Lake Hartwell Resort Development Responds to Canceled Lease

The owners of what was to have been a major resort development on Lake Hartwell just over the state line are responding to the South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Development Office’s decision to cancel their lease agreement.

South Carolina sub-lets the acreage from the Army Corps of Engineers.

SC Parks, Recreation, and Tourism dissolved Sanctuary Point, LLC’s 50-year lease at the end of 2022.

The Department said they canceled the lease because there had been no movement or progress made to begin construction on the 350-acre tract that sits behind the South Carolina Welcome Center off Exit 1.

Developers with Sanctuary Point LLC first received approval from Oconee County to build the mixed-use recreation area in 2013.

In an open letter to the Citizens of South Carolina last week, El Henry, Manager of Sanctuary Pointe LLC said he and co-owner and partner Bob Daffin admitted to being disappointed in the overall progress but said that they have been working with a new development group for over a year on developing in the 1st Phase alone.

He said that would be a 225-key Resort hotel and spa, a resort harbor marina, a 220-site Class A RV park with designated amenities, a lakeside amphitheater, a 125-key select service hotel, cabins, and villas along with numerous amenities.

He said approval for the project by the Oconee County Council came through on March 3 but after notifying SC Parks & Recreation, they were notified the State had canceled their project.

Henry said the total development costs for the 1st phase were projected to be $191.5 million with annual revenues of $50 million being realized by the 5th year.