Glen Lakes was recently named among "100 Best Master-Planned Communities." Here's why it makes the list.
By BETH N. GRAY
Published July 19, 2003
WEEKI WACHEE - David Craighead, marketing director at Glen Lakes, believes the 1,500-acre development is "the best kept secret in Hernando County."
That may soon change if the retirement community north of Weeki Wachee along U.S. 19 continues to get national attention.
Glen Lakes, with its 900 homes located next to a nature preserve, was recently listed among the "100 Best Master-Planned Communities" as defined by Where to Retire magazine. The 14-year-old development was similarly honored two years ago.
"We haven't advertised it. Maybe we should. We've been low-key about it," said Craighead, as he passed by, in the community welcome center, an enlarged magazine photo marking the honor bestowed in 2001.
It's time for another framing.
Glen Lakes filled out no application forms for rank consideration, but Craighead figures the magazine noticed the community through its presence at home shows, then talked to residents.
Many prospective home buyers acknowledge they are checking out Glen Lakes because of the magazine ranking, said Craighead, who described Glen Lakes residents as "young retirees, 55 to 65," and "obviously very successful in life."
Criteria for making the list include having homes with comfort and quality, a clubhouse or social-recreation center with fitness facilities and perhaps ballrooms, and a friendly community lifestyle, according to Places to Retire.
Glen Lakes comprises estate homes and maintenance-free detached residences - prices for custom built homes range from the $150,00s to $600,000s, according to Where to Retire.
Amenities include a championship Ron Garl golf course, junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, clay tennis courts, boccie and shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, a children's playground and hiking trails.
The clubhouse has dining and conference/banquet rooms, bars, pro shop, library, crafts room with pottery kilns, billiards and game room and a fitness center.
Glen Lakes, as its name suggests, is dotted with lakes and ponds - the largest is Cypress Lake. Some of the smaller ponds are covered with lilies. One surrounds an island that is home to great white herons. Other islands are nesting sites for sand hill cranes.
And as if the development didn't have enough wildlife, Glen Lakes is next to a sizeable nature preserve, Craighead said.
"It will never be developed," he said.
That appealed to Nick Parente, a nine-year resident who relocated from Boca Raton and is now president of the Glen Lakes Home Owners Association.
"I was looking for a nicer location, not so crowded," Parente said. He toured Glen Lakes and bought a home the next day. "It's a nice quiet place. It's tree-lined. It's just beautiful," he said.
"It's not just the community, it's what the people do," added Craighead, who pointed to the various benefits and charities for which residents annually stage fundraisers.
"It's like a little hometown," he said. "Everybody's a member of the social club."
Parente agreed.
"It's like a village," he said. "The camaraderie is fantastic."
