Construction has begun outside of Cobbtown on Victory Lane, one of the most unique residential developments being built in the United States today. With a four-and-a–half-mile road course and FAA approved airport anchoring the development, Victory Lane also will have an 18-hole golf course, fishing and recreational lakes, a lakeside clubhouse, spa and fitness facility, and a 1,600-acre nature preserve with equestrian facilities.
The inspiration of Patrick Costello, a successful contractor of high-end custom homes in Colorado resort areas and an avid race car enthusiast, Victory Lane is being developed on the former Beaver Creek Plantation property which encompasses 3,000 acres west of Cobbtown bordering Ga. Highway 152 and the Ohoopee River.
Costello said he looked for two and a half years in four southeastern states for the perfect tract of land to build Victory Lane.
"For this development to be successful, we had to find a significant amount of property with site specific attributes," Costello said. "We needed a large open area for the race track, in addition to water, and beautiful sites for residential construction. As soon as I toured Beaver Creek, I knew that it was perfect."
Costello has assembled an extensive team of experts for his project including world renown race track designer, Australian native, Bob Bernard. Bernard designed the Adelaide, Phillip Island, and Eastern Creek Grand Prix Circuits, as well as redesigning and upgrading Road Atlanta, the Firebird East Course, and the Daytona Speedway Infield including changes to the road course for the Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race.
Bernard said he was trying to achieve a number of things as he designed the Victory Lane road course.
"I wanted it to be the safest race track in the world, enjoyable to drive, as challenging as possible, and fun for someone who is not necessarily a race car driver," Bernard said. "I had 500 acres to work with and that is a tremendous amount of space."
Bernard said when the race track is completed, the driver should feel as if he is racing through a park.
"We have so much land that we will be able to plant trees in such a fashion as to not be a hazard to the drivers," Bernard said. "It will give the drivers a sense of how fast they are going as well as where they are on the track."
Although the centerpiece of the development, the race track is just a part of the extensive amenity package being put in place for residents.
"We want Victory Lane to be a place for families to enjoy themselves, to have that valuable time together," Costello said. "There will be a water sports lake for jet skiing and boats, lakes for fishing, trails to hike in the woods and along the river, as well as the equestrian center where they can board their horses. We are only going to have 120 home sites, and building on those sites should impact less than 500 acres of the entire development."
Tattnall County manager, Faye Hussey, said she and other county officials are very optimistic about the potential positive economic impact that Victory Lane is expected to have on the county.
"Of course it is a private venture so we really do not know what to expect, but I hope that it will create some jobs for our residents, and that it will have a positive, significant impact on our tax base," Hussey said.
With the price of lots in Victory Lane starting at $675,000 for a 10-acre lot (the smallest being offered), Tattnall County's chairman of the board of county commissioners, Frank Murphy, said he did not want adjoining property owners to be worried about their property taxes increasing.
"This is a very unique situation, and the property appraisal will reflect that," Murphy said. "Sales in Victory Lane will not be used as comparable for appraising the value of adjoining property. Clearly, we do hope it does have a positive impact on the property of its neighbors and that the additional taxes raised from Victory Lane will allow the county to make improvements, provide additional services, and perhaps offset the need for any tax increase. We are cautiously optimistic."
Costello said construction on new homes in the development should begin in the next two months.
"We have agreements on 30 of the 120 lots being offered," Costello said. "Most of the people buying in Victory Lane are business people or athletes, and that includes race car drivers."
Costello wants both buyers and local residents to know that environmental protection technology is being integrated into all aspects of Victory Lane.
"We are implementing sustainable, renewable, energy sources such as hydro and solar power," Costello said. "We want this to be the first sustainable development with all of the energy consumed on site produced here. We want this to be as much of a carbon neutral development as we can make it."
Costello said he recognizes that many will feel that his position is hypocritical since it will be a motor sports development that people will fly jets into.
"I know this may seem paradoxical to many, but we are trying to look at the larger responsibility of maintaining and conserving this beautiful property, by affecting it the least possible amount that we can," he said.
"We want this to be a destination property for people that value convenience, privacy, and unique opportunities to experience the outdoors," he said. "I feel that we are stewards of this property, rather than owners. It is here to be enjoyed, not destroyed. That is our mindset and mission as we proceed."
Victory Lane will be operated as a private community with no general access available to the public. It will be surrounded by a 10-foot fence and will have gated access and professional security.
