A master-planned community is set to bring nearly 3,000 more homes to the area. The Arnold and Roper properties span across nearly 2,500 acres, stretching from U.S. 27 to the Orange County line.
A Canadian homebuilder recently paid $165 million for 2,300 acres of undeveloped land in Lake County’s Wellness Way area, setting a new sales record just three months after the previous one.
GT USA, the American division of GT Homes, bought this large section of land just minutes from Disney World. The property includes Arnold Groves & Ranch (1,769 acres) and the adjacent Roper property (552 acres), which will be combined into a master-planned community named Panther Run.
This sale dwarfs the $90 million price tag from a recent purchase by Pulte and highlights the ongoing demand for housing in Central Florida. As land becomes scarcer in Orange County, both buyers and developers are turning their focus to surrounding areas.
The COO of GT USA said the company was initially drawn to the Lake County area because “Wellness Way is a great location to either raise a family or retire.”
The company secured the Arnold property through a global bidding war in April, going under contract just five months after it was listed. The Roper property was added to the deal as an off-market sale. According to GT USA’s COO, the acquisition and planning process, which includes selling pods to builders, has been monumental.
The land had been in the Arnold family for over 60 years and in the Roper family for nearly 100, previously used for citrus and cattle ranching. The properties are now considered prime for development, offering one of the best land development opportunities in Central Florida.
GT USA has already begun planning Panther Run with zoning entitlements for 2,805 single-family homes and 360 apartments, as well as 73.2 acres for commercial development. The company is also seeking a 20% density bonus, subject to negotiations with the county. Plans will include a wildlife corridor connecting the property to Lake Louisa State Park.
The new community will be located just south of the future Orange-Lake Connector, also known as State Road 516, a toll road connecting U.S. 27 to S.R. 429 in Horizon West. The company entered the U.S. market in 2021 and has since completed several large land deals in the Wellness Way corridor, making it a significant player in Lake County’s development scene.
GT USA plans to act strictly as the master developer for Panther Run, selling pods to various homebuilders. They will be seeking a Mixed-Use PUD zoning that would allow for 3,000 homes and up to 1 million square feet of commercial uses. Deals with builders like Ashton Woods and Dream Finders Homes have already been established for parts of the project.
Other major land sales in the Wellness Way area this year include the $90 million deal for Pulte’s Schofield planned unit development (PUD) in July. Pulte has approved plans for a future Del Webb active adult community and an all-ages community south of Clonts Grove. Other developments include Richland Communities’ $60 million purchase of the Hickory Groves PUD in May and Beazer Homes’ deal for Trout Creek, which is expected to close in October.