Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Rock, Mike Burchett's golden retriever, "fishes" by watching, barking and biting at the surface of the water at the Rock House Marina. Burchett is co-owner of the Claytor Lake marina.

DUBLIN -- Big changes are in store for Claytor Lake's Rock House Marina.

The marina has been sold from local group Striper's Landing to Tom Cole of Bluefield, W.Va., and marina manager and operator Mike Burchett of Pulaski.

The sale was finalized June 27 after about a year of negotiations. The sale consisted of two parts, including a property purchase and a purchase of the marina's assets for an undisclosed amount.

Cole and Burchett said some of the changes have already taken effect. The main building has been repainted in a tropical color scheme, speakers with satellite radio have been installed inside and out and a jet ski mechanic has been hired since.

Cole and Burchett are planning to replace the boat docks, add additional gas docks for boats and move them to a more accessible spot, build a waterfront patio and possibly add a small food area.

"It will be something on a small scale, a place for people who live on Claytor Lake, a reason to get on the water and go there," Cole said.

They have also talked about having live music on the weekends and hosting more events, such as a recent poker run.

"Our main goal is to make the Rock House a destination," Burchett said.

The new owners met after Burchett, an avid fisherman who has competed in professional fishing tournaments, sold some fishing equipment to Cole's 16-year-old son, Jacob.

Cole said he never had any interest in owning a marina, but when he saw Burchett's commitment to the business and customer service, he decided to make an offer -- even though the marina wasn't for sale. Bole said he thinks there is the potential to make the Rock House Marina a destination on Claytor Lake.

"It's my love for Claytor Lake, that's everything that's behind it [buying and fixing up the marina] -- what it's meant to me and my family and maybe their kids," said Cole, who has been vacationing at Claytor Lake since he was a child. "I wouldn't have been interested in buying the marina if it wasn't for the quality of Mike Burchett -- he's the real deal. It's certainly not a money-making proposition."

Roger Cupp, part of the Striper's Landing group, said he saw the sale as a way to take the marina "to the next level. There is a tremendous market for what that has on that part of the lake because of how accessible it is."

Striper's Landing owned the marina for about four years, Cupp said.

There is still a lot of work to be done, Burchett said, most of which will be done during the winter months. Cole said he would potentially invest up to $500,000 in the marina, but it would depend on if he was able to get approval and building permits.

"We envision a lot, whether or not we can bring it to fruition is another story," Cole said. "There's a lot we want to do."