A little more than six years ago, four local developers merged their respective talents and expertise with a vision of creating a lakefront community in Forsyth County. Lots of folks entertain lofty visions, but this group supported theirs with a foundation of many years of experience. Lang Wilcox, Pete Ramey, Brant Godfrey and Beau Dancy count among their individual successes the developments of Bent Tree Farm, Windham Farm, Oak Valley, Meadowlands, Fair Oaks, Muirfield and Westhaven.

By January 2008, Lissara Partners, LLC, had put together six parcels, totaling 255 acres of forested land, on the western edge of Lewisville, and today, the result of their work, Lissara, is a short ten minute drive from the heart of Winston-Salem. When completed, Lissara will offer a quality of life found nowhere else in the area.

Low impact development The developers walked, plotted and sketched the land. From the ridges to the flood-plain at the Yadkin River, they determined to sustain the natural environment using a concept called “low impact development.” The theory is basic: reduce man’s footprint on the land. To do that, their plan grouped homes together to consolidate the infrastructure and offset it with open space.

In the fall of 2008, the process began with selective clearing and recycling the timber to make way for private roads, building lots and a lake. In honor of the McMordie family, who sold them the lake valley, the developers named their new community “Lissara,” which is Gaelic for “beautiful valley.” The McMordie ancestors migrated from the Lissara Townlands, Northern Ireland.

From their first glimpse of the land, the new owners recognized that the 170-foot fall from Shallowford Road to the valley floor created the perfect conditions for a lake where residents could enjoy boating, swimming and fishing. It was a vision the McMordie’s had for years. Wilcox, Ramey, Godfrey and Dancy will make it a reality with Lake Lissara, 64 feet deep, about 3,000 feet long and bordered by three miles of shoreline. It will be the largest private lake built in Forsyth County in more than 80 years.

Surrounded by mature forest, the deep valley that cradles Lake Lissara falls northward through the neighborhood for nearly a mile. Each lakefront lot will own its own lakeshore with easements through a preservation buffer to a private dock.

Casual Elegance Sitting at the headwaters of Lake Lissara, where the wooded valley rises, will be Timberlake Lodge. Created by renowned artist and naturalist Bob Timberlake and local architect Norman L. Zimmerman, this revival of an old Adirondack boathouse will feature decks and covered porches with spectacular views of the entire length of the lake.

The Lodge, expected to be completed by the end of October, will be built of natural stone and pine timbers with heavy raftered eaves. It will feature 22-foot ceilings in the gathering room, a massive stone fireplace and five-foot wide firebox. The full kitchen and bar will afford homeowners with everything they need to host private gatherings of nearly 200 guests.

Completion of the subdivision improvements at Lake Lissara is expected this summer. With every effort being made to maintain the natural character of the area, roadways will follow the land’s natural rolling hills, reducing the need for extensive grading and deforestation. Rocks are being quarried onsite for two bridges that span the buffered streams. Fifty-six acres of open-space have been protected to preserve the natural environment and wildlife.

Coldwell Banker Triad Realtors has begun to market 112 home sites. They range from Townlands lots of one-fifth to one-half of an acre, Woodlands lots on one-half to one acre, Lakefront lots of one-half to two acres and Estate lots from three to 30 acres. Lots are priced from the low $70,000s to $300,000, Estate tracts from $35,000 to $65,000 an acre. The first round of lot sales will close in early fall of 2010, with lot owners free to choose their own quality builder and timetable for construction.

For Information, please visit www.lakeatlissara.com