Welcome to Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch spans 50 square miles and is comprised of more than 20 small villages – that’s bigger than Disneyworld! Lakewood Ranch is the best-selling community in the nation, according to a recent survey by the National Real Estate Advisory Firm RCLCO. Many villages are new home developments with distinct amenities. It is home to over 300 shops with three main hubs of activity: Main Street, The Green, and Waterside Place.
Main Street in Lakewood Ranch offers fashionable boutiques, restaurants, Barre workout classes, miniature golf entertainment at the Fish Hole, and movies at the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. The Green, a 37-acre development, is located closest to the northern villages, and part of the CORE mixed-use project. It features more than two dozen businesses, including cafes, salons and more. Waterside Place is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2021, which is in the center of the Waterside Village.
Waterside is built around eight beautiful lakes with over 20 miles of shoreline and is the first village within Lakewood Ranch to be built in Sarasota County. Its own town center, Waterside Place, will feature outdoor cafes, shopping boutiques, live music, and trendy restaurants. A resident’s day in the life at Waterside Place may soon look like this:
- Enjoy Duck Donuts and O&A coffee in the morning;
- Head to The Yoga Shack for vinyasa yoga;
- Relax with a manicure and pedicure at Paint Nail Bar;
- For men: go for a haircut and shave at luxury barber shop Mancave;
- Lastly, later in the day enjoy dinner and drinks at a new upscale Brew Pub, a partnership created between Tableseide Group (Libby’s, Oak & Stone) and Good Liquid Brewing and Kitchen.
University Parkway delineates Sarasota County from Manatee County. The northern part of Lakewood Ranch sits in Manatee County, while the Southern part, including the new Waterside community, sits in Sarasota County. The first village to the north of University Parkway, in Manatee County, is the prestigious, private, gated Lake Club, which offers beautiful lake front single-family homes. Luxury amenities include a grand 20,000-square foot Clubhouse, with tennis, a fitness center, two beautiful pools, an inviting new restaurant, and many social activities to fill up one’s calendar. Whether you are seeking a golf community, a family friendly village, or just a convenient lifestyle, Lakewood Ranch has the perfect community for everyone.
Insider Tips
Family Friendly:
Enjoy a family miniature golf outing at the Fish Hole in downtown Lakewood Ranch. In Dec 2021, PopStroke is coming to the area, an enjoyable family friendly experience where you play mini golf and can enjoy burgers, ice cream, and drinks while doing so.
Lakewood Ranch has many events and clubs for youth, from little league baseball to soccer, and much more, organized through the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities office.
Private school Out-of-Door Academy’s upper school, the Uihlein Campus, is located in Lakewood Ranch.
Favorite Restaurants:
Lucky Pelican has a bustling scene with delicious seafood and oysters, while the Grove on Main Street has a lively atmosphere with yummy flatbreads and avocado tacos. Capital Grille in the UTC Mall is a familiar high-end steakhouse found in other large metropolitan areas.
Recreation / Culture:
Sarasota Polo Club, known by locals as the “green beach”, holds polo matches every Sunday on its beautiful grounds from December to April, and hosts special events during the year.
Every Sunday, locals can buy fresh produce, yummy treats, and special goods at the Lakewood Ranch Farmer’s Market from 10am to 2pm during season.
The Players Centre for Performing Arts is a community theater in Sarasota, soon coming to Waterside. The Manatee Performing Arts Center is also a community theater and offers shows for audiences of all ages.
Village of the Arts is an enclave of historic cottages filled with galleries, unique eateries, and specialty boutiques. Visitors enjoy brightly painted streets during art walks the first Friday of each month.
Lakewood Ranch residents have access to more than 60 active clubs, from gardening and book clubs to wine clubs and art clubs, through the Community Activities office.
There are numerous member-only golf courses in Lakewood Ranch, from the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, Ritz Carlton Members Golf Club, Legacy Golf Club, and many more.
