Everything Coming to Minneola, Florida: The Developments Changing South Lake County

If you haven't driven through Minneola lately, you might not recognize parts of it.

And I don't say that lightly.

For years, Minneola was the quieter neighbor just north of Clermont. Hills, lakes, citrus land, established neighborhoods and a small-town feel.

Now?

Minneola is in the middle of one of the biggest transformations in South Lake County.

A new hospital is open.

Crooked Can is open.

Thousands of new homes are being planned and built.

New restaurants, retail, medical offices and entertainment are being developed.

New communities are stretching across the hills around Sugarloaf Mountain.

And the area surrounding the Florida's Turnpike interchange is starting to look very different.

As a local Realtor, this is one of the areas I'm watching most closely in Central Florida.

So instead of another vague "Minneola is growing!" article, let's actually talk about what's here, what's coming and what buyers need to know.

First: Why Is So Much Happening in Minneola?

You can point to several reasons, but location and infrastructure are huge pieces of the puzzle.

Minneola sits immediately north of Clermont in Lake County and has direct access to Florida's Turnpike.

That interchange changed the development potential of this part of South Lake County.

Suddenly, you could have the hills, land and newer housing of Lake County while still having a direct route toward Orlando.

And development followed.

The city has also designated a large Minneola Mountain Community Redevelopment Area, with long-range planning tied to infrastructure, public services and economic development.

This isn't simply one subdivision being built.

It's a much larger transformation.

Hills City Center Is Becoming Minneola's New Hub

This is probably the development I'm asked about most.

Hills City Center is a massive mixed-use project positioned around the Turnpike interchange.

Developer Skorman Development describes the project as a 96-acre mixed-use development planned to include:

• 1,039 multifamily residential units
• Approximately 600,000 square feet of retail, dining, hotel and senior-living uses
• Approximately 500,000 square feet of medical office space
• Crooked Can Brewery and food hall
• Outdoor community and event space

That's significant.

Because one of the biggest criticisms of fast-growing residential areas is:

"They're building all these houses, but where is everything else?"

Hills City Center is designed to help answer that question.

The vision isn't simply another shopping plaza.

It's being developed as a place where people can eat, gather, work, access healthcare and eventually live within the same larger destination.

Crooked Can Minneola Is Officially OPEN

This is the update a lot of people have been waiting for.

Crooked Can's Minneola location officially opened in July 2026 at Hills City Center.

And this isn't a tiny second location.

The new Crooked Can Minneola Market spans roughly 43,000 square feet and combines the brewery with a food-hall concept, gathering spaces and outdoor entertainment.

The Hills City Center site says the market is designed for roughly 11–15 local food vendors, alongside Crooked Can's brewery and taproom.

There's also outdoor green space, family-oriented features and plans for additional entertainment and community gathering areas.

For anyone familiar with what Crooked Can and Plant Street Market helped create in Winter Garden, you can understand why this project has gotten so much attention.

It's not just another restaurant opening.

It gives Minneola something it has historically lacked:

A real destination.

Why Crooked Can Matters Beyond Beer

This is where I think people miss the bigger picture.

I'm not excited about Crooked Can simply because Minneola got a brewery.

I'm interested in what happens around it.

Successful restaurants and entertainment destinations bring people into an area who might otherwise never visit.

They create gathering places.

They support surrounding businesses.

And they help give a growing community an identity beyond subdivisions.

Minneola has been adding rooftops quickly.

Now we're beginning to see more of the lifestyle infrastructure catching up.

That's the part I'm watching.

AdventHealth Minneola Is Open—and Already Expanding

Another major piece of Minneola's transformation is healthcare.

AdventHealth Minneola opened in December 2025.

The hospital brought 24/7 emergency care, surgical services, imaging and other hospital services directly into the Minneola community. AdventHealth said the hospital was expected to create more than 500 jobs.

And the campus is already expanding.

On August 5, 2026, AdventHealth officially opened a new medical office building adjacent to the hospital.

