The Villages, Florida
The Villages is a community of 83,498 people in Marion County, Florida.
Why visit The Villages
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 41 parks and trails, 36 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Barnstorm Theater, Old Mill Playhouse Theatre, Florida Carriage Museum & Resort and Lady Lake Historical Society Museum.
Weather in The Villages
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About The Villages
The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) spanning Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the central area of a larger master-planned, age-restricted community known as The Villages. Situated in central Florida, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Ocala and 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando, the CDP had a population of 79,077 at the 2020 United States census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan statistical area.
From the Wikipedia article The Villages, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks6
Florida Carriage Museum & Resort
Museum · 6.6 mi
Carriage museum in Weirsdale, Florida
Lady Lake Historical Society and Museum
Museum · 4.5 mi
107 South Old Dixie Highway, Lady Lake
Parks, trails and playgrounds41
Belmont Golf Course (The Villages)
Golf course · 1.8 mi
9 hole Par 28
534 Belvedere Blvd, The Villages
Bonifay Country Club (The Villages)
Golf course · 3.1 mi
3 x 9 hole Par 36 Destin & Fort Walton & Pensacola Courses
1035 Pinellas Place, The Villages
Bonita Pass Golf Course (The Villages)
Golf course · 1.1 mi
9 hole Par 27
2313 Buttonwood Run, The Villages
Cane Garden Country Club (The Villages)
Golf course · 0.7 mi
9 hole Par 28;3 x 9 hole Par 36 Jacaranda & Allamanda & Hibiscus Course
1728 Bailey Trail, The Villages
Chula Vista Course (The Villages)
Golf course · 3.6 mi
9 hole Par 28
1019 Rio Grande Avenue, The Villages
Churchill Greens Golf Course (The Villages)
Golf course · 2.3 mi
9 hole Par 29
534 Belvedere Blvd, The Villages
El Diablo & El Santiago Golf Course (The Villages)
Golf course · 3.6 mi
2 x 9 hole Par 27
2381 Enrique Dr, The Villages
Evans Prairie Country Club (The Villages)
Golf course · 3.1 mi
3 x 9 hole Par 36 Killdeer & Osprey & Egret Course
1824 Evans Prairie Trail, The Villages
Glenview Golf Course
Golf course · 3.4 mi
3 x 9 hole Par 36 Stirrup Cup & Fox Run & Talley Ho Course
3190 Glenview Rod, The Villages
Hacienda Hills Golf & Country Club
Golf course · 3.6 mi
3 x 9 hole Par 36 Oaks & Palms & Lakes Course
1195 Morse Boulevard, The Villages
29 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes36
Cody's Original Roadhouse
Diner · American · 4.3 mi
3731 Meggison Road, The Villages
Mo-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-22:30
Square 1 Burgers & Bar
Restaurant · American, Burger · 2.8 mi
2542 Burnsed Boulevard
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 4.4 mi
13637 North US Highway 27, Lady Lake
Su-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00
Sweet Alps Ice Cream
Restaurant · Ice Cream, Homemade Ice Cream · 4.6 mi
17860 SE 109th Ave, Summerfield
Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar
Restaurant · 4.3 mi
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
RJ Gator's Florida Sea Grill & Bar
Bar and pub · 1.3 mi
1015 Lakeshore Drive, The Villages
24 more on the map.
History
In the 1960s, Michigan businessman Harold Schwartz began selling land in the area now known as The Villages through mail-order sales. In 1968, a federal law prohibiting real estate sales by mail order forced Schwartz and his business partner, Al Tarrson, to halt this practice.
In the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson developed Orange Blossom Gardens, a mobile home park in northwestern Lake County. By the early 1980s, the community had sold approximately 400 units. In 1983, Schwartz bought out Tarrson’s interest and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, into the business. Inspired by successful retirement communities like Del Webb's Sun City, Morse expanded amenities, including golf courses and recreation centers, and pursued nearby commercial development. In 1992, the community was officially renamed "the Villages".
By the early 1990s, the Villages had grown to over 8,000 residents, with three golf courses and a Winn-Dixie supermarket. Between 2010 and 2019, the Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States, with 24,440 homes sold.
From the History section of The Villages, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Holiday Inn Express & Suites the Villages
Motel and hotel · 4.1 mi
1205 Avenida Central North, The Villages
Churches and places of worship38
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
First Baptist Church of Lady Lake
Church · Baptist · 4.0 mi
432 Highway 466, Lady Lake
North Lake Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 4.4 mi
975 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake
Shopping26
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Fruitland Park Elementary School
School · 5.8 mi
304 W Fountain St, Fruitland Park
The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake School
School · 4.1 mi
695 Rolling Acres Rd, Lady Lake
Healthcare8
Dr.Kalid, Infectious Disease
Clinic and pharmacy · 4.2 mi
929 North US Highway 27/441, Lady Lake
Passport Health The Villages Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.0 mi
4313 County Road 466, Oxford
Map of The Villages
193 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Marion County has had 30 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-24: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Leesburg International Airport (LEE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Lady Lake 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Leesburg 14 mi southeast, about 22 min by car
- Marion Oaks 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Silver Springs Shores 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Tavares 17 mi southeast, about 27 min by car
- Liberty Triangle 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Eustis 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Ocala 21 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Groveland 21 mi southeast, about 34 min by car
- Mount Dora 23 mi east, about 36 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Villages LSL02, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Sumter Landing, The Villages, FL - panoramio, royt314, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 5K run in the Villages Florida, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Blue Lives Matter Rally in The Villages Florida, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Holytrinfruitlandpark1b, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS020-E-5381 - View of Florida, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS020-E-5380 - View of Florida, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-339157 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS010-E-17172 - View of the Gulf of Mexico, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-339156 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS018-E-14136 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Prime Time Twirlers 2023, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fecal occult blood immunoassay testing kit, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Robert Costanzo, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Novelty human tooth golf tee, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- At Home COVID-19 Test, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 250 Sugar Cookies, Whoisjohngalt, CC0
- Workers installing shutters, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- COVID-19 rapid antigen test Certification, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Osteoarthritis in the left hand index finger, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bowl of lentil soup with green and red lentils, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Neurostimulator, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tesla Wall Connector, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lipoma post surgery, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mint from funeral home, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Workmen installing a wall bed, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mohs Shoulder 66 Year Old, Whoisjohngalt, CC0
- Sample Ballot Republican Party Sumter County Florida, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shower Door Installation, Whoisjohngalt, CC0
- Smart Toilet Seat, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Braised Tenderloin of Beef, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- KT tape on the back of adult male, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Home Made Cheesecake, Whoisjohngalt, CC0
- COVID-19 Kentucky Derby Hat, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chad W Richardson, Whoisjohngalt, CC0
- Dietz and Watson brand ambassador, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bill parkrun ID, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bronze Medal Senior Games, Whoisjohngalt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Citizens First Bank, Iamorangelightning, CC BY-SA 4.0
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