Costello said there will be no public events held at the race track or the equestrian center and that the amenities are there for residents only.
For more information on Victory Lane you can visit the development's website at www.unlimitedspeed.net.
The inspiration of Patrick Costello, a successful contractor of high-end custom homes in Colorado resort areas and an avid race car enthusiast, Victory Lane is being developed on the former Beaver Creek Plantation property which encompasses 3,000 acres west of Cobbtown bordering Ga. Highway 152 and the Ohoopee River.
Costello said he looked for two and a half years in four southeastern states for the perfect tract of land to build Victory Lane.
"For this development to be successful, we had to find a significant amount of property with site specific attributes," Costello said. "We needed a large open area for the race track, in addition to water, and beautiful sites for residential construction. As soon as I toured Beaver Creek, I knew that it was perfect."
Costello has assembled an extensive team of experts for his project including world renown race track designer, Australian native, Bob Bernard. Bernard designed the Adelaide, Phillip Island, and Eastern Creek Grand Prix Circuits, as well as redesigning and upgrading Road Atlanta, the Firebird East Course, and the Daytona Speedway Infield including changes to the road course for the Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race.
Bernard said he was trying to achieve a number of things as he designed the Victory Lane road course.
"I wanted it to be the safest race track in the world, enjoyable to drive, as challenging as possible, and fun for someone who is not necessarily a race car driver," Bernard said. "I had 500 acres to work with and that is a tremendous amount of space."
Bernard said when the race track is completed, the driver should feel as if he is racing through a park.
"We have so much land that we will be able to plant trees in such a fashion as to not be a hazard to the drivers," Bernard said. "It will give the drivers a sense of how fast they are going as well as where they are on the track."
Although the centerpiece of the development, the race track is just a part of the extensive amenity package being put in place for residents.
"We want Victory Lane to be a place for families to enjoy themselves, to have that valuable time together," Costello said. "There will be a water sports lake for jet skiing and boats, lakes for fishing, trails to hike in the woods and along the river, as well as the equestrian center where they can board their horses. We are only going to have 120 home sites, and building on those sites should impact less than 500 acres of the entire development."
Tattnall County manager, Faye Hussey, said she and other county officials are very optimistic about the potential positive economic impact that Victory Lane is expected to have on the county.
"Of course it is a private venture so we really do not know what to expect, but I hope that it will create some jobs for our residents, and that it will have a positive, significant impact on our tax base," Hussey said.
With the price of lots in Victory Lane starting at $675,000 for a 10-acre lot (the smallest being offered), Tattnall County's chairman of the board of county commissioners, Frank Murphy, said he did not want adjoining property owners to be worried about their property taxes increasing.
"This is a very unique situation, and the property appraisal will reflect that," Murphy said. "Sales in Victory Lane will not be used as comparable for appraising the value of adjoining property. Clearly, we do hope it does have a positive impact on the property of its neighbors and that the additional taxes raised from Victory Lane will allow the county to make improvements, provide additional services, and perhaps offset the need for any tax increase. We are cautiously optimistic."
Costello said construction on new homes in the development should begin in the next two months.
"We have agreements on 30 of the 120 lots being offered," Costello said. "Most of the people buying in Victory Lane are business people or athletes, and that includes race car drivers."
Costello wants both buyers and local residents to know that environmental protection technology is being integrated into all aspects of Victory Lane.
"We are implementing sustainable, renewable, energy sources such as hydro and solar power," Costello said. "We want this to be the first sustainable development with all of the energy consumed on site produced here. We want this to be as much of a carbon neutral development as we can make it."
Costello said he recognizes that many will feel that his position is hypocritical since it will be a motor sports development that people will fly jets into.
"I know this may seem paradoxical to many, but we are trying to look at the larger responsibility of maintaining and conserving this beautiful property, by affecting it the least possible amount that we can," he said.
"We want this to be a destination property for people that value convenience, privacy, and unique opportunities to experience the outdoors," he said. "I feel that we are stewards of this property, rather than owners. It is here to be enjoyed, not destroyed. That is our mindset and mission as we proceed."
Victory Lane will be operated as a private community with no general access available to the public. It will be surrounded by a 10-foot fence and will have gated access and professional security.
Costello said there will be no public events held at the race track or the equestrian center and that the amenities are there for residents only.
For more information on Victory Lane you can visit the development's website at www.unlimitedspeed.net.