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Living in Heron Bay Locust Grove GA 🏘️🌊 | Guide to the Heron Bay Community
Make your way to Heron Bay! Heron Bay Georgia is a gated community recently opened in Locust Grove. It’s already well known for its access to top golf courses, parks, and beautiful reservoirs.
The community is a very nice place to live, especially for outdoor enthusiasts interested in an active lifestyle and great amenities. If moving to Heron Bay sounds like a good idea, you should start the moving process now. Your first step is to learn more about living in Heron Bay Locust Grove GA, including what Heron Bay homes for sale you can buy. Here’s your quick guide.
The Heron Bay community is west of downtown Locust Grove; it is 6.2 miles from Locust Grove to Heron Bay, creating a commute of 10-15 minutes. Heron Bay does not border any Locust Grove neighborhoods because of its distance from the city, but Heron Bay is still called a Locust Grove subdivision or neighborhood.
The Heron Bay community covers 39 homesites and has the zip code of 30248. The gated community is inside a census-designated place, also known as Heron Bay, and the CDP covers 4.89 square miles. The Heron Bay neighborhood borders Cole Reservoir, a 1,100-acre reservoir that supplies fresh water to residents living in Heron Bay. It also borders State Route 155, which provides access to cities near Atlanta GA, like Blacksville and Griffin.
Locust Grove does not have its own transportation system, and residents do not have access to MARTA, the Atlanta public transportation system. Most residents in the community use their cars when traveling outside of Heron Bay. While living in Heron Bay, you can walk or bike.
Heron Bay Map
You can use this Heron Bay map to find attractions and amenities inside the community.
What’s It Like Living in Heron Bay?
Heron Bay is a gated community with 39 homesites. The gated nature of Heron Bay Locust Grove GA means the community is very safe, with guards patrolling the streets and controlling who can enter. The Heron Bay subdivision is very walkable, with paved streets that have broad sidewalks and ample shade. The terrain is flat, so you can go bicycling, rollerblading, or scootering through the streets comfortably. The community is family-friendly, with many residents having children and raising them in Heron Bay.
Heron Bay Georgia has very few attractions, though it’s near major ones in Locust Grove and other cities. The lack of attractions creates a quiet and serene atmosphere suitable for retirees or people looking for peace outside of Atlanta. Things to do in Heron Bay include top outdoor points of interest, especially lakes and parks, making Heron Bay a terrific community for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Locust Grove is well known as one of the most affordable Atlanta suburbs. The real estate market is very affordable, with a median cost of homes for sale of just $285,000, and most attractions are free or offer discounts. This makes Heron Bay suitable for people working low-income jobs, recent graduates, and young professionals.
Amenities and Things to Do in Heron Bay
While Heron Bay Locust Grove does not have a large number of attractions, the things to do in Heron Bay are unique, kid-friendly, and cool. You can also live within driving distance of great restaurants and amenities. Here are some of the best things to do in Heron Bay and around the community.
Restaurants
Heron Bay does not contain any restaurants, but several great eateries are close by. Gabinos Mexican Grill is a family-friendly Mexican restaurant in Locust Grove that serves burritos, tacos, tamales, and other Mexican staples at low prices. You can order combination platters with several different dishes for less than $15 and lunch specials for less than $10.
If you want a classy or romantic restaurant, you can visit Southern Fusion in Locust Grove. The restaurant serves Southern food, including grits, blackened salmon, and catfish sandwiches. It’s also a top spot for breakfast and brunch on weekdays and weekends, making it a great place to bring out-of-town guests and dates.
Stores
Heron Bay does not contain any stores. The nearest grocery store is the Publix Locust Grove, which is just north of Heron Bay Locust Grove GA, along Route 155. The Publix store is located in The Shoppes At Locust Grove, an outdoor shopping mall with nail salons, banks, and pizzerias.
Another must-do shopping mall close to Heron Bay is Tanger Outlet Locust Grove, which is an outlet mall. You can find several different clothing stores in the mall, including an Old Navy Outlet, a Forever 21, and a Nike Factory Store.
Outdoor Attractions
The top attraction in Heron Bay GA is Heron Bay Golf and Country Club. The Heron Bay golf course contains over 7,000 yards of fairways, and many holes provide scenic views of the Cole Reservoir and other natural wonders. The Locust Grove golf course has an on-site clubhouse where you can get small meals and drinks before or after your golf game.
Lakefront Park borders Cole Reservoir and covers five acres. The park is well known for its open-air pavilion, which many people living in Heron Bay use to watch sunsets. You can rent the park for special events, including weddings. A few walking trails connect to Lakefront Park and wind through the community, giving you views of various homes and the woods around Heron Bay.
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is just outside of Heron Bay. Noah’s Ark is home to hundreds of animals, including exotic species like Bengal tigers. You can arrange for a family-friendly and educational private tour that lets you see animals up close.
Indoor Attractions
Locust Grove is home to various churches, including the Abundant Life Church. The Abundant Life Church is associated with the Ministries of God and services on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, including Bible studies and youth services. Relevant Church is a contemporary church known for offering counseling to people with mental health and substance abuse issues.
The Locust Grove Train Watching Platform is one of the most unique attractions near Atlanta. The platform provides views of the railroad tracks in Locust Grove, allowing you to watch nearly 40 trains pass through town every day. The platform contains a scanner radio so you can follow interactions between train conductors.
Amenities
The community is home to a 5,000-square-foot lodge building. The Heron Bay clubhouse contains the Heron Bay Homeowners Association office as well as a fitness center, library, and caterer’s kitchen. The Heron Bay gym contains treadmills, ellipticals, and body weight machines. If you prefer to exercise outside, you can play tennis in one of six lighted tennis courts. These Heron Bay tennis courts are also available for pickleball.
