---
title: "Meet Garnie Nygren of Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/e6b52999-7bf1-431e-a56b-1c08fa1c17db
source_url: "https://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-garnie-nygren-serenbe-chattahoochee-hills/"
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summary: "Meet Garnie Nygren, COO of Serenbe, a sustainable community in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia that began in 1991 and now houses 600 residents with an inn, retailers, and events. Nygren discusses overcoming the 2008 recession, her philosophy of positive change, and how Serenbe prioritizes quality of life and environmental consciousness."
tags: "serenbe, sustainable-community, real-estate, chattahoochee-hills, entrepreneurship, land-preservation, lifestyle"
key_entities: "Garnie Nygren (person), Steve Nygren (person), Marie Nygren (person), Serenbe (organization), Bamboo Juice (organization), Cornell School of Hotel Administration (organization), Chattahoochee Hills (location), Georgia (location), Atlanta (location), 2008 Recession (event), sustainable-development (concept), land-preservation (concept)"
classification: "interview"
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---

# Meet Garnie Nygren of Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills

October 17, 2017 Meet Garnie Nygren of Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills Local Stories Share Tweet Pin Today we’d like to introduce you to Garnie Nygren. So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. It all started in 1991 when my family and I took a weekend outing to the beautiful countryside of Chattahoochee Hills, GA. We happened upon an old farmhouse and my parents instantly felt that this is where we belonged. My parents, Steve and Marie, were both Atlanta natives and worked deep in the restaurant scene, but wanted to truly step off of the treadmill of life when they discovered this place. In 1994, we decided to relocate full-time and dedicate our lives to the land. My dad and I discovered a bulldozer taking down 12 acres just off of our property one day and instantly feared that suburban sprawl was coming to tear down our paradise. My dad sprang into action and soon purchased 1,000 more acres of land, had a group of concerned citizen landowners and an idea for future land preservation. The ground was broken for the first Serenbe homes in 2004. Today, we are home to 600 residents, a 29 room Inn, retailers, annual and weekly events, plus much more. Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? I don’t think anything is necessarily an “easy” road. I graduated from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration in 2005, shortly before the recession hit in ’08. Those were the dark days in what was known as the most unexpected, worst economy for real estate and I was fresh out of college. Looking back now, the challenge was just being able to stay alive. I think survival challenges you to be more creative but also pushes you to be more innovative. Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Serenbe – what should we know? Here at Serenbe, I am known as the “champion” of things. My official title is COO, where I am responsible for daily operations of development. I think people know me for my smile and always pursuing a “change is possible” attitude that perseveres people in a lovely way, without being pushy. I also co-own Bamboo Juice, where I believe small changes make a huge impact. Using glass bottles rather than plastic, getting out and walking rather than driving a car…. these things help us stray away from the status quo. I believe that excuses aren’t options and my mind constantly wonder how we can do better. It goes without saying that the quality of life that we are able to offer people sets us apart. Serenbe has changed the lives of so many people. Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success? Positivity is key here. It’s so important to keep persevering not only for yourself but for peers, coworkers, family, friends, etc. Believing in the possibility of change and always taking steps forward towards that change can make anyone successful. Pricing: Homes start around $359,000. Contact Info: Website: http://serenbe.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenbe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenbe Twitter: https://twitter.com/serenbe Image Credit: Serenbe Getting in touch : VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here . Related Items 1 Comment Karen October 18, 2017 at 12:43 pm I love Serenbe and what Garnie has done there. She, and her family, have worked very hard and it shows. My only complaint against Serenbe is that there are no affordable homes (meaning less than $250K). It is definitely a place for the affluent and wealthy. I personally feel like the Serenbe community it could greater if it had places for the middle class as well. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Popular Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know ATL’s Most Inspiring Stories Portraits of Atlanta Dr. Hildiah Martin-Suggs Is Building Second Chances for Youth Who Were Almost Lost in the System From Showing Up to Seeing His Face on a Billboard: Anthony Green Is Just Getting Started Wayne Smith Jr on Survival, Psychological Thrillers, and the Cost of Staying Alive