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The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch: what it’s really like to live here
If you have been scrolling luxury listings in Lakewood Ranch, you have probably noticed one name keeps showing up at the top of the weekly sales reports: The Lake Club. Lake Club homes regularly top Lakewood Ranch’s weekly sales list, with recent closings from about $2.2 million to $5.65 million.
I’m Tetyana, REALTOR® with KW Coastal Living III. I help buyers relocate to the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch area, many of them with dogs and cats in tow. This guide is the conversation I have with clients before we ever tour a home in the HOA community. It covers where it is, what the clubhouse actually offers, recent sale prices, HOA costs, pet rules, and the honest trade-offs.
One quick note before we start: every number here comes from public sources listed at the bottom. Prices, fees, and school zones change, so always verify for the specific home you are considering. That’s part of what I do for my clients.
The Lake Club at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Lakewood Ranch, Manatee County, FL 34202, off University Parkway |
| Type | Guard-gated, single-family luxury village |
| Total homes | About 704 (per Lakewood Ranch) |
| First homes | 2007 |
| Style | Tuscan-inspired: stone bridges, lakes, a mile-long linear park |
| Clubhouse | 20,000 sq ft Grande Clubhouse with restaurant, bar, spa, fitness |
| Recent closed sales | About $2.2M to $5.65M |
| HOA (recent listings) | Roughly $7,200 to $9,300 per year |
| Pets | Allowed, with limits on number and breed (check HOA docs) |
| Developer | Lake Club Investors (a Schroeder-Manatee Ranch company) with Stock Development |
Where is The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch?
The Lake Club sits on the south side of Lakewood Ranch, just north of the Manatee–Sarasota county line. You reach it from University Parkway, east of Lorraine Road, through the main entrance on Lake Club Boulevard. Although Lakewood Ranch straddles two counties, The Lake Club is in Manatee County, with a Lakewood Ranch/Bradenton 34202 address.
That location matters day to day. You are a short drive from Waterside Place, the Sarasota Polo Club, and University Parkway, which is the main east-west road to I-75, the Mall at University Town Center, and the airport.
A short history of The Lake Club
The Lake Club dates to 2007. From day one, the plan put water and open space at the center instead of a golf course, wrapped in an Italian-countryside design theme behind a private gate.
A few milestones tell the story:
- 2007: The Grande Clubhouse opens, and the first homes go up.
- 2018: The clubhouse reopens after a $4 million makeover (details below).
- 2019: The Lake Club sets a sales record of more than $85 million, helped by the debut of the Genoa enclave.
- 2020: A new tennis center opens with six tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a pro shop. Around the same time, park upgrades bring a yoga lawn, playground, fitness trail and dog park.
- 2021: In just the first three months of the year, the village reports 70 sales totaling nearly $100 million.
- Late 2024: Stock Development, the main builder in recent years, reports just one of its homes left to sell here.
That’s a big deal for buyers. Today, most of what comes on the market here is a resale. It’s worth asking about any remaining builder lots, but plan on buying from an owner.
The neighborhoods (enclaves) inside The Lake Club
The Lake Club isn’t one uniform subdivision. It’s a collection of enclaves, each with its own feel and price point. Here are the names you’ll see on listings:
- Matera: London Bay Homes launched this small enclave with 35 maintenance-free, villa-style homes, and other luxury builders have built here since. Listings describe it as the one section of The Lake Club where exterior upkeep is included, which appeals to owners who travel or split their time between homes.
- Lake View Estates: Started with 68 lakefront estate homes. Expect larger homes and long water views.
- Genoa: The newest major enclave, opened in 2019 by Stock. It grew to four neighborhoods with more than 20 floor plans, from about 2,400 to over 4,000 square feet under air.
- Anchorage Place: Custom estates by Stock Custom Homes. A recent resale of a newer home here closed at $5.65 million.
- Vineyards and the custom estate homesites: Earlier sections with a mix of builder and fully custom homes, many on half-acre to one-acre lots along the lakes and the linear park.
Street names you will hear a lot include Clearlake Avenue, Pavia Way, Daysailor Trail, Salerno Drive, and Como Circle.
Who built the homes?