The new building brings additional specialties including:

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• General surgery
• Medical oncology
• Orthopedics
• Sports medicine
• Vascular care
• Urology
• Laboratory services
• Retail pharmacy

That's a major change for residents who previously relied more heavily on Clermont and other parts of Central Florida for specialty care.

This Is Becoming More Than a Bedroom Community

This is the shift I find most interesting.

A bedroom community is essentially somewhere people live while leaving the area for most of their work, entertainment, shopping and services.

Minneola has historically leaned much more heavily in that direction.

But look at what's happening now.

Healthcare jobs.

Medical offices.

Retail.

Restaurants.

Entertainment.

Multifamily housing.

New single-family communities.

Community gathering spaces.

All of those pieces begin creating a more self-contained city.

Will Minneola suddenly become Winter Park or Winter Garden overnight?

Of course not.

But it's moving beyond simply being "the place north of Clermont where they're building houses."

Sugarloaf Mountain Is Becoming a Major Residential Corridor

If you're looking at new construction in Minneola, you're going to hear Sugarloaf constantly.

The Sugarloaf area is one of the biggest residential growth stories happening here.

And if you've driven it, you understand why builders want the land.

The elevation is beautiful.

You have views.

You're close to the Turnpike.

You're close to Clermont.

And there's still significant developable land.

Multiple new-home projects are now taking shape across this corridor.

Sugarloaf Ridge

Lennar is actively building Sugarloaf Ridge in Minneola.

The community includes multiple collections of single-family homes, with current inventory ranging from roughly 2,000 square feet into homes exceeding 3,000 square feet.

Community amenities include a pool, playground, pickleball, basketball and other recreational features.

More importantly from a buyer's perspective, Sugarloaf Ridge illustrates where Minneola's new-home market is heading:

Larger planned communities.

Multiple floor plans.

Modern amenities.

And a location built around access to the Turnpike and the growing Minneola/Clermont corridor.

Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain

Another one I'm watching is Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain by Tri Pointe Homes.

As of August 2026, Tri Pointe lists the community as coming soon, with an anticipated opening in November 2026.

Plans currently call for single-family homes ranging from approximately 1,712 to 3,871 square feet, with three to five bedrooms and planned community amenities including a pool and gathering pavilion.

Tri Pointe currently anticipates pricing beginning in the low $500s.

This adds yet another builder and product type to the Minneola new-construction market—which is good news for buyers because I want competition.

More competition gives us more opportunities to compare:

Price.

Lot premiums.

Incentives.

Floor plans.

Standard finishes.

And builder financing.

Del Webb Minneola Is Bringing More 55+ Housing

Minneola's growth isn't only aimed at young families.

Del Webb Minneola is adding a significant 55+ option to the market.

The community's Vista Club amenities are now open and include features such as a pool and spa, fitness facilities, tennis, pickleball, community programming and an onsite bar and grille.

That's important because South Lake County's growth is attracting buyers at very different stages of life.

Not everyone moving to Minneola needs four bedrooms and a playroom.

Some buyers want newer construction, Florida weather, amenities and a lower-maintenance lifestyle.

Del Webb gives Minneola a stronger option for exactly that buyer.

And There Are Even More Homes Being Planned

This is where buyers need to understand just how much residential development may still be ahead.

For example, Minneola City Council records from January 2026 describe the proposed Shepherd's Landing mixed-use project as approximately 261 acres.

The plans presented to the city included:

652 detached single-family homes

443 attached residential units

and more than 47,000 square feet of commercial space, along with green space and utility infrastructure.

Projects like this are why I keep telling buyers:

Do not assume today's empty field will be tomorrow's empty field.

When you're buying in a rapidly developing city, what's planned around your house matters almost as much as the house itself.

More Apartments and Multifamily Housing Are Coming Too

Hills City Center itself is planned to include more than 1,000 multifamily units.

That tells you something important about Minneola's future.

The city isn't developing exclusively as detached suburban neighborhoods.

