Pine Lake

Pine Lake is an urban explorer's dream - a hidden neighborhood, that no one seems to be familiar with, filled with unique homes, and eccentric people, and a beautiful lake. Located about 30 minutes east of Downtown Atlanta, just outside the Perimeter between Dunaire and Stone Mountain, Pine Lake is actually more than a neighborhood - it is DeKalb County's smallest city.

Situated around a beautiful 12 acre lake, Pine Woods was originally conceived in the 1930s as a collection of summer retreat cottages and fishing shacks for affluent Atlantans. Very soon after, weekend campers became year 'round residents, and in 1937, the City of Pine Lake was established. Over the years, Pine Lake's woodsy charm has attracted eco-minded hippies, nationally known artists, creative types, and free thinkers seeking the simple life with easy access to big city amenities.

Most of the original cottages have been expanded a bit, a few small apartment buildings were added, and newer bungalows and lake homes have have been built, but Pine Lake still feels like summer camp for liberals.  Yards are decorated with psychedelically colored lawn ornaments, handmade bird feeders, and "War is Not the Answer" signs.  Residents gather on the lake's sandy beach, in the public gazebo, and at the neighborhood clubhouse for pancake breakfasts, ice cream socials, art fairs, organic gardening lessons, and bird watching walks.  And, "First Fridays" bring the community together for monthly musical concerts. 

The population of tiny Pine Lake now hovers around 800, and is fairly diverse in terms of ethnicity, race, and socio-economic status, though about 3/4 of the residents are European-American.  Gay  folks are warmly welcomed in Pine Lake and rainbow flags fly freely all around the neighborhood. 

As an installment of Atlanta Chronicled, I have to admit, Pine Lake was really difficult to capture in photos, and I'm not sure I was able to "get" it.  Much of the theme of this project has centered around looking at Metro Atlanta neighborhoods in terms of the texture, reflection, color, and shape of their structures.  Pine Lake has some fantastically charming homes, and lots of interesting and whimsical surprises, but this community is more of a feeling than a study in architecture. It feels like a Northern California mountain village placed quietly in Deep Southern woods.  It feels like the end of the world and the center of it all.  It feels warm and friendly and isolated and insular.  I hope I've been able to express just a little of the character of this magical hidden village.