his native stone, cedar, and tree bark-accented house on Lake Keowee is exactly two hours and one world away from the Atlanta home of owners Randy and Marcie Godfrey.

“I wanted it to have a lodge feel to it and I think that’s what we accomplished,” Randy Godfrey said. He added that the whole atmosphere of the place is special and that he starts absorbing that special feel from the time he turns off the road to start the descent

down the winding driveway to his idyllic corner of South Carolina.

The lodge is a delightful vacation spot for the family, with two of the three children in college. But Godfrey said it’s also valuable as a site for family reunions, ministry retreats, and leadership training for some of the 5,000 brokers in his financial services business.  And, with an eye to some years down the road, it will be a great place for grandchildren, he added.

For whatever stage the family and business are at, the lodge is designed for enjoyment.

A 1,000-square-foot “dorm” room above the garage sleeps 10 and has already been the scene of quite a few slumber parties.

Godfrey said that while he was very involved in the construction process, his wife Marcie was more involved with the interior design. He selected Greenville architect Bruce Eason, AIA, of New South Design, LLC, after interviewing a number of other architects. “I wanted something unique to the area and he had the ability to create that exceeded my expectations. Bruce spent a lot of time on the property.