The plan around the Turnpike interchange is much more mixed-use.

More housing density near retail, restaurants, healthcare and employment can help create the population needed to support additional businesses.

Again, this is how you start moving from:

"People live here."

to

"People live, work and spend time here."

What Shopping and Restaurants Are Coming to Minneola?

This is probably the question everyone actually wants answered.

And here's where I'm going to disappoint you a little:

I'm not going to repeat every Minneola rumor I hear.

You'll hear:

"Target is coming."

"Whole Foods is coming."

"This restaurant is going there."

"That store bought this parcel."

Maybe.

But unless I can verify that something has actually been announced, approved or is under construction, I'm not putting it in a buyer's relocation plan.

What we can verify is that Hills City Center is planned to contain substantial retail, dining and commercial space, and Crooked Can's food hall has already begun creating a new restaurant destination within the development.

As additional tenants are officially announced, this is a section I'll continue updating.

Because I'd rather give you fewer facts than a longer list of rumors.

Roads and Infrastructure Matter Just as Much as Restaurants

This isn't the exciting part of development.

But if you're considering buying here, it may be the most important.

More homes mean more cars.

More cars mean roads matter.

The Hills City Center development includes significant roadway and infrastructure work, and engineering plans for its first phase included a four-lane entrance roadway, side streets, parking, sidewalks, utilities and a multi-use trail.

The larger Hills City Center plan also references expansion of Hancock Road.

These projects aren't as fun to post on Instagram as a new restaurant.

But they're critical to whether growth actually functions.

What Does All of This Mean for Minneola Real Estate?

This is where I want to be very careful.

Development does not guarantee your house will appreciate.

A new hospital doesn't automatically make every nearby property a good investment.

A brewery doesn't mean you should suddenly pay $50,000 too much for a house.

And "everyone is moving here" isn't an investment strategy.

What development does tell me is that there is substantial private and public investment happening in this area.

That gets my attention.

Then I evaluate the individual property.

Because I still care about:

The lot.

The floor plan.

The builder.

The price.

The neighborhood.

The HOA.

Any applicable assessments.

What's behind the property.

Future phases.

Comparable sales.

And how long you expect to own it.

Minneola's growth can be part of the story.

It should never be the entire reason you buy.

The Biggest Opportunity I See for Buyers

Choice.

That's what I like about Minneola right now.

If you tell me you want new construction, I don't want to walk into one builder and sign a contract.

I want to compare.

What's Lennar offering?

What's coming from Tri Pointe?

What's available at Del Webb if you're a 55+ buyer?

What's sitting as quick move-in inventory?

What incentives are builders offering?

Which lots are worth paying for?

What's available resale nearby?

Could your budget buy something completely different in Clermont?

That's where having multiple projects happening at once can work in the buyer's favor.

But There's a Downside to Growth Too

I love talking about what's happening in Minneola.

But I also live in the real world.

Growth means construction.

Traffic.

Dust.

Road work.

Changing school boundaries.

More people.

Neighborhoods that may take years to feel established.

And businesses that don't always open on the timeline originally announced.

If you want mature oak trees and a neighborhood that's looked the same for 20 years, I probably wouldn't convince you to buy in the middle of a brand-new Minneola development.

I'd show you something else.

That's why the question isn't:

"Is Minneola good?"

It's:

"Is this stage of Minneola right for you?"

Why I Think Minneola Is Different From Five Years Ago

Five years ago, I could talk about Minneola mostly in terms of housing, hills, lakes and proximity to Clermont.

Now the conversation includes:

A full-service hospital.

Specialty medical offices.

Crooked Can.

A nearly 100-acre mixed-use city center.

New residential communities.

55+ housing.

Major multifamily development.

Retail and dining plans.

Infrastructure improvements.

And significant additional housing still being planned.

That's a fundamentally different story.

Minneola vs. Winter Garden: Is This the Next Version?

I hear this comparison a lot.

And I understand why.

