Inland Florida community in Collier County
Immokalee is Collier County’s largest inland community and draws homebuyers with lower real estate prices than surrounding areas like Naples and Marco Island. Immokalee means “your home” in the Miccosukee language and was initially settled by the Seminole and Miccosukee nations. Today, the town is home to major agricultural industries and a Hollywood-style casino. “It's more of a farming community, but the Seminole Indian Casino is a really big attraction,” says Travis J. Steadman, seasoned Realtor with Achieve Realty. The nearby town of Ave Maria is a master-planned neighborhood with more extensive shopping and dining and a private University. “Ave Maria is a very up-and-coming community. It's a town that sustains itself, and people tend to get more value for their money out there,” Steadman says. According to the CAP Index, Immokalee’s crime score is slightly above the national average.
Abundant outdoor recreation with wildlife run-ins
Immokalee hosts a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Guided airboat tours of Lake Trafford offer glimpses of alligators and other wetland wildlife. Fishing is popular, and game fish range from crappie to largemouth bass. Back on land, the Immokalee Regional Raceway is a hub for drag racing and auto events. Immokalee Community Park offers multiple athletic facilities and a lit playground. In Ave Maria, golfers swing away at the National Golf & Country Club. The 18-hole championship course winds through waterways and large fairway knolls. Other amenities in Ave Maria include tennis courts, dog parks and a waterpark. No matter where residents are in Immokalee, they are always near scenic hiking trails. The CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area offers 30 miles of trails across 28,000 acres of the scenic Florida landscape. Towards the southern end of Immokalee, visitors can try to spot the elusive Florida Panther at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
Town Centers and Casinos
Immokalee has a handful of restaurants, including local joints and national chains. Lozano’s is a popular eatery serving authentic Mexican food and frozen margaritas. Weekly groceries can be found at the Winn-Dixie in the Immokalee Plaza down the street. The Seminole Casino Hotel is one of seven casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and is the largest employer in the city. The Casino is a tourist hub and attracts national headliners like Willie Nelson. Ave Maria is home to a rapidly growing shopping and dining scene. The town square is centered around the Ave Maria Catholic Parish Church, officially dedicated in March 2008. The Pub & Grill is a great place to watch the game, and often features live music, while The Bean offers freshly brewed coffee and ice cream nearby. La Piazza Publix Center provides fresh produce to residents.
Two main residential areas with differing housing options
The area has two main residential pockets: Immokalee’s town center and Ave Maria. In Immokalee, many residents live in mobile homes and small ranch-style houses valued between $100,000 and $200,000. Newer construction is available on the outskirts of town and carries Spanish-revival-influenced designs with tiled roofs and stucco exteriors. Prices for three-to-four-bedroom houses range between $300,000 and $400,000. Empty plots of land are another viable way into the area. In Ave Maria, four subdivisions offer different lifestyles, including golf course coach homes and large, single-family houses with lakefront views and screened-in swimming pools. There is also a 55+ gated community. Each subdivision has its own style; however, all have direct access to the commercial center and adjoining water park. Prices in Ave Maria range between $350,000 and $900,000. The area is prone to hurricanes, and multiple strong storms have moved through since the 2000s, including Category 5 Hurricane Irma in 2017, which flooded many streets and toppled power lines. However, increased attention from storms has sought to address issues regarding infrastructure and recovery.
Highly rated Collier County Public Schools
The highly rated Collier County Public School District serves the area and was ranked the fifth-best district in Florida by niche. Most younger students attend the B-rated Pinecrest Elementary School and B-minus-rated Immokalee Middle School. Immokalee High School received a B-minus rating and has become a football powerhouse. Their 2017 regional championship was their third since 2000, and the school has produced multiple professional athletes, including NFL Hall-of-fame inductee Edgerrin James. Ave Maria has numerous private Catholic schooling options for parents to consider. Rhodora J. Donahue Academy is a K-12 academy that received an A-minus rating, while Ave Maria University offers private higher education for graduates looking to stay close to home.
Immokalee community events
The Immokalee Farmers Market is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers visitors a variety of fresh Florida produce, depending on what is in season. The region's agricultural roots and pioneering spirit are on full display during the annual Immokalee Cattle Drive & Jamboree. The celebration features roping demonstrations, a petting zoo and an actual cattle drive through town.
Easy access to Interstate 75
Immokalee is big for commuters working in city centers nearby. “Lots of residents work on Florida’s East Coast and live here because it's only about an hour from Fort Lauderdale,” Steadman says. The Collier Area Transit services multiple bus stops throughout, connecting to the greater Naples Area, about 50 miles away. Florida State Route 29 and Interstate 75 are the major roadways. The Immokalee Airport offers general aviation flights, while commercial airlines are at Southwest Florida, 35 miles to the west.
Written By
Beck Connelley
Photography Contributed By
Kristjan Veski
