Acclaimed builder continues to put his stamp on Lakewood Ranch

Perhaps the methods have changed, but builder Lee Wetherington still makes a personal design impact on all his homes.

Sitting in his Sand Dollar model at Shellstone at Waterside earlier this month, Wetherington talked about his latest upscale offerings, the high-dollar market continuing to thrive in Lakewood Ranch, and the fact he remains a designer at heart.

At 78, it would seem the former U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran would be happy to spend his days on his ranch, which runs along the eastern border of the incoming Lakewood Ranch Southeast community.

But with CEO David Hunihan handling the most arduous chores for Lee Wetherington Homes, Wetherington is free to concentrate on the areas he loves the most.

Design is right there among them.

"I am a designer," Wetherington said, sitting in the Sand Dollar's family room. "I drew all the plans myself when I started Lee Wetherington Homes (in 1981). I would draw up designs on a paper dinner napkin at Horsefeathers on Main (in Sarasota). Then I would bring the napkin to our design team."

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"We have evolved from napkins," Hunihan said, noting that Steve Nelson, head of architectural development, now handles a lot of the heavy lifting in the design department.

"I hired Steve," Wetherington said. "We work together as a team, bouncing ideas off each other."

Over his long career, Wetherington has been at the forefront when it comes to building homes, and creating ideas, in Lakewood Ranch.

"I was the third builder in Summerfield Woods in 1994," he said. "I was building in Sarasota — in Deer Creek and Palmer Ranch — when Roger Postlethwaite (Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's president of development) asked me to look at this property at Lorraine Road and State Road 70.

"I thought this was 'Nowhere Land' but he drove me back through the area even though there were no roads. He said, 'I would like you to build here.' There was nothing there, but I rolled the dice."

He started building "working people" homes in Lakewood Ranch, which shifted its focus from Summerfield to Edgewater as SMR expanded University Boulevard to the east.

"Edgewater was the first upper scale neighborhood," Wetherington said.

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He rolled the dice again when construction began on the Country Club neighborhood. He built a $1.7 million home in the Westchester neighborhood that seemed like a huge risk at the time. Why would anyone spend that much money to live in the sticks?

"Everybody thought I was crazy," he said. "It was the first big chance I took."

While the Sand Dollar lists for $3,449,900, Wetherington doesn't seem to be taking as big of a risk as he did in the early days of Lakewood Ranch. National real estate markets have been sluggish with high inventory and slow sales, but Lakewood Ranch has continued to thrive, maintaining its position in 2025 as the No. 1 selling, master-planned, multi-generational community in the U.S.

That includes the Shellstone and Wild Blue neighborhoods, which are pushing out multi-million dollar homes.

Wetherington was asked if he was glad Shellstone is in Sarasota County and not Manatee County, where some commissioners are doing whatever they can to slow construction.

"They both have their plusses and minuses," said Wetherington, who was director of the National Association of Home Builders from 1991-1998. "There really is not much of a difference. Manatee does have higher impact fees."

When pushed, Wetherington said the residents of the two counties understand that something has to be done to accommodate population growth and to stimulate business.

Photo by Jay Heater

He talked about how a referendum, led by Jim Ford (Growth-restraint and Environmental Organization) and Daniel Lobeck (a Sarasota attorney) was placed on the ballot in 1990 in Sarasota County to stop construction for two years. The referendum was overwhelmingly defeated.

"We won with 78% (of the vote)," Wetherington said.

Manatee County Commissioner Bob McCann suggested in 2025 that his county would be served well by a building moratorium.

Wetherington said its all part of the process.

"You do get an occasional anti-capitalist," he said. "The government is run by those who show up."

Buyers are showing up in Waterside at Lakewood Ranch to buy multi-million dollar homes. Wetherington hopes his Sand Dollar model piques their interest.

What are some of the highlights of his Sand Dollar model?

"I love the "cloud" ceilings," he said.

Cloud ceilings are made of suspended or modular panels that "float" below the main ceiling. They can be used to approve acoustics.

Wetherington is a fan of the open concept and this home is no different. He also enjoys views from the kitchen and the Sand Dollar has expansive waterfront views for those whipping up some dinner in the chef's kitchen.

An infinity-edge pool and spa overlook a 200-acre lake. 

The home has some surprises, such as a hidden butler's pantry along with a hidden door to the primary suite.

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He hopes his model gives those who visit some design ideas to take away.

"All our model homes showcase what we can do," Hunihan said. "They include a little higher-priced options and features. They are an extension of our design center."

Wetherington said his design concept always is "about flow and how everything lines up." 

Hunihan said every model home is built with Wetherington's touch, and his review.

"I enjoy it," Wetherington said. "I enjoy the creation. David is a great CEO and that allows me to be back in the field. I enjoy seeing the houses under construction and I enjoy meeting with the customers."

Wetherington is an advocate of builders sharing good ideas.

"Back in the day, in 2003, I got a call from one of our (sales agents) that (builder) Pat Neal was in one of my models. I was interested, so I went out there. I asked, 'What is he doing?' He was just sitting in the family room, talking to people about what they liked."

"I basically do the same thing."