Eatonton

What homes cost in the Eatonton area

Eatonton’s city center has modern New Traditional houses and older brick ranch-style and traditional homes. Prices often range from the mid-$100,000s to the upper $700,000s. Farther from the city, there are older cottages, cabins and traditional houses that can go from the low $200,00s to the upper $700,000s. There are also larger luxury properties on or near the water, especially on Lake Oconee, that commonly run from the lower $800,000s to around $7 million.

Ways to enjoy the water

Residents enjoy the area’s lake waters in several ways. At Lake Oconee, people can visit Old Salem Park, on the Greensboro side, for its swimming beach, boat ramp and campgrounds. Day-use passes are $5 per vehicle. Sugar Creek Marina is a bass fishing area with a boat ramp and a bait and tackle store. At Lake Sinclair, people can head to Oconee Springs Park to check out its waterpark, a section of the lake filled with inflatable slides and play areas. Entrance fees are $20 per person. The Dennis Station Boat Ramp is free to use and is lighted at night. It also has fishing docks; the lake’s anglers often catch bass, but bluegill and crappie can also be found. Montgomery says both lakes share an enviable quality. “They’re not as busy as typical Atlanta lakes like Lake Lanier... They’re pretty quiet and clean,” Montgomery says. “A lot of people like the water clarity.”

Things to do away from the lakes

Lake access may be the region’s biggest draw, but there are plenty of things to do off the water. Residents can:

• Hike, bike and see the Rock Eagle effigy mound in Oconee National Forest
• Play pickleball and tennis on Putnam County Recreation’s public courts
• Learn about authors and take workshops at the Georgia Writers Museum
• Take riding lessons at the Lake Oconee Equestrian Center
• Attend Eatonton’s Downtown GetDown Concert Series each summer and fall

Getting to big cities and around town

Residents near the city center have easy access to U.S. Route 41, which snakes through the area just west of town. Under normal traffic conditions, Atlanta is around an 85-minute drive from town, and between a 90- and 100-minute drive from the lakes. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a similar trip. Athens, home to the University of Georgia’s main campus, is just over an hour north. The city’s Putnam General Hospital sits along Lake Oconee Parkway.

Cabe says that close to the city center, people usually have little trouble getting around. “The roads never get backed up,” Cabe says. “Just don’t get stuck behind a cow truck.” Montgomery says traffic near Lake Oconee can be a bit heavier, especially along State Route 44, locally known as Lake Oconee Parkway.

Students attend highly rated schools

Students are zoned for highly rated Putnam County Schools, and individual schools like Putnam County Primary School also get high marks, as does Gatewood Schools, a private academy for prekindergarten through 12th-grade students. The Georgia Promise Scholarship sends participating families close to $6,500 to cover private school tuition and other expenses.

There are places to eat across the area

While many of the city of Eatonton’s most-frequented restaurants are chains, there are plenty of independent eateries across the region where people can grab a bite to eat. Popular spots include:

• Iron Fork Cafe, a Southern-style eatery and bar
• Lake Oconee Bistro, which hosts live music every Friday
• The Silver Moon, an upscale pub known for its steak and seafood
• Sips 31024, a coffee shop and cafe