Beyond Amazing
At The Reserve at Marblegate Farm, six extraordinary lakefront homesites offer a rare combination of sweeping views, protected surroundings and room to dream.
When Joe Petre first told me about the lakefront property he was bringing to market in Blount County, he already had my attention. Having lived in Louisville, I knew this stretch of the Tennessee River well. My boys and I have spent countless days on the water around Prater Flats, and I was familiar with Marblegate Farm and its spectacular setting. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Then I stepped out of my vehicle on lot one.
Nothing could have prepared me for that view. Across the broad sweep of water, with the land opening around me, “amazing” suddenly felt inadequate. Almost immediately, I began imagining a home here: where the windows would face, where the porch would sit, where the day would begin with coffee and end with the last light on the lake. Every one of these six homesites offers its own extraordinary perspective. This is where seclusion meets opulence, with the landscape providing the luxury before the first foundation is poured.
The Reserve at Marblegate Farm occupies a remarkable setting in the Prater Flats area of Fort Loudoun Lake. Each homesite encompasses five acres and more than 500 feet of lake frontage. But acreage alone doesn’t explain what makes this property special. More than 100 acres of common land, protected by a conservation easement, provide generous buffers around the lots. The homesites sit apart, surrounded by a landscape deliberately preserved to give each owner room to breathe.
“Huge buffers in between,” Joe explains. “In some cases, the buffers feel larger than the lots themselves.” That separation creates an intimacy with the landscape that is difficult to achieve in a conventional lakefront neighborhood. Here, the setting allows your attention to settle on the water, the wooded shoreline and the possibilities of your own property.
The vision began with Bill and Donna Cobble, who established Marblegate as their home more than 25 years ago. When they placed a conservation easement on the farm, they reserved the ability to create six five-acre homesites. Joe and the Lawler-Wood team helped bring that plan to life, developing the road, extending electric utilities and shaping a community around the character of the land. The result preserves the very qualities that made the property worth protecting.
Each lot includes a designated 200-by-200-foot building area, nearly an acre within the larger property. There is room to imagine an understated lake lodge or a magnificent estate, with the design guided by the community’s requirements and each homesite’s individual setting. These are dockable waterfront properties off the main channel, offering the prospect of a home where boating becomes part of everyday life.
For Joe, that connection to the water is personal. He grew up skiing here; today, his children enjoy the lake behind a wake surfing boat. He understands that the appeal extends beyond the view to the experiences a family can share. His son Ben works alongside him in marketing the property and introducing prospective buyers to the land.
“Opportunities to own five acres with this degree of privacy and extraordinary lake frontage are exceptionally rare in East Tennessee. You really have to stand here to appreciate what these homesites offer.” Says Ben.
The Reserve is planned with its own private gate, separate from the entrance serving Marblegate’s established event venue. The contours of the property screen the venue from the homesites, giving the residential setting its own identity. Despite the sense of retreat, Maryville and Lenoir City remain conveniently accessible. Joe estimates roughly 15 to 20 minutes to McGhee Tyson Airport and about 30 minutes to downtown Knoxville—a compelling balance of privacy and convenience.
“Everybody that we’ve taken out there,” Joe says, “they get it immediately. It’s breathtaking.” Having stood there myself, I understand exactly what he means. Study the photographs, look at the plat and imagine the home you have always wanted. Then make an appointment with Joe and Ben and step onto the property. The pictures will give you an introduction, but the moment you stand on the land and gaze out at the water, you will understand why I had such a hard time finding a word big enough.
Lawler Wood LLC
900 S Gay St #1600Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 637-7777
lawlerwood.com
thereserveatmarblegate.com
