Lakewood Ranch hosts Tour of Homes

LAKEWOOD RANCH — With new home sales on the rise, Lakewood Ranch is showcasing its best designs and newest communities.

Now through Nov. 18, Lakewood Ranch is celebrating its 15th annual Tour of Homes, an event that highlights Lakewood Ranch’s newest communities and home models.

This year’s tour, which features 47 models — the most yet — includes 15 models that are new to the tour, including six models that opened in recent weeks.

Guests can visit models from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, in the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, Country Club East, the Lake Club, Central Park, Greenbrook and Esplanade.

“There’s not any other community locally or in the state that has as many models that they can come in and view at one time,” said Rachel Gray, event coordinator for LWR Communities, a subsidiary of Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch. “Haddington in Country Club East is the newest neighborhood within Country Club East and the newest in all of Lakewood Ranch. This is their grand opening.”

Tour of Home booklets, with information on models and builders, are available at Lakewood Ranch Information Center locations: 6220 University Parkway, Sarasota; 6310 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton; and 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Bradenton.

For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

Happenings during the Tour
A number of community events also are happening during the Tour of Homes, including The Out-of-Door Academy’s Thunder Fun Day Nov. 10 and the Ponies under the Palms Mustang and Ford Show Nov. 18.

The closure of Viking Culinary Center on Lakewood Ranch Main Street forced a change of venue for a few events, particularly those associated with the Truffle Festival Nov. 16 and Nov. 17.

The Nov. 16 dinner has been moved to Mattison’s 41, in Sarasota, and the Nov. 17 event has been moved to the Polo Grill and Bar.

“We just moved the location; everything stayed the same,” said volunteer event coordinator Sandy Loevner, president of the board of directors for Florida Winefest.

A one-year anniversary celebration for Viking, slated for Nov. 18, has been canceled.