All residents can also enjoy an on-site aquatic center with a competition Heron Bay pool, a kid-friendly splash pad, and water slides. People who aren’t swimming can lounge in cabanas overlooking the pool. Your kids can play on playgrounds near the aquatic center with slides, balance beams, and climbing walls.
Heron Bay Georgia does not contain any schools. Students living in the northern part of the community attend schools in the Henry County School District. Elementary school students can attend Bethlehem Elementary School in Locust Grove, which employs 58 full-time and fully certified teachers. After attending Bethlehem, students go to Luella Middle School. The school is one of the most diverse Henry County schools, with 74.8% identifying as Black or African American and 9.5% identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
Luella Middle School shares facilities with Luella High School, so your kids can stay on the same campus and get to know high school teachers in advance. The high school offers extensive technical programs, helping students learn about computer science, early child care, and engineering.
Griffin Spalding County Schools serves all students living in southern Heron Bay Locust Grove GA. Heron Bay does not contain any schools. Heron Bay students attend Jordan Hill Elementary School (also known as Jordan Hill Road Elementary School). The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11:1 and 32 full-time teachers, almost all of whom have three or more years of experience.
Jordan Hill students then attend Kennedy Road Middle School. Kennedy Road is one of the most diverse schools in Spalding County. 57.1% of students identify as Black or African American, while 9.6% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Kennedy Road students attend Spalding High School. The high school has many different extracurriculars, including FBLA, FHA, and athletics teams. Spalding’s football teams have won district championships, and NFL players like Dee Alford started their careers at Spalding.
Heron Bay does not contain any private schools. The closest notable private school is Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove. Strong Rock is a private Christian school with a student population of over 900 students. The school offers 24 AP classes, 10 fine arts programs, and 40 athletics teams across 16 different sports.
Heron Bay or Locust Grove does not contain any colleges or universities. The Locust Grove Library in the Henry County Library System serves Heron Bay residents and offers extensive catalogs of paperback and hardcover books as well as E-books.
Is Heron Bay Safe?
Heron Bay Locust Grove GA is a very safe community and is one of the safest Atlanta suburbs. Here are the community’s latest crime rates:
Total crime rate: 1,039 crimes per 100,000 residents (49.5% lower than the Georgia crime rate, 55.3% lower than the national average)
Violent crime rate: 185 offenses per 100,000 people (49.6% lower than the state crime rate, 50% lower than the national average)
Property crime rate: 853 crimes per 100,000 people (49.6% lower than the state rate, 56.6% lower than the national average)
The Heron Bay crime rate is one-fifth of the Atlanta crime rate. The Locust Grove Police Department serves residents living in Heron Bay. The department employs 28 police officers, including four officers in a criminal investigations division.
Heron Bay Real Estate
Heron Bay real estate is fairly affordable, and you have many options for comfortable homes. According to Redfin, the median sales price of Heron Bay homes for sale is $387,500, with a median price per square foot of $127. The median price of new homes in Locust Grove GA has dropped by 20.5%, while the price per square foot has dropped by 5.9%.
The real estate market is small, with only six new construction homes in Locust Grove GA sold in November 2023. All six Heron Bay homes were single-family properties. There are no Heron Bay condos or townhomes. Heatherland Homes is the developer within Heron Bay, and they construct properties based on four different floor plans:
The Cobalt: The Cobalt contains five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and 3,654 square feet of space. The plan includes an attached double garage, a breakfast nook, a covered porch, and a second-floor laundry room. You can get a media room installed on the second floor, replacing two of the bedrooms. Prices start at $643,827.
The Jasmine: The Jasmine contains five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and 2,850 square feet. The plan adds a workshop area to your double garage and two additional covered porches, but it’s otherwise similar to The Cobalt. Prices start in the $500,000s.
The Raleigh: The Raleigh contains four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and 4,121 square feet of space. The plan has an attached triple garage, a keeping room, a grilling porch, and a mud room. You can add deck stairs, fireplaces, and coffered ceilings. Prices start in the $600,000s.
The Stratford: The Stratford contains four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 2,759 square feet. The Stratford is a largely open floor plan with a great room where you can dine, prepare meals, and mingle with your family. You can also add a media room to the second floor for watching movies or listening to music. Prices start at $549,900.
Most Heron Bay club homes for sale were built in the last 20 years, but Heatherland Homes can complete a new construction in Locust Grove GA, whenever you want. Floor plans can accommodate contemporary features like stone countertops kitchen islands, and double pane windows. The Heron Bay HOA charges an annual $1,040 association fee. If you pay your fee on time, you gain access to all amenities in the community.
According to RentCafe, the average rent of Heron Bay apartments is $1,717 a month, $15 higher than the national average. However, Heron Bay has very few options for apartments and homes for rent, as only 4% of housing in the community is rented out. There are no major apartment complexes in or near Heron Bay.
Living in Heron Bay Locust Grove GA is the best way to live! Golfers are going to love the terrific on-site course, as well as the miles of walking trails and the beautiful parks. Families will love the safe streets with convenient access to Locust Grove and other cities near Atlanta.
But you must figure out moving to Heron Bay. Wirks Moving employs a team of top Heron Bay movers who have served over 20,000 customers over the last decade. Get a free moving estimate by calling 404-635-6683.
Eric Wirks
Eric Wirks started out in the moving industry over 16 years ago and after gaining in depth expertise in all industry related areas, went on to found Wirks Moving & Storage in 2009. Under Eric’s expert tutelage Wirks Moving & Storage has since serviced over 10,000 moves and kept their customers very happy, proven by a 98% customer referral rate.
