Artisan Lakes

Esplanade at Artisan Lakes is a gated, 55+ resort-lifestyle community developed by Taylor Morrison in Palmetto, Florida — positioned between Tampa Bay and Bradenton in northern Manatee County. It's the age-restricted neighborhood within the larger Artisan Lakes master plan (which also includes the all-ages Eave's Bend and Edgestone neighborhoods), sitting on 800 pristine acres of winding streets, mature trees, preserves, and scenic lakes. Taylor Morrison broke ground here in 2013 and wrapped construction in 2024 at roughly 800 homes. The community is now sold out, so all new purchases come through the resale market. Homes are a mix of detached villas and single-family homes featuring California Tuscan architecture with stucco exteriors, tile roofs, paver driveways, and ornamental detailing. Floor plans are organized into three design collections — the Corte Villa collection (detached villas around 1,689–1,926 sq ft with 2–3 bedrooms), La Palma, and Novelli — with overall home sizes ranging from about 1,573 to 3,323 sq ft. First-floor owner's suites, open-concept layouts, gourmet kitchens, covered lanais, and flexible dens are standard throughout. Many homesites back to ponds, preserves, or conservation areas, giving the community a quieter, more natural feel than the typical rectangular-block subdivision. The heart of community life is the 6,000-square-foot Amenity Center, which houses a fully equipped fitness center open 24/7 (badge access via Member card), an aerobics and dance studio, a billiard/card room, a catering kitchen, meeting spaces, a library, and — unusually for a community this size — the Koquina Sand Spa, offering massage, facial, and wellness services on site. The outdoor amenity area centers on a resort-style heated pool with cabanas, plus a separate spa, an event lawn, and a fire pit. Sports amenities include tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, a dog park, a playground, and miles of walking and biking trails threaded around the lakes and preserves. Golf carts are permitted throughout the community (they must be registered and licensed drivers only). A full-time on-site Lifestyle Manager programs an active calendar of clubs, classes, and social events year-round. Residents have organized around a book club (the community's oldest), women's bridge, a Wheels in the Morning car enthusiasts club, a recipe-swap cooking group, crafts, sound bath meditation, group fitness, aerobics, water aerobics, pickleball, tennis, bocce, swimming, and regular events like Tasty Thursday food truck nights, themed culinary experiences, and holiday golf cart parades. Fitness and court reservations run through the MindBody app, and the concierge team helps new residents get set up. Location is one of the community's biggest selling points. Esplanade sits off Moccasin Wallow Road with quick access to I-75, putting residents about 35 minutes from Tampa International Airport, roughly 25–30 minutes from Sarasota-Bradenton International, and 45 minutes from St. Pete-Clearwater International. Downtown Palmetto is about 14 minutes away for Publix, Winn-Dixie, CVS, banks, and everyday retail. Bradenton and Manatee Memorial Hospital are about 20 minutes south. Gulf beaches — Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key — are a 20–30 minute drive. Golfers have Imperial Lakewoods Golf Club and Buffalo Creek Golf Course minutes away, with River Wilderness Golf and Country Club also in range. Outdoor destinations include Terra Ceia Preserve State Park, Emerson Point Preserve, and Frog Creek Campground, and cultural draws include the South Florida Museum with the Parker Aquarium and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton. HOA is $460/month covering lawn maintenance and access to the Amenity Center and common areas, with an additional CDD assessment of roughly $1,647/year for community infrastructure.