Celebrate Your Special Occasion at The Pond at Stoney Creek

The Pond at Stoney Creek was originally the family home built in 1969 by William Charles “Dude” La Porte for his wife, Darlene, and their four children; Charles, Kazel, Mark, and Camille.

Dude was a lifelong resident of Stoney Creek, just like his mother, Minnie. He was the youngest of four boys; Tony, Frank, Joe, and Dude. While Tony and Frank eventually moved to Georgia, Dude and Joe remained in Elizabethton, close to family and community. Their father, an immigrant from Sicily, helped raise four spirited boys who became well-known for their playful pranks and practical jokes. To this day, many locals still enjoy sharing stories of the La Porte boys and the laughter they brought to the area.

Dude became a respected home builder and constructed numerous homesteads throughout Stoney Creek and the greater Elizabethton area. A nearby neighborhood was affectionately nicknamed “Dude Town” because he built most of the homes there. He also developed several apartment buildings in Elizabethton, including the Airport Apartments at the entrance of Airport Road. Each building was named after one of his four children, a lasting tribute to his family.

Not wanting to stray far from his roots, or from his mother, Dude chose this property to build his own home. With a deep love for nature and fishing, he also built the pond that would become the heart of the property. For decades, the pond was a gathering place where his children and neighborhood friends spent long summer days swimming and making memories.

The pond became famous for its large catfish—some of which may still swim there today. They were known as Dude’s “pets,” and he faithfully fed them each evening. The catfish learned his routine and would surface at feeding time, creating a bit of evening entertainment for friends and visitors who gathered to watch.

Over the years, the home hosted countless weddings, anniversaries, family gatherings, and celebrations, continuing the La Porte tradition of welcoming others and creating joyful memories.

After Dude’s passing in 2019, maintaining the property became too much for Darlene, and she chose to move closer to town and her daily activities. With so many cherished memories tied to the home, and Dude’s ashes scattered in the pond, his favorite place to relax, the two youngest children, Mark and Camille, made the decision to preserve the property.

Today, as they continue to repair and thoughtfully update the home, they offer The Pond at Stoney Creek as a place for others to gather, celebrate, and create their own special memories.

It is their hope that you will enjoy the home, the pond, and the surrounding grounds as much as their family has and that this special place becomes part of your story, too.