People look at what happened around Winter Garden—especially the combination of residential growth, destinations like Plant Street Market and Crooked Can, and expanding commercial development—and wonder whether Minneola is following a similar path.

There are similarities.

But I wouldn't call Minneola "the next Winter Garden."

Minneola should become Minneola.

The terrain is different.

The development pattern is different.

The city is different.

And we're still early enough in this phase of growth that we don't know exactly what the finished version will feel like.

That's part of what makes it interesting.

Would I Buy in Minneola in 2026?

For the right house?

Absolutely.

But I'd be selective.

I'd want the right lot.

I'd want to understand everything planned around me.

I'd compare new construction with resale.

I'd negotiate the builder incentives.

I'd look at the Turnpike commute.

And I wouldn't overpay simply because the area is growing.

If I found a house I loved, on a great lot, at a price that made sense for my plans?

Then Minneola would absolutely be on my list.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minneola Development

What is coming to Minneola, Florida?

Minneola is seeing substantial residential, commercial, healthcare and mixed-use development. Major projects include Hills City Center, continued development around AdventHealth Minneola and multiple new-home communities around the Sugarloaf area.

Is Crooked Can Minneola open?

Yes. Crooked Can Minneola opened in July 2026 at Hills City Center. The approximately 43,000-square-foot destination includes the brewery, taproom, food-hall vendors and gathering spaces.

Is AdventHealth Minneola open?

Yes. AdventHealth Minneola opened in December 2025. A new adjacent specialty medical office building opened in August 2026.

What is Hills City Center?

Hills City Center is a 96-acre mixed-use development near the Minneola Turnpike interchange. Plans include retail, dining, medical office space, multifamily housing, senior living, hotel uses, entertainment and community spaces.

Are new homes being built in Minneola?

Yes. Significant new-home construction is underway and planned throughout Minneola, particularly around the Sugarloaf area.

What builders are currently active or coming to Minneola?

Current and announced projects include communities from builders such as Lennar, Del Webb/PulteGroup and Tri Pointe Homes. Builder activity and inventory can change, so buyers should verify current availability when beginning a search.

Is Minneola getting more restaurants and shopping?

Hills City Center is planned to include substantial retail and dining space. Crooked Can Minneola Market is already open with multiple food concepts. Additional commercial development is expected as the project progresses, but specific tenants should be considered confirmed only after official announcements.

Is Minneola a good place to buy a house?

That depends on the buyer, property and long-term plan. Minneola may appeal to buyers seeking newer construction, Turnpike access, South Lake County living and an area experiencing significant development. Buyers should still evaluate each property individually rather than purchasing solely because the city is growing.

Thinking About Moving to Minneola?

This is one of those markets where having someone who knows what's happening around the house matters.

I don't just want to show you the model home.

I want to show you what's behind it.

What's planned across the street.

Where the commercial development is.

How you get to the Turnpike.

What another builder will give you for the same budget.

And what that same money could buy five minutes away in Clermont.

Because Minneola is changing quickly.

And if you're considering buying here, you should understand exactly what you're buying into.

If you're relocating to Central Florida or considering Minneola, Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere or the surrounding Orlando area, I'd love to help you compare your options.

About the Author

Cassidy McWherter is a licensed Florida and Utah REALTOR® with The Agency, specializing in luxury real estate, relocation, and new construction throughout Central Florida. Based in the Orlando area, Cassidy works with buyers and sellers across Minneola, Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere, Winter Park and surrounding communities.

Before real estate, Cassidy spent years as a competitive CrossFit athlete and business owner, bringing that same drive, preparation and straightforward approach to her clients today. She believes finding the right home starts with understanding how you actually want to live—not simply checking boxes on a property search.

Whether you're relocating to Orlando, comparing Central Florida communities, buying new construction or preparing to sell, Cassidy offers local insight, honest advice and hands-on representation from the first conversation through closing.

Cassidy McWherter | REALTOR®
The Agency Orlando
801-661-1353
[email protected]
realestatecassidy.com