Valencia Lakes

Valencia Lakes is a gated 55+ community by GL Homes located in Wimauma, Florida, about 25 miles south of downtown Tampa and adjacent to Sun City Center. Built between 2005 and 2020, the community spans roughly 1,600 homes across a beautiful landscape that includes over 100 acres of nature preserve, 150 acres of lakes, and more than three miles of walking and biking trails. Sandhill cranes at lake's edge and lushly landscaped streets give it a peaceful, resort-like character that residents consistently rate among the best 55+ communities in the Tampa Bay area. The heart of the community is a 40,000 square-foot clubhouse that was recently renovated. Inside you'll find a full fitness center with cardio and weight equipment, an aerobics and dance studio, steam room, sauna, locker rooms, a restaurant, internet café, grand ballroom with stage, multi-purpose room, game room, arts and crafts studio, card room, and billiards. Outside, there's a resort-style pool, whirlpool spa, and a resistance pool for lap swimming and aquatic exercise. Sports facilities are unusually comprehensive for a community this size: six lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, four pickleball courts, four bocce ball courts, two shuffleboard courts, two horseshoe pits, a half basketball court, and a full softball field at Celebration Park. Residents also enjoy a dog park, a community garden, a tot lot, and RV/boat storage. The Bistro by Mattison's opened in Fall 2025, bringing a new dining option on-site. Homes come from GL Homes in two main collections. The Regal Twin Villas range from roughly 1,321 to 1,857 square feet, offering low-maintenance attached living. Single-family homes from the Royal and related collections run from about 1,386 to 3,273 square feet across 24 floorplans, with two to four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and two- or three-car garages. All homes are single-story. Popular models include the Genova, Augusta, Roma, Barbados, Sophia villa, Isabella Grande, and Palazzo. Social life is a defining feature — the community supports over 100 clubs and interest groups covering everything from pickleball, tennis, softball, trap & skeet, and golf to poker, bunco, bridge, stained glass, dance, and continuing education classes. A full-time activities director keeps a steady rhythm of events, classes, and social functions on the calendar. Residents frequently describe daily life as "like living in a resort." Location is a practical strength. Just off US-301, Valencia Lakes puts residents within 5–20 minutes of groceries (Publix, Winn-Dixie), pharmacies, and a full slate of restaurants along Sun City Center Boulevard and South Tamiami Trail. South Bay Hospital is about five minutes away, St. Joseph's Hospital South is nearby, and Tampa International Airport is roughly 45 minutes north. Caloosa Golf & Country Club sits directly across the street, with Summerfield Crossings, Sandpiper, and Scepter golf clubs also close by. Gulf beaches, Little Manatee River State Park, and downtown Tampa are all within easy reach.