A long-standing family dispute among descendants of Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler has escalated into a public feud over High Point, a private compound on Cumberland Island, Georgia, that has served as a generational retreat since the 1930s. The conflict centers on a proposed land deal that some family members fear will lead to their exclusion from the property and potentially its development.
At the heart of the contention is a plan spearheaded by Sam Candler, an Episcopal priest, through a family entity called Lumar LLC. This entity has been negotiating with the National Park Service for a land swap. The proposal would trade approximately 85 acres near the island's visitor area for the more desirable High Point land, potentially returning the compound to full private ownership. Critics, however, claim this maneuver has been kept secret from certain branches of the family for two decades, eroding trust.
David Ball, a prominent figure in the opposing faction, has voiced strong opposition, expressing fears that his family will be “frozen out.” He has gone as far as to threaten demolition of his own mother’s house on the property if the deal proceeds and the compound falls under the control of his kin. Ball accuses his cousins of acting behind his back to secure control of the property.
John Ball, a cousin of David and a more conciliatory voice in the dispute, acknowledges the hurt fueling his uncle’s anger but also suggests his rhetoric is “extravagant.” John Ball described High Point as becoming a “chaotic mess” due to an increasing number of distant relatives vying for limited time at the compound each year. He expressed a weary resignation to the situation, suggesting that while he disagrees with some actions, the situation is complex.
High Point was originally purchased in 1930 by Howard Candler, son of Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler, and converted into a private family retreat. Subsequent generations added homes, including the one built by David Ball’s mother, deepening its significance for some family members. The Candler family sold High Point to the federal government in 1982 for about $9 million, with an agreement allowing family members to live there until their deaths. More than 15 descendants alive at the time of the sale still reside on the property.
The potential expiration of these residency rights is a driving force behind the Lumar LLC's proposed land swap. However, conservationists have raised alarms, warning that the deal could permit significant new construction on land designated for preservation. Draft deeds reportedly allow for structures up to 15,000 square feet and 35 feet in height, which environmental groups argue contradicts the island’s protected status. Carol Ruckdeschel, a biologist known for her work on sea turtles, has criticized the family's position, calling it hypocritical.
The National Park Service must conduct an Environmental Assessment before finalizing any land swap, a process expected to draw public scrutiny and potential legal challenges from conservation groups. The Ball brothers may also pursue separate legal action to prevent future construction at High Point.
Cumberland Island, known for its undeveloped shores and as a sanctuary for Gilded Age families like the Carnegies, gained wider fame as the secret wedding location for John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette in 1996. Despite the storied history and natural beauty, the island has become the site of an intense intra-family conflict.
Neither David Ball, Sam Candler, nor Lumar LLC responded to requests for comment. John Ball stated he would be content to visit Cumberland Island as a regular tourist, signaling a desire for the protracted family drama to conclude.