The Villages of Citrus Hills

The Villages of Citrus Hills is a 14-village master-planned community in Hernando, Florida, set on one of the state's highest points — elevation rises over 200 feet and tops 260 feet above sea level — along Florida's Nature Coast. That elevation is more than a view: the community is flood-free and residents do not need flood insurance, a rare and practically valuable feature in Florida. Ground broke in 1982 under the Tamposi/Nash family, and the community continues to build toward a planned 10,000-home buildout. It's a rare hybrid model: roughly 80% of residents are 55+ and the community markets itself as a retirement lifestyle destination, but only three villages within Terra Vista are formally deed-restricted 55+. Others — Presidential Estates and Kensington Estates among them — have no HOA and no age restrictions at all, which keeps the door open to working-age buyers, adult family members of residents, and people who want the amenities without age gating. The community's center of gravity is Terra Vista, the gated luxury village with panoramic views and private access to the 50,000-square-foot BellaVita Fitness & Spa Center. BellaVita houses a full-service spa (microneedling, permanent makeup, facials and treatments in a Mediterranean-style courtyard), top-of-the-line cardio and strength equipment, spin classes, racquetball courts, and personal trainers. A second fitness facility, Prima Vita, rounds out strength and cardio offerings with modern equipment across all fitness levels. The Community Activity Center adds a third fitness footprint plus a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, 8 pickleball courts, billiards, a well-stocked library, a card-and-gathering room, a dual-bay state-of-the-art indoor golf range, and a 300-seat auditorium for concerts, karaoke nights, and the community's Big Show Concert Series. In total, residents have three resort-style pools, two tennis centers (the renowned Skyview Tennis Center has 8 Har-Tru courts and an elevated observation deck with food and drink service), and hundreds of activities and events each month. Golf is central. Four championship courses sit on-property — three 18-hole layouts (Skyview, The Oaks, The Meadows) plus nine-hole Brentwood — supported by three pro shops and on-site dining. Pickleball is also huge here: beyond the 8 courts at the Activity Center, a large pickleball sportsplex anchors daily play, with the upcoming Rockwood Sportsplex adding another 20 pickleball courts along with padel, more bocce, beach volleyball, additional dog parks, and shaded seating. Dining runs three distinct venues: Skyview Restaurant (fine dining, perfect after a round of golf), The Grill (casual, with live entertainment on select nights and private dining rooms for special occasions), and the 4,500-square-foot Tiki Bar (tropical ambiance, live music, fire pits, island-inspired theme). Social life is genuinely dense. Hundreds of clubs and monthly events span bridge, photography, acappella singing, art workshops, ballroom dancing, travel, book clubs, wine, volunteer groups, comedy nights, and a consistent live-music and dancing schedule most nights of the week. An optional Social Membership ($189/month with a $2,000 initiation) unlocks the full resort amenity suite regardless of which village a buyer chooses. Homes span a wide price and style spectrum. Terra Vista leans luxury — single-family homes listing in the high $200s up to roughly $975K, with 2025 average sale prices around $447K. Across all 14 villages combined, the community-wide median sits around $473K, with the full range running roughly $230K to $1.3M. Active custom builders include Sweetwater Homes of Citrus and Dream Custom Homes, and new-construction options sit alongside a deep resale inventory. Location is a core part of the pitch. Citrus County is the northernmost county in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, and the Suncoast Parkway puts Tampa International Airport under an hour away. Orlando is roughly 75-90 minutes east, Ocala just 25 minutes away. Citrus Hills sits near the state's central ridge, between the coastal villages of Crystal River and Homosassa and the historic lakeside town of Inverness, which borders the 19,000-acre Tsala Apopka Lake chain and hosts the 46-mile Withlacoochee State Bike Path right through its downtown. Fort Island Gulf Beach is 20 minutes away, and more than 20 of Florida's best beaches are within a day-trip radius. Three Sisters Springs, Hunter Springs, and the Homosassa National Wildlife Refuge offer world-class spring swimming, manatee snorkeling, and freshwater kayaking — plus world-renowned bass, grouper, redfish, and tarpon fishing and seasonal scalloping in the Gulf. The Withlacoochee State Forest adds hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. With more than 50% of Citrus County permanently preserved from future development, the rural feel is protected long-term. Average temperatures hold between 60 and 75 degrees nine months of the year, and the community pitches itself on low crime, low taxes, and minimal traffic — rare in Florida's fast-growing retirement corridors.