"America's #1 Master-Planned Community, and It's Earned the Title."

Lakewood Ranch has held the title of America's best-selling master-planned community for seven consecutive years, and it is not an accident. The Ranch spans roughly 33,000 acres across Manatee and Sarasota Counties, and what it has built over 25+ years is one of the most complete live-work-play ecosystems on the Gulf Coast. The key is not any single amenity, it's the layering of them.

The community is organized into distinct villages, each with its own character. The original villages like Summerfield and Greenbrook have matured into established neighborhoods with large trees and lower CDD fees (the infrastructure bonds are paid off). The middle generation, Central Park, Mallorie Park, introduced resort-style amenities. The newest generation - Waterside, Star Farms, and Lorraine Lakes - is where the most dramatic growth is happening, with lakefront town centers, multiple amenity clubs, and restaurant-and-bar facilities built right into the neighborhoods. Waterside Place, the lakefront gathering hub in Waterside, hosts a weekly farmers market, outdoor events, and an increasingly strong restaurant and shopping scene.

For families, the infrastructure is exceptional: A-rated schools, the Premier Sports Campus (140 acres of multi-use fields including our very own USL Soccer League team – Sarasota Paradise), and over 150 miles of walking and biking trails. The Sarasota Polo Club, which opens its weekly matches to the public, is a Lakewood Ranch tradition worth experiencing at least once with tailgates, divot stomping, and a very civilized Sunday afternoon.

Local Insider: CDD fees are part of every Lakewood Ranch property tax bill, and they vary significantly by village and how recently the infrastructure was built. New villages have higher CDDs; older ones may be partially or fully retired. Always calculate the real carrying cost before comparing neighborhoods.