UPSON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) - In a nearly two-hour-long meeting, delayed for crowd control and multiple speakers, preliminary plans for a ranch in Upson County, backed by comedian Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie, can move forward.
Legacy Ranch is planned on the property formerly known as The Rock Ranch, which was established in 1989 by S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc. The Harveys purchased The Rock Ranch from the Cathy family.
In a May 2022 press release, developers say The Legacy Ranch will continue in the tradition of the many family activities offered at The Rock Ranch, including a farmers’ market, pumpkin patch, and holiday events. They anticipate hosting 100,000 people annually.
A public hearing was held by Upson County Commissioners on September 13. The hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, featured multiple speakers in support of the Harvey's plan, but also featured opposition, mainly surrounding noise and fire suppression concerns. The meeting was also delayed due to overcrowding. Multiple people were forced to wait outside the meeting chambers due to fire code limits. Included in that group were people hoping to address Commission but were not initially allowed to sign up for public comment.
In what is being described as Phase 1 of development, The Legacy Ranch developers were seeking approval for cabins, a dormitory, gyms, a general-purpose building, and several other buildings for organized camps, all on 305 of the total 1,500 acres.
Prior to the final vote, multiple amendments were made to the plans, including the need for stormwater and wastewater plans before permits would be issued. Commissioners also plan on adding a requirement for quiet hours. The final vote featured four 'yes' votes with one commissioner abstaining.
“Truett Cathy believed in investing in people’s lives, Marjorie and I share this vision – we are going to give young people and the community of Upson County pathways that will help develop their dreams,” said Steve Harvey.
The Rock Ranch discontinued operations during the pandemic, and the Harveys are excited to resume these activities to benefit the surrounding community.