The round Rotunda West offers new homes and anoutdoor lifestyle on the Gulf Coast.
The master planned community of Rotonda West stands out for its circular shape on the Southwest Florida coast. The circle was the driving force for developers in 1969, who envisioned a thriving golf course community with houses and amenities within the "wheel." The sports competition show "The Superstars" helped to put Rotonda on the map in the 1970s, and TV personality Ed McMahon was one of its earliest residents and endorsers. The intended canal connections to the Gulf and central business hub never materialized, but the new homes and outdoor lifestyle are helping to put this community on the map again. "The properties in there are very appealing and affordable to people coming down from up north," says Kathy Damewood, team lead with Re/Max Alliance Group. She says it's in a desirable location near beaches and world-class fishing. "You have everything here, yet it's not a big city, so we don't get that much traffic."
Rotonda is a mater-planned residential community of single family homes.
Rotonda communities are built in circular patterns around waterways and golf courses.
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Traditional 1970s Florida homes and new construction
The subdivisions are cut into wedge-shaped "slices" of the circle with golf courses and canals. Some of the oldest homes are in the Oakland Hills section, including concrete block and stucco properties from the 1970s. New construction homes are widely available as the community grows. They range from 1,800 to 2,400 square feet and come with two-car garages. There are also opportunities for custom builds with over 200 available lots and several builders in the area. Rotonda's median single-family home price is around $400,000, slightly lower than nearby Fort Myers and Tampa.
Many Rotonda homes offer scenic waterfront views.
Rotonda subdivisions are divided into wedges of the overall circular design.
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Beaches and world-class tarpon fishing
Residents take advantage of their coastal location. Boca Grande is considered the tarpon fishing capital of the world, with anglers reeling in 90- to 130-pound fish. Peak season is from April through October. Public beaches are across Lemon Bay on Manasota Key. Englewood Beach is a destination for shark tooth hunting and sunset views. Rotonda West fulfills the early golf course community vision, with five courses weaving through subdivisions. Membership is optional. Rotonda Community Park features a covered playground, open space, pickleball courts and a walking trail in the heart of the circle.
Rotonda anglers enjoy daily fishing trips to Boca Grande, known as the tarpon fishing capital of the world.
The serene beaches of Manasota Key are just a short drive from Rotonda.
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Local shopping on Dearborn Street
Publix and Dollar General are the closest grocery options, about 4 miles away. Locals make the 8-mile trip north to Englewood for a unique shopping scene. Dearborn Street hosts independently-owned yoga studios, coffee houses, restaurants and art galleries. Mango Bistro is a longtime favorite serving breakfast and lunch options such as sandwiches, paninis, salads, and crepes on the outdoor patio. Englewoods on Dearborn offers a lively dinnertime atmosphere with live blues music in the courtyard. The menu features steak, seafood and German specialties such as schnitzel. The weekly Englewood Farmers Market, which takes place on Thursdays from October to May, is another place to find fresh produce and wild-caught seafood.
The Englewood Farmer's Market is a weekly showcase for local artisans and vendors near Rotonda.
Publix is the go-to for groceries and essentials in Rotonda.
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Social clubs and holiday festivities
The Rotonda West social calendar is full of club meetings and annual events. Mahjong, ukulele, knitting, sewing, and card clubs meet and socialize at the community center on the north side of the circle. Clubs, schools and municipal groups also bring festive cheer at the Christmas parade, a favorite annual tradition. Mark Twain Lane in the Pebble Beach subdivision is the go-to area on Halloween, drawing about 1,000 trick-or-treaters each year. Residents get involved by donating candy to the cause.
The Earth Day Festival and many fun local events occur often in and near Rotonda.
Recreation centers and social events can all be found within a short distance from Rotonda.
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Above-average Charlotte County Public Schools
Rotonda West falls within the Charlotte County Public Schools system. Kids typically progress from Vineland Elementary to L.A. Ainger Middle School and Lemon Bay High School. Each school earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Lemon Bay High offers the Cambridge University's Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program, which provides college-level coursework. Teens can also earn at least one industry certification before graduation.
Vineland Elementary School is a large public elementary school in Rotonda West.
Lemon Bay High School is a large Public grade school near Rotonda.
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Driving around the Rotonda West circle
Rotonda West can be hard to navigate since the subdivisions don't have through-streets. Rotonda Circle and Boundary Boulevard are the main connectors circling the perimeter. "If you look at it like a pie, you have to drive out to what I call the crust of the pie, and then you can get to all the other sections," Damewood says. Interstate 75 connects to Tampa, about 100 miles north, and Fort Myers, about 50 miles south. Locals mainly rely on cars since bus routes are not available. Charlotte County Transit does offer curb-to-curb rides by request from Monday through Friday.
New homes come with hurricane protection
Coastal Florida is prone to hurricanes from early June through late November. Damewood says the area's new construction homes are built with strict hurricane-preparedness standards. Many parts of the neighborhood are considered Special Flood Hazard Areas by FEMA.
Written By
Liz Coughlin
Photography Contributed By
Kristjan Veski
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Alex Bowermaster,
an experienced agent in this area.
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