COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
COMMUNITYSpotlight
A n ambiance of luxur y envelops you as you enter the gates under the majestic queen palms into the Lakewood Ranch Golf and
Countr y Club, the crowning jewel of one of Florida's most successful master-planned communities. Ideally located within 20
minutes of downtown St Petersburg , downtown Sarasota and the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mex ico, Lakewood Ranch has
evolved over the years to become one of the best examples of modern community development in A merica. e combination of
world-class golf and tennis facilities, family-friendly neighborhoods and the centralized commercial district constructed to recreate
a traditional Main Street feel, all come together perfectly to fashion a unique, hospitable small town feeling in the lush seing of
Southwest Florida.
Milwaukee business magnate John Schroeder originally purchased the 8,500-acres that comprise Lakewood Ranch in the early
1900's. Two decades later, the Uihlein family, founders of the Schlitz Brewing Company, acquired the property and continued
to expand the agricultural operations still active today: cale ranching , vegetable, citrus, timber, and turf farming as well as shell
mining. In 1994, development of Lakewood Ranch began, and since 2005 ever y village built has used products and techniques
that result in more energ y efficient and environmentally responsible homes. Today, Lakewood Ranch is the largest green master
planned community in the United States, a tribute to its founders to be good stewards of the land.
e epicenter of Lakewood Ranch is e Countr y Club, an impressive members only golf and countr y club, surrounded by an
exquisite collection of neighborhoods, connected by miles of sidewalks and trails. Each of the seven different neighborhoods offers
a variety of floor plans and price ranges to elegantly suit any lifestyle. Prices start as low as the 200's for well-appointed townhomes
to luxurious custom homes valued well over $1 million dollars, complete with sweeping golf course views.
The Country Club
at Lakewood Ranch
A
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Contributing Writer Deborah O'Mara
