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THUNDERBOLT, Georgia (WJCL) — A centuries-old live oak in Thunderbolt has become the center of a dispute between neighbors who want to save it and a property owner who neighbors say wants to develop the land.
The Dixon family says the neighborhood tree has been part of their lives for generations.
“The tree has been in our family for 70 years. My wife, we’re married 50 years next year. Her whole life is right here in that tree. Means a lot to us,” Maurice Dixon said.
Neighbors say they recently learned the tree could be removed after the property owner planned to sell the land. They say they then tried to buy the property to protect the tree.
“He gave me a number that was very high. So I made him a substantial offer, slightly less than that. And he, he turned it down,” neighbor Dennis Scott said.
Neighbors say they believed permitting would allow the tree to be trimmed, not removed. They say the process became confusing after work to trim the tree on Monday stopped.
“It’s rated to be 150 at least up to 300 years old. So this is far beyond us. You know, as human beings,” Scott said.
The Dixon family says the tree has stood on the property for generations and that they do not want their last memory of it to be its removal.
Neighbors say someone with the town of Thunderbolt recently came out to measure whether a home and the tree could coexist on the lot. They say they are not sure what happens next.
“My whole family, my wife, my niece, they were crying yesterday. Luckily, we’re trying to do the right thing and do what we’re doing now, and it hurts me. It really does, man,” Dixon said.
WJCL 22 News has reached out to the town of Thunderbolt and the property owner for comment. Neither has responded.
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