Happy 25th, Peridia!

PERIDIA — When Don Dender fell ill last year, she reluctantly left her home and friends of 19 years in the Peridia community.

But as soon as she was healthy enough to return, it became all she could talk about.

“I said, ‘I’m moving back to heaven,’” Dender said, with a glimmer in her eyes. “I don’t know what they thought about that. My one thought was to get back to home. It’s heaven on earth (here). That’s all I can say.

“My husband transferred (every five years or so), so I have lots to compare to (Peridia),” she said. “I’ve never lived in a place where the people are so wonderful.”

Dender and Peridia’s other 648 homeowners, will celebrate the community’s 25th anniversary with a special golf tournament and dinner/dance gala March 30-31, at the Peridia Golf & Country Club. Each of Peridia’s homeowners this week will receive a special resident-made booklet full of the community’s history.

“We’ve done an awful lot in 25 years,” said resident Dave Hauck, who researched the community’s history in preparation for the 25th anniversary celebration.

Like a family
Peridia development began in 1985, with the first lots sold and constructed upon in 1987. The golf course opened with two public tournaments June 13, 1987. The country club opened later that month, as well.

“If you look back 23 years ago (when I moved here), very little was here,” Hauck said. “It was a bit of a gamble (to buy here). Most of the roads weren’t in. Peridia Boulevard ended.”

But Hauck and his wife, Susan, liked the location and their home’s proposed floor plan. They also had confidence in developer Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Hauck said.

“We saw the clubhouse built from the ground up,” Hauck said. “Once that happened, houses (really started selling fast). It was great to see it.”

When residents took control of the Peridia Property Owners Association, the entity responsible for maintaining the community’s common areas, pool and clubhouse, in 1993, resident board members negotiated with the developer so the new board inherited no debt. Hauck served as the new board’s first president.

The community’s unofficial slogan was “No slobs, no snobs.”

“When my husband and I came here and we drove down the streets, everyone was waving and smiling,” Dender said. “It was a very close-knit area, and it’s stayed that way. It’s a family.”

Although Mary Williams has only lived in Peridia for about one year, she already has experienced that feeling of closeness.

“It was a wonderful community when it started, and it’s still a wonderful community,” Williams said. “I think that says a lot.”

Dave Hauck agreed, joking it takes him three hours to mow his yard because so many neighbors stop by to catch up.

“It never gets old,” he said.

Williams agreed.

“It’s just a great place to live,” she said. “I’ve only been here a year and I can’t imagine going somewhere else.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

THE COURSE
Peridia’s golf course is an 18-hole executive course, meaning the course is shorter and, therefore, physically less demanding to play.

TIMELINE
1985 — Southern Lakes Venture formed to develop the land now known as Peridia. Infrastructure improvements began, with the creation of lakes as part of the stormwater management system, the installation of underground utilities and the development of the golf course and roads.

1986 — Peridia incorporated (Aug. 15). Developer representative Mike Sullivan was appointed Peridia’s first president of the Master Board of Directors (August). Ray Bartels, Sr., was hired as the first golf course superintendent (September).

1987 — First lots sold (March). Construction of pro shop and other buildings began (June). Golf course held its grand opening (June 13). First Peridia newsletter published (June 15). Grand opening of Peridia Golf and Country Club held June 28.

1988 — Men’s and Women’s Golf Associations formed (January). Clubhouse completed (September) and opened (Oct. 14).

1989 — Sullivan promoted to Peridia’s first general manager (August). Peridia’s first tennis pro, Greg Leydig, (October) and first golf professional, Gary Rehfeld, (November) hired.

1990 — All common property deeded to the Peridia Property Owners Association (August).

1991 — Fairway Trace construction began (January) and Greens at Peridia models opened (February).

1992 — Peridia’s lending library established.

1993 — Control of Board of Directors transferred from Southern Lakes Venture to Peridia owners (April). First member-controlled board meeting held (April). Board hired its first general manager, Ted Koerner (April). Peridia Hospitality Committee formed (May).

1994 — Peridia Isle tract reduced from 144 condo units to 48 single-family homes, plus a triplex of three homes.

1995 — Peridia Isle construction began.

1996 — Construction began on Braden River Presbyterian Church (January). First major remodeling of the clubhouse completed (August).

1997 — Pro shop renovation finished (1997). Widening of State Road 70 began (September).

1998 — Final Peridia lots sold (August). Financial Advisory Committee formed (June).

1999 — County approves general development plan for Peridia Office Park (March). Speed bumps installed on Peridia Boulevard and Pro Am Avenue on trial basis (August).

2000 — Peridia website created and Peridia in-house cable television channel started (June)

2001 — Restaurant named “Terrace on the Green” (January). Office Park construction began (April). Contracted with Azinger Golf Course Design to develop plans for the renovation of the golf course (October).

2002 — All 18 greens and practice green were redesigned to enhance play.

2003 — U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved Peridia’s application to register the Peridia logo and term “Peridia Golf and Country Club (January).

2004 — Social Membership program started.

2005 — “Lunch and a Book” group met for first time.

2006 — Peridia Quilters (January) and Mah Jongg (May) groups formed.

2007 — Began Casual Wednesday Evenins at Terrace on the Green (July)

2008 — Completed Phase 1 of second major clubhouse remodeling/renovation project (August).

2009 — Completed Phase II renovations (August).

2010 — Peridia Monday Duffers (relaxed golf) started (April)

2011 — Peridia’s first Friday Fish Fry (June).

2012 — Peridia’s 25th anniversary celebration (March).