As Florida’s population surpasses twenty million; the Sunshine state continues to welcome nearly one thousand new residents each day. Suburban expansion and migration to scenic, retirement and recreation destinations contribute to the population growth across the country. One example is Lake County, Florida, which, with its many historic towns offers the residents rural appeal, plenty of natural assets and easy access to a sports-oriented lifestyle. The county preserves its metropolitan allure by providing access to employment in strategic growth corridors, to luxury housing and world class education.
Sports Destination
Lake County’s unique topography; the elevation changes, rolling hills, and winding roads makes it a perfect sports destination for both amateur and professional athletes. In fact, it is widely considered as a World Triathlon Destination.
- Green Mountain Scenic Byway is one of the most popular cycling routes in Florida
- Sugarloaf Mountain is the second-highest peak in Florida and is located at 312 feet above sea level
- Clermont is home to the “Oldest Independent Triathlon in the US. – The Great Floridian Triathlon.
- Orlando Health’s South Lake Hospital formed the National Training Center that hosts sporting events such as sprint triathlons, 5K/10K races, half and full marathons, and track and field events.
Natural Assets
The Lake County area is a popular destination for amateur and professional fishing, boating and water ski activities. Lake County is also home to over 1,400 water bodies including lakes, ponds, rivers, and with a total shoreline of 3,421 miles (approximated for all water bodies). Florida has one of the largestconcentrations of freshwater springs on earth and over thirty of these are found within the Lake County.
Historic Towns
One of the many historic towns in Lake County, Montverde is located on the western shore of Lake Apopka. This was the site of an early Indian settlement, where the first residents arrived in 1865. With a population of less than 2,000 (in 2013), the town upholds its small town appeal, while offering access to regional resources from neighboring Orange and Osceola counties. It is in close proximity to international airports and world class shopping, dining and entertainment. Joe Wynkoop, Mayor of Montverde says,
“In Montverde, we enjoy maintaining our small town rural character, life is generally easy-going here. In honor of our heritage, we invited all of Central Florida to celebrate with us during the 37th Annual Montverde Day Festival, which was held on Friday, November 11th and Saturday 12th.
World Class Education
In the fall of 1912, the Montverde Industrial School was established in a two-room wooden building with just two teachers and an aim to educate children of families with limited means. Today, Montverde Academy (MVA) sits on over 120 acres, and houses over 200 faculty and staff members. It is recognized as a top college preparatory school that serves 1250 students, from more than 70 countries (PK-3 through grade12). Complementing a strong academic program, it offers numerous opportunities for students for participating in a variety of state and nationally recognized fine arts, athletic, and extra-curricular programs. Dr. Kasey C. Kesselring, Headmaster of the Academy, states that,
“Our mission is to increase student knowledge, develop cognitive skills, and build character in a nurturing, disciplined, and diverse community. With 100% of our graduates going on to colleges, we want to provide them with all the necessary tools to be successful in their post-secondary education and beyond.”
Luxury Lifestyle Community
As metro migration to scenic and recreation destinations continues, new residents of Lake County are accompanied with a taste for luxury lifestyle communities. One such community, Bella Collina is a 1,900-acre private golf community, located in Montverde. Widely known for its iconic 75,000-square-foot clubhouse, the community is exceptionally situated on the spring-fed Lake Siena, with nearly five miles of shoreline along Lake Apopka. The private club offers its members an unrestricted access to:
- Sir Nick Faldo-designed championship golf course
- The Club at Bella Collina Spa and Salon
- Multiple dining options and top-rated event and meeting venues
- Semi-Custom Golf Villas
- Custom Lakefront Homes
Bella Collina started its development in 2007, under the leadership of Bobby Ginn, who successfully marketed the luxury community to high-end buyers. After the national real estate downturn, the property was sold to the DCS Investment Holdings, owned by Dwight C. Schar, co-owner of the Washington Redskins and founding chairman of NVR Inc., one of America’s largest homebuilders.
“Our members are like family! We see them at holiday parties and special club events all year; we are even planning their children’s weddings,” says Jerry Thompson, General Manager at Bella Collina who continues, “ Whether, on the golf course or the ballroom, our members are the backbone of the club.”
Economic Development
The largest city in Lake County, Clermont, was recently voted as Central Florida’s “Best City to Live In” by the Orlando Business Journal Readers’ Choice. It was also named one of the Top 20 Cities in America, which is “Leading the Way” in economic development and quality of life. Lake County has four strategic growth corridors – the 470 Commerce Center, Health and Wellness Way, Minneola Interchange and Wolf Branch Innovation District.