The effectiveness of public policy in guiding the residential development of reservoir shorelands is largely dependent on a basic understanding of underlying development processes. The conversion of rural reservoir land to recreational residential use emerges over time from a set of complex decisions by reservoir owners, public officials, landowners, residential developers, and households. This study is concerned with the final stage of the land development process, the decisions of households to purchase and use shoreline land. Based on a random sample survey of 268 households who have acquired shoreline property adjacent to Lake Norman, North Carolina, and Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia, the study describes the key components of these decisions and identifies factors which influence household behavior. (WRSIC abstract)