About Lakewood Ranch

Seven villages, from townhomes to custom estates, where families become neighbors, neighbors become family and everyone enjoys a sense of community.

You'll find all of this and more at Lakewood Ranch: gourmet and family-friendly restaurants, A-rated schools, unique shops and boutiques, business parks, hospital and medical center, three different masterfully designed golf courses; an athletic center with fitness, aquatics and 18 lighted tennis courts; even Polo and Cricket clubs. And over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves sharing dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves abundant with native wildlife.

It's all here at award-winning Lakewood Ranch, an 8,500- acre master-planned community, located on Florida's Gulf Coast, close to I-75.

Opportunities for education abound for all ages and needs.  This includes a high school and new elementary and middle schools.  The Out of Door Academy, located just off University Parkway, is a highly acclaimed private school.  Other educational institutions at the Ranch include State College of Florida, Manatee Technical Institute, Keiser College and Everglades University.  Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) welcomed its first class in the fall of 2004.

The community features many natural attractions and recreational facilities for children, adults and even pets.  There are six recreational parks, including an adventure park for teens, a 100-acre nature preserve and 420 acres of man-made lakes.  Walkers and bikers enjoy more than 100 miles of sidewalks and trails.  The Paw Park provides a large, safe area for dogs to romp and play and show off their agility skills.

In 2001, the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club opened its 42,000 square-foot Clubhouse.  Arnold Palmer's course design company created a total of 36 holes of golf in two separate phases of development.  In January 2008, The Country Club East course opened and in March of 2008, the community opened to homebuyers.

The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Clubhouse and courses have received numerous awards and accolades.  To complement the private golf experience, the Palmer-designed Legacy Golf course is available on a daily fee basis.  There are more private golf opportunities in the community and adjacent developments.  Tom Fazio has designed a course for The Ritz Carlton's new golf club just north of Lakewood Ranch's The Lake Club and Country Club East.  Jack Nicklaus has designed the Concession Course, which is open just a few miles east of Lakewood Ranch.

Lakewood Ranch is conveniently located on the Manatee/Sarasota County boundary.  It is just minutes from the Sarasota cultural arts district and less than one hour from both Tampa and St. Petersburg.  It's ideally situated in the Tampa Bay area, close to the services and entertainment venues of a major metropolitan area but outside of the congestion and hectic pace of city life.  Truly, Lakewood Ranch offers the best of Florida living within a setting distinctly its own.

And, starting July 2010, Lakewood Ranch's newest village, Central Park, will begin sales.  For more information on Central Park, please visit my website: www.LakewoodRanchCentralPark.com .