ISLE OF Dreams

It’s been nearly 40 years since Rome developer Robert H. Ledbetter envisioned a residential community at Hog Island on Weiss Lake. Now a new group of developers, Terry Easter, Easter Electrical Construction; Doyle Buffington, developer; Randall Fox, Fox Systems; and Mike Carver, Carver & Carver Plumbing, have come together with a new vision for the island’s prime buildable property.

First things first, you’re probably wondering how the property became known as Hog Island. Simply put, the family who owned the property prior to the damming of the Coosa River operated a hog farm on the land. Fox said it made sense for them to call the island Hog Island.

Plans were originally for a hunting preserve due to the abundance of wildlife. However, the property was so attractive that plans changed to refocus on the idea of a residential community with 54 lots. The island itself is approximately 600 acres. The four partners have purchased 52 acres on the island’s east end with plans to create what will be known as Little River Landing at Hog Island.

It was Terry Easter who rediscovered Hog Island while exploring lakefront investment properties. He was taken by its beauty and its potential. The more he thought about the island, the more he liked the idea of building there. So early in 2021, he acquired the original plans for the first 20 lots from the Ledbetter project. He then contacted friend Doyle Buffington, who, Easter said, “knows the lake.” Since 1966, he has been credited with developing many properties around the lake, including River Shores, Cedar Point Estates, River Run, The Landings at Little River, Savannah Place, and Whitney’s Landing. Most of these are gated communities. Buffington said that decades ago, the banks couldn’t stop loaning him money, and he couldn’t stop buying.

Buffington expressed his interest in coming on board as a partner, and Easter said yes before Buffington could give it a second thought. When Mike Carver and Randall Fox joined as partners, the team was in place to make Little River Landing at Hog Island a reality. Well acquainted with Weiss Lake, all four men own lake property and enjoy lake life.

Fox said he has known each of the three men for years, and they are confident that the unique setting would offer a magnificent opportunity for people looking to build a vacation retreat or primary residence, for that matter.

After the property was acquired, the soil was analyzed and the septic system has been approved by the health department. Power has been run to the island, and Phase One, 20 lots, are ready for future residents. Multiple wells have been drilled to provide potable water. The new pumps and the wells are ready to go.

Of the 52 acres that make up Little River Landing at Hog Island, 49 have spectacular lake vistas. Each waterfront lot has 100-plus feet of water frontage which allows the owner to build the maximum size dock or boat