Welcome
to the Citrus Hills Blog
Take a look at our BRAND NEW 10-MINUTE VIDEO showcasing the spectacular Citrus Hills surrounding areas, amenities, and designer homes.
After reviewing our video, we invite you to experience Citrus Hills for yourself.
We offer limited private tours of our community. They are scheduled on an appointment-only basis.
Call to Schedule your Visit: 800-511-0814
As you all know, Hurricane Ian impacted South Florida a few weeks ago. Many of you have been asking what this storm meant for the Citrus Hills area, so we wanted to send out a quick update.
In Citrus County, we were spared most of the impact of Hurricane Ian and came out the other side extremely well. Our thoughts are with our Southern neighbors who did not have such luck.
In Citrus County, the rainfall wasn't reported much over 1 inch, and the wind gusts didn't exceed 40 mph. There were no reports of flooding or injuries. There were, however, reports of a couple of downed trees and smaller debris in some areas, but seemed to be an easy cleanup for the most part. Some locals lost power as well but were soon restored. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office Captain Troy Hess stated that our county was "extremely blessed."
Within the community of Citrus Hills, amenities did shut down for the storm, and a few planned events were canceled while Hurricane Ian made its way across the state. The VP of Sales and Marketing of Citrus Hills, Jake Tamposi, stated that "no damage" was reported within our community, and that we are "fortunate to live in such an elevated part of Florida."
We have high hopes that the 2022 Hurricane season is finished!
In the over 150 years of historic NOAA hurricane data, the eye of no major hurricane has made landfall in Citrus Hills. We are fortunate, but we are also fortunate by design. A number of unique features of our community make us extremely resilient to hurricanes and severe weather events:
We are just 10 to 15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico—but rest easy knowing that as one of the highest points in Florida, the Villages of Citrus Hills is protected from flood and storm risks. With elevations exceeding 260 feet above sea level, none of the homes in Citrus Hills require flood insurance.
The Villages of Citrus Hills has an established comprehensive drainage plan meeting the highest standards of the South West Florida Water Management District. The drainage design and infrastructure for each neighborhood and homesite have been thoroughly vetted to protect homeowners. Terra Vista’s underground utility system insulates the community from storm-related power outages. Each home’s natural gas utilities also provide plentiful options for generators for homeowners seeking extra peace of mind.
Our community goes above and beyond industry standards to construct outstanding homes. Unlike wood frame homes, each Citrus Hills home is constructed with reinforced concrete masonry exterior walls that provide unparalleled strength and resiliency. Built to the most up-to-date codes and standards, Citrus Hills' new construction homes are engineered and constructed with critical load paths and structural connections that protect our homeowners from even the most severe weather events!
A little bit about BellaVita….
Throughout your life, you’ve strived for that balanced lifestyle. At the Villages of Citrus Hills, helping you obtain that balance is one of our goals.
One of the places many residents find that healthy mix of staying active while enjoying the good life is at the BellaVita Spa and Fitness Center. This 50,000-square-foot world-class complex includes a full-service spa, indoor lap pool, 150 pieces of exercise equipment, dozens of classes, racquetball courts, and elegant men and women’s locker rooms with sauna and steam rooms.
When you enter BellaVita’s luxurious lobby, you immediately know this is a fitness center and spa unlike any other you’ve seen. The equipment is state-of-the-art, from free weights to the Tour de France spinning cycles, and our fitness training staff is always on hand to help you create a realistic exercise plan, reach a new goal, or try something new. If group fitness is more your liking, BellaVita offers everything from aerobics to Zumba. And, with 250 fitness classes offered each month, you’re sure to find ones that fit with your interests and schedule.
While some days call for getting the heart rate up to feel invigorated, a little pampering does the trick on other days. The BellaVita spa professionals provide a full-service menu of services and treatments for women and men in a luxurious, serene setting. Appointments are available seven days a week.