The Lake Club brought in many of the region’s best-known luxury builders. Over the years, they have included Anchor Builders, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, John Cannon Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, London Bay Homes, Murray Homes, Nutter Custom Construction and Stock. You will also see resale homes by builders like Todd Johnston Homes and Westwater.
Why does this matter? Builder reputation affects construction quality, warranty history, and resale value. When I tour a home with a client, the builder and the year built are two of the first things I check.
Architecture and the Tuscan look
Your first drive past the gatehouse tells you this isn’t a typical Florida subdivision. Arched bridges cross the water, the streetscape leans old-world Italian, and lakes curve through the whole village. Homes lean Mediterranean, Tuscan, and transitional, usually with tile roofs and block-and-stucco construction.
The centerpiece is a mile-long linear park running through the community. Many homes face the park out front and a lake out back. Because several lakes connect, kayakers can paddle from one to the next, and some lakefront owners put in right behind their homes.
The Grande Clubhouse and Lake Club amenities
Daily life in The Lake Club revolves around the Grande Clubhouse, a 20,000-square-foot building reserved for residents. Think boutique resort more than neighborhood rec center.
The 2018 renovation gave the building its first full kitchen, a concierge, a bar that opens to the outdoors and new spa and fitness space. Downstairs you’ll find the gym, a yoga room, a room for massages and treatments, and the locker rooms.
Here’s what residents can use today:
- Dining: A clubhouse restaurant and bar, plus regular wine tastings and social dinners.
- Pools: A resort-style pool and a lap pool, with cabanas and an outdoor bar.
- Wellness: Fitness center, yoga studio, sauna, steam room and a day spa with massages and treatments.
- Racquet sports: Six tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a tennis pro shop.
- Outdoors: The mile-long linear park, a fitness trail, a yoga lawn, sports courts, a playground and connected lakes for kayaking.
- Lifestyle staff: A full-time concierge and an activities director who plans culinary classes, wellness programs and events.
- Security: A staffed, 24/7 guarded gatehouse.
One practical point: pool and fitness access is part of living there, but things like dinner or a spa appointment are paid separately. Ask for a current fee schedule when you’re comparing homes.
Is The Lake Club pet friendly?
Yes, with rules. This is the question I get most from relocating clients, so here’s what the MLS and public records show.
Recent Lake Club listings list pets as allowed. One listing shows a limit of two pets with “see HOA docs” for restrictions. A real estate data site notes that the HOA allows dogs and cats but has breed restrictions and a limit on the number of pets. Another listing noted that large dogs (61 to 100 pounds) were allowed.
My advice: before you write an offer, get the current HOA rules and read the pet section yourself. Check the number of pets, any breed or weight limits, and leash rules. If you have a large or restricted breed, this can be a deal-breaker, so find out early.
The good news for dog owners:
- Inside the gates: The Lake Club has a dog park. The linear park and sidewalks make for easy daily walks.
- Bob Gardner Dog Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch: Fully fenced, with separate small-dog and large-dog areas, agility equipment and a pond where dogs can swim.
- Dog Park at Greenbrook Adventure Park, Lakewood Ranch: Fully fenced with agility equipment and water, open dawn to dusk.
- Brohard Paw Park, Venice: If your dog loves the beach, this popular dog beach is roughly 45 minutes to an hour south, with a dog wash station.
Lake Club home prices
The Lake Club is one of the priciest neighborhoods in Lakewood Ranch. Based on closed sales reported by the Observer this year, most resales are landing between $2.2 million and $4 million, with the top estates above $5 million.
Here’s a sample of recent Lake Club sales from public records:
| Street (enclave) | Sale price | Living area | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Place | $5,650,000 | 4,892 sq ft | 2024 |
| Como Circle (Lake View Estates) | $4,450,000 | 4,520 sq ft | 2025 |
| Clearlake Avenue | $3,900,000 | 4,160 sq ft | 2023 |
| Daysailor Trail | $3,690,000 | 4,992 sq ft | 2015 |
| Pavia Way | $3,200,000 | 3,499 sq ft | 2022 |
| Salerno Drive | $3,000,000 | 3,754 sq ft | 2021 |
| Pavia Way | $2,785,000 | 3,734 sq ft | 2020 |
| Salerno Drive | $2,600,000 | 3,596 sq ft | 2020 |
| Daysailor Trail | $2,499,000 | 3,025 sq ft | 2018 |
| Baycross Drive | $2,200,000 | 3,436 sq ft | 2015 |
What drives price in The Lake Club? In my experience, it comes down to four things: lot size, the amount of lake frontage, the age of the home and the builder. A newer home on a big lakefront lot will always command a premium over an older home on an interior lot.
