The Williams family is acquiring control of PineIsle after Marriott International Inc. announced this week it is shutting down the 31-year-old resort Nov. 4 because the property has become too costly to maintain and operate. The Army Corps of Engineers, which still has to approve the Williams' $14.5-million lease purchase from Orlando-based CNL Hotels & Resorts, as GlobeSt.com previously reported, also has to approve the PineIsle deal for Williams.

However, insiders in the deal tell GlobeSt.com, approval from the Corps of Engineers, is expected to be a formality since the agreement the Corps had with Marriott was that control of PineIsle would automatically go to the operator of the Emerald Pointe Resort if and when PineIsle ceases operations.

Williams, who purchased a 43-year-lease from CNL, is expected to place his own brand on the two hotels and remove Marriott's Renaissance brand from PineIsle, persons in a position to know tell GlobeSt.com. Williams couldn't be reached by GlobeSt.com's publication deadline to learn how much of an investment his family will make in restoring the once-glamorous image of PineIsle.

However, brokers and marketers familiar with the property tell GlobeSt.com PineIsle renovations could cost up about $25 million in new construction and cosmetic repairs. If the renovation costs become too costly, Williams could decide to demolish PineIsle and build a new resort on the Hall County site, considered by local brokers to be the best hotel site in Lake Lanier Islands.