Special to The News and Farmer

AI-assisted summary Logan Wasden partnered with Ronald Wilson to open a Molly’s travel center in Louisville.

Wasden also plans to develop Chestnut, a 46-home subdivision.

The project is supported by a $2.3 million state grant for rural workforce housing.

Construction is expected to begin soon, with a model home anticipated by late 2025 or early 2026.

Jefferson County native and local real estate developer and farmer Logan Wasden had always wanted to open a car wash in Louisville.

“I’m from Jefferson County and when I went to college and graduated from ABAC I came back here and my goal was to find some land and build a full service car wash because that was something that was needed,” Wasden said.

Wasden knew he wanted to build the business right on US Highway 1.

“I was getting ready to buy the land and start working on putting in the car wash when Ronald Wilson called me about possibly partnering with him to put a Molly’s (travel center) in that location,” he said. “I met him in Crawfordville and we put together a deal to be partners in putting a Molly’s in Louisville.”

Molly’s provides ample space for trucks and has an iconic brown labrador retriever as its logo. In addition to fuel, it has food, fishing supplies and a fenced in park for travelers to be able to let their pets stretch their legs without any worry of vehicles or other hazards.

While Molly’s was being built and developed, Wasden had an opportunity to purchase some adjacent land to that location where he was looking at future development.

One of the biggest problems that rural areas face is the need for adequate affordable housing. Louisville City Manager Ricky Sapp worked on adding Louisville to a grant through the state of Georgia’s Rural Workforce Housing Initiative which will support the building housing units in Savannah, Lyons, and Louisville with the grant providing $6.3 million to help with construction costs. Louisville received $2.3 million dollars.

Governor Brian Kemp expressed his gratitude to the Georgia General Assembly for supporting this program, continuing combined efforts to make Georgia the best state in which to work, live, and raise a family.

Sapp said that adding 46 new homes is really a shot in the arm for Louisville because it will increase the tax digest and will add to utility upgrades and infrastructure.

There was an old chestnut tree that was on the tract of land and in a nod to the area’s agriculture and timber tradition, Wasden will name the new subdivision, Chestnut.

“I saw that old chestnut tree and I just knew it was the perfect name,” Wasden said.

Chestnut will include 46 homes between 1,000 and 1,600 square feet each. Site preparation is beginning.

“Hopefully, with the bid process starting and gas and sewer going on we will have a spec house ready by the end of this year or early 2026. This is going to be a nice subdivision that really addresses a need for rural like this. I’m excited about and proud to be a part of it,” Wasden said.