Cheval offers country club living north of Tampa
Cheval, home to nearly 13,000 people, is a community in northern Hillsborough County that offers private, luxury living with the numerous amenities of the country club and golf courses nearby. The area encompasses several subdivisions, some gated, including the main Cheval subdivision, which is tucked behind a wall of palm trees. The Club at Cheval, a golf course and country club, is in the heart of the neighborhood that shares its name. TPC Tampa Bay, one of Florida’s top public golf courses, borders the community.
Condos and single-family homes on the golf green
The median home price in Cheval is $586,000, higher than Tampa’s $435,000 median. The main subdivision is gated and has multiple entrances that are staffed 24/7. It is represented by two HOAs and has subcommunities of condos and other similarly styled homes grouped together. Palm trees, sidewalks, manicured lawns and garages are plentiful. Traditional homes, bungalows and Mediterranean-influenced properties can all be found in Cheval, some directly on the golf course. Some of the subcommunities have zero maintenance arrangements, with the HOA taking care of all landscaping. Condo communities have clubhouses and pools. Lakes are found throughout the area. Many of the subsections host block parties, holiday events and other social activities.
High-rated public schools and charter options
Children in Cheval can attend Hillsborough County Public Schools, a district rated B-plus on Niche. Many of their zoned schools, including Mckitrick and Schwarzkopf elementaries and Steinbrenner High School, have an A rating on Niche. Other options include Lutz Preparatory School, a top-ranking K-8 charter school about 5 miles east. Lutz Montessori is a private preschool and kindergarten on the northern edge of the neighborhood.
Country club offerings and nearby parks and trails
In addition to the golf course, The Club at Cheval has nine tennis courts, a pool and a fitness center. It offers group exercise classes and youth programs. TPC Tampa Bay, a public course, has hosted a PGA Tour Champions event for 21 years. It is one of only two Tampa Bay-area courses designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in recognition of its natural wetlands and abundant wildlife. Hillsborough County’s Calusa Trace Park is in the southeast section of the neighborhood. It has athletic fields, a playground and walking trails. The Suncoast Trail is nearby and is popular for biking and hiking.
Numerous shopping and dining areas nearby
Kohl’s and Publix are located at Northgate Square in the southeast portion of the community. Revelations Cafe is a popular breakfast restaurant with a plant-based menu, located in the same plaza. Nabruzzi Trattoria, an Italian restaurant, sits along Van Dyke Road. The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre, a shopping mall, is 6 miles north.
Transportation and healthcare in Cheval
Cheval is about 17 miles north of Tampa, via Interstate 275. The interstate then crosses over Old Tampa Bay into St. Petersburg, about 40 miles away. Florida State Road 589, also known as the Suncoast Parkway or Veterans Expressway, is easily accessible from Cheval. The 68-mile road extends from Tampa to State Road 44 near Lecanto. In the southeast section of the community is St. Joseph's Hospital-North, a 200-bed, full-service medical center run by BayCare Health System.
Heat, humidity and hurricane season
South Florida summers are hot and humid, and daily highs often hover in the 90s from May through October. Afternoon rains are frequent. Hurricane season, which begins in June and runs through November, brings the risk of heavy rains and damaging winds, though due to its inland location, Cheval is not directly impacted by storm surge. Hurricane Irma, in 2017, soaked the area with rain, but golf courses like TPC Tampa Bay quickly reopened.
