Town of Lexington to work with private developers on destination resort on Lake Murray

Lexington, SC 05/02/2023 - Lexington’s Town Council has taken initial steps to approve a destination resort community on Lake Murray, including a Regional Conference Center. Private developers are expected to invest in excess of $733 Million into the project.

The 93.53-acre property, currently known as Smallwood Cove, is located off Beekeeper Court and North Lake Drive. The proposed development includes a marina, hotels, retail space, restaurants, single-family homes, townhomes and condos. There will be 5-acres of land donated to the Town of Lexington to build a Regional Conference Center on the property.

“One of Town Council’s goals set forth in the original Vision Plan created in 2012 was to create an iconic presence on Lake Murray and with this project we accomplish that,” said Mayor Steve MacDougall. “This is going to create a one of a kind destination on the lake and I want to thank everyone involved in getting things to this point. To say we are excited would be an understatement.”

This project is a public/private economic development partnership which will create destination tourism for Lexington County and provide access to premier lake front property. Once completed, it will generate substantial tax revenue and economic benefits for the state and local community, including the creation of at least 400 tourism industry jobs.

A 15-year build out is expected for the entirety of the development with construction getting underway in approximately two years. The Regional Conference Center, which to date the Town has received $6 Million to build from the State of South Carolina, is projected to be completed in 2028.