Calusa Club Estates

Known as Calusa Club Estates or simply “Calusa,” this West Kendall neighborhood offers highly rated schools and a convenient central location, but the community has been the site of some conservation controversy in recent years.

The neighborhood surrounds a now-defunct 169-acre golf course, the former Calusa Country Club, that has stood vacant for more than a decade. Purchased by developers in 2021, the course was expected to be developed into a 550-home subdivision, but this effort has been opposed by residents and local non-profit groups like Save Calusa, both in county meetings and courtrooms as part of an ongoing struggle to preserve the area as environmental land. While it may not be homebuyers living large on the vacant golf course, several threatened native bird species call this area home, leading to even more potential obstacles for future residential development. A large mangrove patch in the center of one of the course’s many lakes serves as a breeding ground and naturally protected nesting area for tricolored herons, wood storks, anhinga and more. As of 2022, this rookery is required by Miami-Dade County to be preserved, regardless of future development plans.

The suburban streets around the course offer a quintessential South Florida experience, with wide sidewalks and lush yards connecting everything together. Properties here are primarily single-story ranch homes, with enough variety in style and architectural design to keep the neighborhood from feeling stale or monotonous. Homes closer to the golf course tend to be larger, with more bold architectural styling. Listings here are priced on par with many of the surrounding neighborhoods, with a three-bedroom home selling from the mid-$500,000s to low $600,000s. As you head further from the central golf course and out towards the major roadways that bracket Calusa, you’ll find small condominium buildings and town house complexes, ideal for seasonal residents or anyone wanting to downsize. Condo units range from the mid-$200,000s to low $300,000s, while town houses average around $450,000.

Students in Calusa can attend Miami-Dade County public schools, with nearby options within the neighborhood, like Calusa Elementary School, a top-rated school with both an A-minus overall grade from Niche and an A-plus rating from the county Department of Education. Calusa Elementary has been recognized for its STEM instruction, earning the STEM Gold School Designation Award for Excellence for the past 5 years. Another highly rated district school with an A-minus overall grade from Niche, Arvida Middle School offers magnet programs in forensic science, math, global studies and performing arts with a focus on strings and orchestra. Finally, Miami Sunset Senior High School is home to six magnet programs for students to explore, gaining potential college credit and key experience in a potential career field like cybersecurity, engineering or hospitality.

While a large section of Calusa is dominated by a private environmental area, there are local parks and other public green spaces in and around the neighborhood. Located right next to the elementary school, Calusa Club Estates Park features a playground and plenty of open fields for games and events, all within easy walking distance of the neighborhood. Head into some of the neighboring areas for more outdoor options like Arvida Park, Sugarwood Park, and Boystown Pineland County Park, all within 2 miles of Calusa.

The edges of this residential neighborhood are loosely defined by nearby roadways, with several major thoroughfares like Lindgren Road and North Kendall Drive making it easy to commute across the greater area. With these key roads so close by, residents have convenient access to local shopping centers like Kendale Lakes Plaza and nearby grocery stores like Sprouts Farmers Market and Publix.

Written By

Quinn Lilly

Photography Contributed By

Daniele Giuseppe Del Gaudio

Video By

Victoria York