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Wednesday, July 9, 2003 River Forest in development in Monroe County Just in time for the finish of horse racing's Triple Crown, Monroe County's River Forest community is offering a triple crown for homebuyers: a community that features equestrian facilities and riding trails, an 18-hole golf course designed by one of the South's top golf architects, and 350 wooded estate lots on the Little Towaliga River. "Our visitors has been stunned by the amount of greenspace and river frontage available at River Forest," said Ron Isbell, vice president of River Forest, Inc., the community's developer. "There aren't many communities in Atlanta where the sounds of nature are louder than the sounds of your neighbors." The 925-acre development is located 15 minutes south of McDonough in Monroe County, just one mile from I-75. River Forest will offer 300 acres of greenspace with three parks one of which features 1,000 feet of river frontage and include 350 estate lots set back from wooded, winding roads. Buyers are responsible for selecting their own builders and home plans, with minimum home sizes of 2,200 square feet for single-story homes and 2,600 square feet for two-story homes. The first phase of 126 lots went on sale May 23, and more than $2 million of lots have already been sold. Construction is underway on the first homes. The entrance to River Forest will feature a grand stacked stone wall, one of the largest in Georgia. An elaborate waterfall and beautiful landscaping hint at the natural beauty contained within the community. A variety of lots are available, including fairway lots, river lots the community includes more than two miles of frontage on the Little Towaliga River and lots with access to the planned equestrian center and nature trails. Bicyclists and pedestrians will have their own paved paths, while the 65-acre equestrian center will offer equine enthusiasts an unmatched opportunity to live in a master-planned setting just a short trip from their stables. The equine center will include covered rinks, barns, and trails. Rocky Roquemore, one of the South's best-known golf course architects, designed the 18-hole layout. Roquemore has designed more than 100 golf courses, serving as a co-designer of several PGA Tour stops. His work has also included 12 courses in Europe, including the acclaimed San Lorenzo in Portugal. "This course will be comparable to PGA courses," said Roquemore. "River Forest is going to play like golf in the mountains without making the drive. There is plenty of mountain laurel, rhododendron, and wild azaleas, which are uncommon in the area. There are 15-mile views throughout the course." Jim Chapman with Chapman Cole & Chapman of Atlanta designed the golf clubhouse, which will anchor the community's amenity center. The clubhouse and course should be ready for golfers by summer of 2004. River Forest, with its expansive greenspace area, lakes, and river frontage will blend well with the largely rural environment of Monroe County. The community will be the largest and most high-end development in the history of largely rural Monroe County, according to long-time county resident and local Realtor Jimmy Pace. "This is the biggest development we've ever had in this area, and we're expecting a major influx of people in the county," said Pace, who has purchased a lot at River Forest. "Between the golf, the river frontage, and the covenants, I'm convinced that this is being done right. I've seen a lot of real estate in Monroe County in 20 years, and I decided to buy here." Monroe County is approximately 45 miles south of Atlanta and 25 miles north of Macon in central Georgia. Residents benefit from low taxes and easy access to Atlanta, Macon, Hartsfield International Airport, and the I-75 corridor. The recreational amenities and small-town atmosphere Monroe County offer are a rare find so close to Atlanta, according to Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce President Pam Christopher. "River Forest is an exciting new development for Monroe County. We are thrilled to have a new subdivision that touts a wonderful golf course and amenities that are sure to please and attract new residents," said Christopher. "The subdivision's ease of access to the interstate allows residents to enjoy the wonderful quality of life in Monroe County while being only minutes from Atlanta's attractions and Hartsfield Airport." Monroe County offers serene quality of life that many long to find, according to Christopher. She also noted that Monroe County has top-rated schools, both public and private. The county's public school systems are ranked second in Central Georgia based on SAT and ACT scores. River Forest is being developed by River Forest, Inc., and Atlanta-based company with a local office on Johnstonville Road. For more information, call 770-952-9100 or visit www.riverforest.info.
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