legacy Ventures for an undisclosed price.
Legacy Ventures is an Atlanta-based investment, development and management company founded by David Marvin, and is known for developing hotels and restaurants in Atlanta, such as the Hyatt House in Atlanta’s Perimeter Center and the Park Pavilion mixed-use development in Downtown Atlanta.
The company also recently refurbished the former Louie’s on the Lake, a restaurant on Lake Rabun, into a pizza eatery called Max’s Lakeside, according to the news outlet.
Long known for its authentic Southern home cooking served family style in a rustic atmosphere, the Dillard House hotel has been in business since 1917 beginning as a small establishment with just six guest rooms.
Today, the hotel has 100 rooms and several guest cottages and outdoor attractions.
Legacy Ventures plans to refurbish or upgrade several areas of the resort, including the guest rooms, restaurant, conference space, pool and tennis court.
They also plan to have venues for weddings and other events and more activities like fly fishing, pickleball, archery and disc golf.
Additionally, the name will be changed slightly to the “Dillard House Farm and Resort.”
The changes will cost about $20 million.
Louise Dillard, CEO of the property, said in a news release they believe the changes will take the property to the next level and build on the traditions of customer service and Southern hospitality that have been so important to the Dillard family.