Fitness
Our fitness center provides everything you will need to stay in top shape and feel great. You’ll find the latest equipment, experienced health club staff ready to offer advice and work with you to develop a workout plan, and hundreds of classes offered each month. From beginner to advanced, you’ll find everything you want right here in our extensive facilities.
Spa Services
An elegant, soothing environment is just the beginning of an exceptional experience. BellaVita’s exquisite setting and premium spa services are second to none. Our offerings include a variety of massages, facials, body treatments, micro-treatments, complete waxing, manicures and pedicures, permanent makeup, as well as luxurious spa packages. The elegant locker rooms for men and women include saunas, steam rooms, and towel service.
Indoor Lap Pool
A six-lane, heated indoor lap pool can be found in its own wing at BellaVita. A large whirlpool spa is also in the pool area, both just steps from the locker rooms. Water aerobics fitness classes are located at the Activity Center Pool.
Specialty Studios
Three separate studios provide great space for specific activities. A spinning studio hosts classes for novice, intermediate and experienced cyclists. Studio B is dedicated to a variety of training programs. This is where personal trainers conduct one-on-one training with clients looking for specific results. The third studio is home to various activities, including aerobics classes, yoga, Pilates, and more.
Racquetball
Off the main fitness area are two racquetball courts where everything from competitive racquetball matches to team wallyball. Spectator seating affords a great view of the action. Reservations are made at the fitness desk for one-hour intervals. Racquets are available.
Outdoor Courtyard
At the center of BellaVita is an expansive outdoor courtyard that one might find at a luxurious Mediterranean villa. Beautiful flowers, a large fountain, and quiet surroundings make this a perfect place to read, relax and reflect.
Some people considering Florida for retirement already have their minds made up about whether they will live on the east coast or the west coast of Florida.
Maybe they've vacationed or visited a certain area enough to make their minds up. Or maybe they have friends and relatives that live in a certain area, and they want to live near them.
But for others, the decision can be a tough one and certainly much more nuanced than simply choosing between sunrise and sunset.
In this article, we hope to give you a better understanding of the differences between Florida’s east and west coast living and help you decide what best fits your needs and desired lifestyle.
Understanding Florida Migratory Patterns
Before we get into the differences between the two coasts, a little history lesson is in order.
When people first began moving to Florida, people from the Northeast predominately drove south on I-95. They settled along the east coast of Florida, and people from the Midwest headed south on I-75 and settled on the west coast of Florida.
While this isn't as true today as it once was, it’s important to understand that this historical migratory pattern helped to shape the different lifestyles and cultures you'll find on the east and west coasts.
Fast Paced vs. Laid Back
The cities on the east coast of Florida, particularly in the Southeast part of the state, are considered by most to be intense and fast-paced.
On the west coast of Florida, things tend to be more laid-back and slower-paced. Even the bigger cities like Tampa and St. Pete are much less crowded than the major east coast cities while still offering all you could ever want in the way of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Florida's population numbers shed light on this story, with the Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach Metropolitan Area (South East Coast of Florida) having an estimated 5,670,125 people as of the last Census, and the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater Metropolitan Area (West Coast of Florida) only has an estimated 2,824,724 people.
Affordability
With more people living along the east coast of Florida, home prices and the overall cost of living tend to be higher as the forces of supply and demand kick in.
While there are some well-known pockets of higher home prices and higher costs of living on the west coast, particularly in areas like Naples and Fort Myers, home buyers are learning that in a lot of cases, their dollar stretches further on the west coast, especially in the Nature Coast area where the Villages of Citrus Hills is located.
The Atlantic Ocean vs. the Gulf of Mexico
Something else to consider is that the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast has bigger waves and is much more active than the calm coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast.
And then, of course, there are those sunrises and sunsets. Both are beautiful in their own right, but people tend to prefer one versus the other.
View our most recent "Connections" Club Newsletter, which is our monthly publication for members.
You'll find news about what's happening throughout the community, including upcoming events, entertainment, and of course, all the great offers and special theme dinners available in our restaurants.
