Hearthstone Lodge Senior Center closing

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation to close Hearthstone Lodge Senior Center on Shady Grove during Tuesday’s meeting.

The county purchased the facility which houses a meeting room, pool and fitness center in 2008 for $540,000 (fees included) and has spent about $400,000 on renovations since. It is the oldest building within Senior Service.

There are about 308 active members. County officials believe the annual operating cost of about $370,000 and revenue of only about $40,000 plus major repairs that will be required in the next year make the lodge too expensive to continue in service.

The plan is to transition into more modern accommodations with more features to offer members. Staff has members move to the Cumming Aquatic Center for swimming in either the indoor or outdoor pool. The Center offers more than twice as many classes than Hearthstone.

To make the transition easier, the county will pay for a one year Fitrec membership for those who are center-only members at Hearthstone to be used as several of the county’s parks and a three month membership at the Aquatic Center for aquatic only members at Hearthstone.