Also worth knowing: resale values have generally held up. For example, one Pavia Way home that first sold for about $1.83 million when new resold a few years later for $3.2 million. Not every home performs like that, and past results don’t guarantee future value, but it shows the demand.
Typical home sizes and features
Most Lake Club homes have three to five bedrooms and roughly 2,400 to 5,000+ square feet under air. Common features include:
- Private heated pools and spas, often with lake views
- Three-car (or larger) garages
- Outdoor kitchens and covered lanais
- Lots from around 0.4 acre up to about 1 acre
- Block-and-stucco construction with tile roofs
- Natural gas in many homes, and some Florida Green-certified builds
HOA fees, property taxes and CDDs
Let’s talk about the full cost of ownership, because the list price is only part of it.
HOA fees. Recent Lake Club listings show annual HOA dues of roughly $7,200 to $9,300. Based on those listings, the HOA typically covers the 24-hour guard, private roads, common area upkeep and taxes, the community pool, management and the recreation facilities. One listing also noted a required membership fee, so ask whether there are any club or capital contribution fees at closing.
Property taxes. Expect a real tax bill. Recent listings showed annual taxes from about $14,000 to more than $32,000, depending on the home’s value and when it was last sold. In Florida, a home’s assessed value resets after a sale, so the seller’s tax bill is not a preview of yours. Use the Manatee County Property Appraiser to look up a specific home.
CDD assessments. Many Lakewood Ranch villages are inside a Community Development District, a local government district created under Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes. CDD assessments show up on your property tax bill, not with your HOA. Always check the tax bill of the exact home for any CDD or other non-ad valorem assessments.
Insurance. Homeowners and flood insurance can vary a lot by home. Check the property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get insurance quotes during your inspection period, not after.
Schools serving The Lake Club
Recent Lake Club listings show these Manatee County public school assignments:
| School | Grades | Address | Ratings shown on Homes.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert E. Willis Elementary | PK–5 | 14705 The Masters Ave., Lakewood Ranch | Niche A-, GreatSchools 10 |
| R. Dan Nolan Middle | 6–8 | 6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Bradenton | Niche B+, GreatSchools 7 |
| Lakewood Ranch High | 9–12 | 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton | Niche A-, GreatSchools 6 |
SchoolDigger also ranks Willis Elementary among the top elementary schools in Florida. That said, school boundaries can change from year to year. Always confirm the assignment for a specific address with Manatee County Public Schools before you buy. Private school options are also nearby in the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota area.
Shopping, dining and things to do nearby
One of the best parts of The Lake Club is how close it is to the rest of Lakewood Ranch.
- Waterside Place: About 5 to 7 minutes away. This 36-acre lakefront town center on Kingfisher Lake has restaurants, local boutiques, fitness studios and the Sunday Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch.
- The Mall at University Town Center (UTC): About 880,000 square feet of retail with Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Dillard’s. The wider UTC area has 200+ shops and 80+ places to eat.
- Main Street at Lakewood Ranch: The original town center, with restaurants, a movie theater and monthly music events.
- Sarasota Polo Club: Just minutes away. Sunday matches run each winter season, typically from late December into mid-April, and leashed dogs are welcome.
- Golf: The Lake Club itself has no golf course, but several Lakewood Ranch golf courses are a short drive away.
Beaches, airport and commute times
The Lake Club is inland, but the Gulf beaches are close enough for a last-minute afternoon on the sand. According to Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island are all about 15 to 18 miles from the community.
| Destination | Approximate drive |
|---|---|
| Waterside Place | 5–7 minutes |
| I-75 via University Parkway | About 10 minutes |
| Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) | About 20–30 minutes |
| Downtown Sarasota | About 25–35 minutes |
| Siesta Key and Lido Key beaches | About 35–45 minutes |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | About 1 hour |
Drive times depend on traffic, especially during season (roughly January through April).
