Waters Edge on Lake Oconee | Neighborhood Guide
Waters Edge is a gated neighborhood on Lake Oconee in Putnam County where horse country and lakefront living share one entrance. You drive in past four-board fences, pastures and grazing horses. The road ends at some of the best big-water views on this side of the lake. It is the one neighborhood on Lake Oconee built around both the water and the horse.
Where Waters Edge Is Located on Lake Oconee
Waters Edge is on Wards Chapel Road near Eatonton, next door to the Great Waters course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. From Highway 44, turn onto Old Phoenix Road, cross the Old Phoenix bridge, pass Lake Oconee Plantation, and turn left onto Wards Chapel Road. Go about two miles and the gated entrance is on the left.
Quick Facts
| County / city | Putnam County — Eatonton, GA 31024 |
| Entrance | Gated, on Wards Chapel Road off Old Phoenix Road |
| Streets | Waters Edge Drive, Blue Heron Drive, Waters Edge Lane, Walking Horse Lane and Waters Edge Trail |
| What it is | Single-family lakefront homes, off-water homes and horse properties |
| Built | Mostly 1996 into the 2000s, with several newer homes added since |
| Homes | Three to seven bedrooms, about 2,600 to 6,800 square feet in the sales record |
| Lots | Typically an acre or less on waterfront lots; about 1.2 to 5.6 acres off the water, with larger estate tracts |
| Lake access | Private docks on lakefront lots; a community boat ramp and day dock for everyone |
| Equestrian | Riding trails, private barns and fenced pasture |
| HOA | Yes — Waters Edge Owners Association |
| Golf | None inside; Reynolds’ Great Waters course is next door |
| Schools | Putnam County School District |
Through the Gate at Waters Edge
Past the stone entrance wall, Waters Edge Drive runs between black four-board fences and open pasture. Horses graze, and ponds sit tucked into the trees. Keep going and the pastures give way to lakefront homes and big water.
The horse properties sit at the front of the neighborhood on larger acreage. The lakefront homes sit at the back along the shoreline.
The Streets of Waters Edge
Waters Edge Drive is the main road from the gate to the lake. Walking Horse Lane turns off it toward the larger equestrian properties. Waters Edge Trail ends in a quiet cul-de-sac of homes on acreage.
Blue Heron Drive, the second right inside the gate, and Waters Edge Lane hold most of the lakefront homes. A few of the off-water homes also look out over community ponds or common area that runs down to the lake.
Horses in Waters Edge: Trails, Barns and Pasture
You do not need a horse to live here, but if you have one, Waters Edge is hard to beat on Lake Oconee. Listings describe riding trails that wind for miles through more than 100 acres of woods. They loop around the community ponds, along the Great Waters golf course and down by the lake. Several properties have side gates that open straight onto the trails.
Many of the off-water lots are set up for horses already. Listings describe four-board fenced and cross-fenced pastures, run-in sheds, two- to seven-stall barns, tack rooms and wash racks. A few estate tracts of 12 acres and more have stocked ponds of their own.
At the front of the neighborhood, at the entrance, is a 36-acre horse farm with a 13-stall barn built in 1997, a lighted arena and turnout paddocks. For years it ran as a hunter/jumper training barn, and it is privately owned rather than part of the association.
One thing that causes confusion: the business now called Lake Oconee Equestrian Center is not in Waters Edge. It opened in 2024 on Copelan Farm Road, off Hwy 44 on the Eatonton side of the lake. Some websites have mixed the two together.
Lakefront Homes in Waters Edge
The lakefront lots in Waters Edge face some of the widest water on Lake Oconee. Many look east across the open water toward the sunrise. Others sit in coves with views out to big water.
In the sales record, lakefront lots run from about half an acre to 1.7 acres, with roughly 108 to 279 feet of shoreline. Listings report anywhere from about 4 to 16 feet of water at the dock, so check the specific property. Most of the lakefront homes have a max dock, many with a boat lift, and most seawalls here are wood.
Lake Access Without a Lakefront Lot
Every owner in Waters Edge can get on the lake. The association has a private boat ramp with a day dock for homeowners. Off-water owners can keep the boat at home and be on Lake Oconee in a few minutes. Some off-water lots also back up to common area that runs to the water, good for fishing or watching the sunset.
The Homes in Waters Edge
Most of the homes went up between 1996 and 2010, with newer custom homes added in more recent years.
They are custom homes, and no two are alike: brick traditionals, craftsman and modern farmhouse designs, European-style stucco and stone, and lake houses rebuilt from the studs. Main-level primary suites, heart pine and hardwood floors, beamed great rooms and screened porches come up again and again. So do second kitchens on the terrace level, guest suites over the garage and detached three-car garages. A few lakefront homes add pools, outdoor kitchens or an elevator.
