SENECA — A Seneca group is still hopeful of working out a deal with the state to develop more than 300 acres on Lake Hartwell into a tourist attraction.

Bob Daffin, a spokesman for Sanctuary Pointe LLC, said this week that talks between the developer, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are continuing.

Daffin said discussions are centered on how the Lake Hartwell property should be developed.

“We’re talking about business points,” Daffin said. “It’s important to have everyone on the same page.”

The property in question, which is near the South Carolina Welcome Center on Interstate 85, is leased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to SCPRT. The parties would have to agree on a long-term lease that would give the developers enough time to make a return on investment.

Preliminary plans for the project include a golf course, hotel/conference center, water activity, restaurant and cabins.

Sanctuary Pointe was the only firm to respond to the state’s request for a proposal last fall.

At the time, state officials concluded Sanctuary Pointe failed to convince them that it had the financing in place to make the Hartwell project a reality.

The Seneca group appealed the state’s decision not to award a bid and was given until June 30 to show it had the financial clout to make the project happen.

County officials say such a development in its own backyard would give the local economy a much-needed shot in the arm by creating jobs and boosting local tourism.

“It’s an important project for the county and the state,” Daffin said.

carlos@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375