Why buyers love The Lake Club, and the trade-offs
Every neighborhood has pros and cons. Here’s my honest take.
What buyers love:
- A true guard-gated, private community with 24/7 staffed security
- A resort-style clubhouse with dining, spa, and concierge
- Lake and park views from many homes, plus kayaking on connected lakes
- Homes from the region’s top luxury builders
- Being inside Lakewood Ranch, which RCLCO has named the top-selling multigenerational master-planned community in the U.S. year after year
The trade-offs to think about:
- It’s expensive. Prices, HOA dues, and taxes are at the top of the Lakewood Ranch market.
- There is almost no new construction left, so choices are limited to what’s on the market.
- It’s not walkable to shops or restaurants. You will drive to Waterside Place or UTC.
- No golf course on site, if that’s a must-have.
- HOA rules are strict, including vehicle restrictions (listings note no truck, RV or motorcycle parking).
My tips for buying in The Lake Club
- Get pre-approved or show proof of funds early. Luxury homes here often draw cash buyers. A strong, clean offer matters.
- Read the HOA documents before you commit. Focus on pet rules, vehicle rules, leasing rules, and any transfer or membership fees.
- Compare lake frontage and lot orientation. A western or southern lake view and a bigger lot can change both your lifestyle and resale value.
- Check the builder and year built. Newer construction typically meets newer Florida building codes, which can affect insurance costs.
- Ask about the clubhouse fee schedule. Know what’s included and what you’ll pay per use.
- Get insurance quotes during your inspection period. Don’t wait until closing week.
One more thing to expect: under NAR practice changes in effect since August 2024, you will sign a written buyer agreement with your agent before touring homes. It spells out the services you will get and how your agent is paid, and every part of it is negotiable. If you have questions, just ask me.
Frequently asked questions about The Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch
Is The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch gated?
Yes. The Lake Club is a private, guard-gated community with a staffed gatehouse around the clock.
How much are homes in The Lake Club?
Recent reported closed sales have ranged from about $2.2 million to $5.65 million. Most resales fall between roughly $2.2 million and $4 million.
What are the HOA fees in The Lake Club?
Recent listings show annual HOA dues of about $7,200 to $9,300. They typically cover the 24-hour guard, private roads, common areas, the pool, and recreation facilities. Confirm the current amount for any home you are considering.
Does The Lake Club have a golf course?
No. The Lake Club focuses on its Grande Clubhouse, tennis, pickleball, lakes, and parks. Several golf courses are a short drive away in Lakewood Ranch.
Are pets allowed in The Lake Club?
Yes. Dogs and cats are allowed, but the HOA limits the number of pets and has breed restrictions. Review the current HOA documents before making an offer.
Is The Lake Club in Manatee or Sarasota County?
The Lake Club is in Manatee County, just north of the Sarasota County line, with a Lakewood Ranch 34202 address.
How far is The Lake Club from the beach?
Lakewood Ranch says Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Anna Maria Island are about 15 to 18 miles away. Plan on roughly 35 to 45 minutes by car.
Can I still build a new home in The Lake Club?
Builder inventory is very limited. Stock Development, the main builder in recent years, reported only one home left in late 2024, so most buyers today purchase resales. Feel free to call or text me, and I will be happy to get the information you need.
Thinking about The Lake Club? Let’s talk
The Lake Club is one of those places that makes sense once you drive through the gates and stand on a lanai looking at the water. But at this price point, the details matter: the enclave, the lot, the builder, the HOA rules, and the true monthly cost.
If you are relocating to Lakewood Ranch or Sarasota, with or without your four-legged family members, I would love to help you compare Lake Club homes and other luxury neighborhoods side by side.
Click here to see HOMES FOR SALE IN LAKE CLUB, LAKEWOOD RANCH.
Get In Touch
Tetyana Hanna, Sarasota Real Estate Agent
KW Coastal Living III
Office Address: 2001 Siesta Dr, #202,
Sarasota, FL 34239
Information in this article comes from public sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. Prices, fees, school assignments and HOA rules change. Verify all details independently before making a purchase decision.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using these links. Read the disclaimer, terms & conditions, and privacy policy.