Waters Edge HOA, Dues and Covenants
Waters Edge is governed by the Waters Edge Owners Association. Dues in the sales record have mostly run from about $850 to $1,400 a year. Ask for the current figures and the covenants, including the rules on horses, before you make an offer.
The gate keeps the neighborhood quiet, and the association has kept up community traditions like an annual picnic and annual meeting. You can find its contact information on the Waters Edge Owners Association website.
Waters Edge and Reynolds Lake Oconee
Waters Edge sits right beside the Great Waters course at Reynolds, but it is not part of Reynolds. There is no golf inside the gate and no golf membership tied to the homes. That is a big part of the appeal for buyers who want a gated lake community without a club.
If you want Reynolds golf too, it is available separately. A couple of Waters Edge sellers have even packaged a Reynolds homesite with their home so the buyer could join. Read how Reynolds Lake Oconee membership works before you count on it.
What Homes in Waters Edge Sell For
Since 2023, lakefront homes in Waters Edge have sold from about $1 million to over $3 million. Lakefront asking prices in 2026 have reached into the $4 millions. The view matters most, big water or cove, along with the water depth at the dock. After that come the size and age of the house and how much it has been updated.
Off-water homes and horse properties have sold from about $575,000 to just under $1 million since 2024. Acreage, the barn and fencing, and the house itself drive the price.
Treat those as ranges to start from; the right property can sit above them. Homes here have typically taken three to four months to sell.
Who Waters Edge Suits
Horse owners who want trails, barns and pasture with Lake Oconee minutes away. And lake buyers who want a gated neighborhood with big-water views and no golf club attached. It suits full-time owners and weekenders alike, and families who want room to spread out on a terrace level and a dock. 3 listings for sale now · listed from $1.75M to $4.4M $4,399,000 5 bd · 5 ba · 5,628 sq ft · Lakefront 166 Waters Edge Drive, Eatonton, GA 31024 Listing courtesy of Breco Realty, 706-342-3355 · #71755 $2,395,000 11.93 acres · Lakefront lot 222 Waters Edge Drive #335/3, Eatonton, GA 31024 Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee, 706-467-3181 · #71711 $1,750,000 6 bd · 4 ba · 6,493 sq ft 111 Blue Heron Drive, Eatonton, GA 31024 Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Realty Lake Oconee, 706-485-0088 · #71203 Non-commercial use only. Listing data © 2026 Lake Country Board of REALTORS® MLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Waters Edge on Lake Oconee Homes for Sale
Waters Edge: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Waters Edge on Lake Oconee?
On Wards Chapel Road in Putnam County near Eatonton, next to the Great Waters course at Reynolds. From Hwy 44, take Old Phoenix Road, turn left on Wards Chapel and the gate is on the left.
Is Waters Edge a gated community?
Yes. Waters Edge has a gated entrance on Wards Chapel Road, and visitors need a code or an owner to let them in.
Can I keep horses in Waters Edge?
Yes, on properties set up for them, under the association’s covenants. Many off-water lots already have fenced pasture and barns, and several have side gates onto the riding trails.
Do homes in Waters Edge have lake access?
Yes. Lakefront homes have private docks, and every owner can use the community boat ramp and day dock.
What are the HOA dues in Waters Edge?
In the sales record, mostly about $850 to $1,400 a year, with some properties higher. Confirm the current amount for the specific property.
Is Waters Edge part of Reynolds Lake Oconee?
No. It sits beside Reynolds’ Great Waters course but is a separate neighborhood with its own association and no golf membership.
How much does a home in Waters Edge cost?
Since 2023, lakefront homes have sold from about $1 million to over $3 million. Off-water homes and horse properties have sold from about $575,000 to just under $1 million.
What is Water’s Edge known for?
Being the only neighborhood on Lake Oconee built around both horses and the lake: riding trails, barns and pasture at the front, lakefront homes with big-water views at the back.
What schools serve Waters Edge?
The Putnam County School District. Gatewood School, a private school, is in Eatonton.
How much would my Waters Edge home sell for?
On the water, the view and the depth at the dock matter most, then the house and its updates. Off the water, it is the acreage, the barn, the fencing and the trail access. Waters Edge is one of the few communities on Lake Oconee outside of the 3 other major gated golf neighborhoods that boasts multiple homes valued over $3,000,000. Ask Margie for a price on your Waters Edge home.
Thinking About Waters Edge?
Whether you are bringing horses, a boat or both, I can walk you through what is available in Waters Edge and what each property really offers. Let’s talk. You can also see more Lake Oconee homes in Eatonton, compare other gated communities on Lake Oconee or browse every guide in the Lake Oconee neighborhood guides.
Listing information on this page is provided by the Lake Country Board of REALTORS® MLS. All information in the listing data is from sources deemed to be accurate but is not warranted. Buyers and sellers are advised to personally verify all information given on this listing as some may be estimated. Neither brokers nor sellers are responsible for inaccuracies in this information. The listing broker’s offer of compensation is made only to participants of the LCBR MLS.