Four Corners

Reunion, a master-planned community south of Orlando, doesn’t just offer resort-style living. It offers the entire resort. Reunion sets itself apart among similar developments by taking the ultimate Florida vacation experience and transforming it into a lifestyle. “The difference is the amount of amenities the community has to offer,” says Jomar Concepcion, a Realtor with eXp Realty based in the neighboring master-planned community of Celebration. “You have the three golf courses, tennis courts, walking trails and a waterpark for the children. It covers all the bases.” Reunion Resort & Hotel is a premier vacation destination, but at the heart of the community are several gated neighborhoods anchored by a variety of high-value housing. The community’s non-vacation housing is occupied primarily by full-time residents and snowbirds who have bought a second home. The neighborhoods are laid out in traditional settings, with sidewalks populated by small, well-manicured lawns featuring plenty of greenery. Pools populate large backyards. Patriots Landing is the most architecturally distinct of the neighborhoods, offering pastel-colored Key West homes starting around $600,000. Liberty Bluff’s courtyard-style homes start around $750,000. Golf course neighborhoods include Homestead, Bears Den and The West Side, all of which feature a collection of multimillion-dollar luxury homes but also offer more affordable bungalow-style housing starting as low as the mid-$400,000s. “Reunion has some of the most expensive homes in Osceola County, but it’s very blended,” Concepcion says. “You have townhouses, expensive townhouses, condos, expensive condos, houses and really expensive houses.” Townhouses and condos can be found in neighborhoods such as Carriage Pointe, Eagle Trace and Heritage Crossing, which feature housing starting in the $300,000 range. The community’s signature golf courses were designed by Jack Nickalus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, who won a combined 33 majors during their playing days. “It’s a golfer’s paradise,” says Hazel Heyer, a listing agent with Keller Williams Legacy who sells property in the Greater Orlando area. The Nicklaus course is first among equals and stands alone on the community’s west side. It is the largest of the three par-72 layouts at 7,219 yards. The Watson and Palmer courses are laid out next to one another near the resort hotel on the community’s east side. They span 7,154 and 6,916 yards, respectively. “It is ideal for snowbirds,” Concepcion says, “with the golf courses in a guard-gated community. You’ll see a lot of older, retired clientele in the winter.” The Golfzon Leadbetter Academy, a world-class golf school, is based in Reunion and offers cutting-edge training. While it is more of an attraction for vacationers, residents do have access to a 5-acre waterpark, which features a lazy river, waterslide and shaded cabanas. The tennis and pickleball center features state-of-the-art clay courts for daily play, lessons and clinics. A Reunion Resort membership is required for access to the community’s amenities. The initiation fee is $7,500. Monthly dues are $475 for the gold membership and $780 for the platinum membership. Dining options are plentiful in the community. 7593 Chophouse, a traditional fine-dining restaurant, and Eleven, a rooftop restaurant offering small bites and craft cocktails, are the featured dinner destinations located at The Grande in the heart of the community. There’s also a sushi bar in the lobby. The pair of clubhouses that serve the three golf courses offers convenient dining throughout the day. The Nicklaus clubhouse hosts a Sunday brunch with live entertainment. Additional options are located on the community’s southern edge along with a Publix and an Aldi. About 5 miles north of the community is a popular contemporary commercial and entertainment center. “One of the best attractions that isn’t Disney is the Sunset Walk at Margaritaville,” Concepcion says. “It’s a little outdoor mall with a lot of restaurants.” Target anchors a concentration of retail stores about 5 miles south of the community. A luxury resort doesn’t lend itself to a lot of children. “HOAs are expensive; homes are expensive,” Concepcion says. “Typically, it’s the mid-40s and up I see when I’m there.” However, students who do live in the community can attend Westside K-8, a C-rated school by Niche, and Celebration High, an A-minus-rated school whose offerings include Air Force JROTC and a Residential Property Management Program. While the self-contained neighborhoods offer walkability, there is no public transportation. Therefore, a car is required for travel outside the community. Fortunately, Interstate 4 bisects Reunion. A portion of the housing is close enough that noise could be a concern, but much of it is buffered by trees and other greenery to lessen the impact. I-4 leads directly into Downtown Orlando about 25 miles north. “Some residents probably work for Disney, but more than likely, if you live in Reunion, you’re going to work in Orlando,” Concepcion says. The State Route 429 bypass, which runs through part of the community’s west side, provides direct access to Disney World and its universe about 8 miles away.