A major new resort-style vacation home community is coming to Davenport and it’s backed by one of the largest builders in the country. In one of the priciest land purchases in Polk County history, PulteGroup has acquired the land for its next vacation-home resort project, with construction expected to begin within the next 30 days.

A record-setting land acquisition in Davenport

The builder reportedly paid $51.8 million in cash for an approximately 288-acre site located at the intersection of U.S. 17-92 and Ernie Caldwell Boulevard in Davenport. The seller was Standard Sand & Silica, and the transaction was represented by Melissa Rodriguez with RockMel Investments.

How this land became “the next big opportunity”

This property is part of a larger collection of land holdings that were annexed into the City of Davenport in October 2024 as part of a roughly 1,600-acre expansion that extended the city limits northward.

Historically, the land had been held by the same family for decades and was previously used for citrus farming and sand mining operations. It has since been rezoned into a Planned Unit Development (PUD) intended to bring a mix of new development to the area — including residential neighborhoods, future commercial corners, and other planned land uses.

What’s planned for the Pulte resort community

This Davenport resort community is entitled for approximately 1,050 vacation homes, combining single-family homes and townhomes. The reporting indicates detached homes will be built on a mix of 40-foot and 50-foot lots, along with roughly 350 townhomes as part of the overall plan.

The community is expected to be similar in concept to other large vacation-resort-style communities Pulte has developed in Central Florida over the last decade.

Resort amenities designed for the short-term rental market

Resort communities like this typically succeed because they deliver a true “vacation experience,” not just a house. Plans described for this type of development generally include major amenities such as:

• A large clubhouse

• Onsite bar and grill

• Fitness center

• Gaming lounge

• Multiple pools and water features (often including slides)

• Lazy river-style features

• Rental cabanas and outdoor gathering spaces

• Splash pad

• Mini golf and recreation areas (like cornhole and beach volleyball)

These amenities are a big part of what attracts both guests and investors, especially in a market where travelers expect more than just proximity to the parks.

Why Davenport continues to attract resort-style development

One key takeaway is that new short-term-rental resort communities are not easy to develop. Projects must meet strict criteria: the right zoning that allows short-term rentals, a reasonable distance to major attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal, and enough scale to justify large amenities.

Davenport continues to stand out because it offers strong access to the attractions corridor, major roadways, and everyday conveniences such as shopping and dining, which matter both to guests and owners.

Timeline: what happens next

According to the reporting:

• Land development is expected to begin February 2026

• Model homes are expected in late 2026

• Production homes are expected to begin in early 2027

Projects of this size also typically create jobs in the homebuilding ecosystem, from planning and site work to trades such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical.

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Vacay & Co Real Estate
Phone: 321-333-1338
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vacayreflorida.com