Sugarloaf Mountain Is Growing Again: 53 New Estate Lots Filed for Minneola’s Most Elevated Address

At over 300 feet above sea level, Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest point in Central Florida — and for years, it sat largely undeveloped, a scenic ridgeline rising above the lakes and flatlands of western Lake County. That is changing fast. Tampa-based Richland Communities has been systematically activating one of the largest master-planned community sites in the region, and a new filing with the St. Johns River Water Management District confirms that the expansion is far from finished.

The latest move involves Unit 3B, a proposed 53-lot addition on just over 23 acres inside the existing gated neighborhood off Mountain Club Drive, south of County Road 455 in Minneola (34715). The 75-foot-wide estate lots would bring the total count in that gated enclave from 165 to 218 lots — completing a neighborhood that GrowthSpotter described as having been “left in an unfinished stage, so to speak.”

The broader Sugarloaf Mountain PUD spans approximately 1,420 acres and carries approval for up to 3,280 homes at full build-out.

The Builder Lineup: A $160 Million Vote of Confidence

The financial story behind Sugarloaf Mountain is striking. Richland has already sold close to $160 million worth of land inside the PUD to some of the most recognizable names in the homebuilding industry.

Lennar paid $77.2 million in June 2023 for two pods encompassing 812 residential lots. Pod 7 became Lookout Ridge (325 lots) and Pod 8 became Sugarloaf Ridge (487 lots). That deal set a record price for land that had only cleared its first permitting hurdle at the time.

Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE: TPH) made its first-ever Greater Orlando acquisition at Sugarloaf Mountain, picking up 178 lots for Pine Ridge in partnership with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management. New Home Co. (now Landsea Homes) closed on the 369-lot Sunny Ridge subdivision for approximately $55 million — roughly $150,000 per homesite.

What’s Coming and When: The 2026 Timeline

Tri Pointe Homes’ Pine Ridge has the most clearly defined timeline: model home construction is slated for mid-2026, with a grand opening anticipated for September 2026. A Tri Pointe design studio is expected to open in Fall 2026. Pine Ridge will feature 15.87 acres of open space, a neighborhood park, an amenity center with pool and cabana, and three homesite sizes — 45, 55, and 65 feet.

Sunny Ridge (New Home Co./Landsea) includes a 13.3-acre amenity tract with scenic mountain views, and lot sizes from 45 to 60 feet. The Unit 3B estate expansion now in the permitting pipeline completes the gated neighborhood on Mountain Club Drive — the most elevated and premium address inside the full community.

Why Minneola and Why Now

Minneola grew by 30% between 2020 and 2023 — from roughly 13,851 to 18,001 residents — making it one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Lake County, which is projected to add 200,000 new residents by 2030.

Florida’s Turnpike is being widened from four to eight lanes between the Minneola Hancock Road interchange and US 27. The $162.3 million widening between Hancock Road and SR 50 is already complete. The Hills City Center — a 96-acre mixed-use destination — and a new $281 million AdventHealth hospital campus are both in development nearby, building out the corridor as a fully livable community.

The Estate Lots: What Makes Unit 3B Different

The 75-foot-wide lots in the gated enclave off Mountain Club Drive are among the widest in the entire PUD — meaningfully larger than the 45- to 65-foot lots across Lookout Ridge, Sugarloaf Ridge, and Pine Ridge. That width translates to more setback, more landscaping flexibility, and a lot feel associated with custom and semi-custom construction rather than standard production builds.

At over 300 feet above sea level, homes here carry an elevation story that is genuinely rare in a region of Florida that is otherwise overwhelmingly flat. That distinction has consistently attracted buyers who want the feel of a hill country address without leaving Central Florida.