Semi-rural lots near the St. Johns River
Flagler Estates spreads across more than 6,000 acres of wooded residential lots in southwest St. Johns County, offering semi-rural seclusion a few minutes east of the St. Johns River and a half-hour drive to St. Augustine’s beaches and history-rich downtown. Laid out on a simple, numbered grid and shaded by mature pines and oaks, the community promises elbow room: every parcel measures at least one acre, with many stretching to two or three. “It has probably the lowest price point in the county with bigger lots,” says Ray Feliciano of Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage. Once populated mostly by mobile homes, the neighborhood now sees a mix of new stick-built houses and updated double-wides, a shift Feliciano believes signals “the possibility of growing wealth and ownership.” Families value the top-rated St. Johns County schools, while anglers and boaters prize quick access to the river and nearby launches in Hastings. For residents, the draw is simple: tranquil country living, room to spread out, and easy drives to both Palatka’s farm stands and St. Augustine’s dining, culture and Atlantic shoreline.
Stick-built and updated mobile homes
New construction includes lower-priced manufactured homes, but most of the residential additions in recent years have come in the form of contemporary single-family homes that feature paved driveways and attached garages. “It’s a growing community,” Feliciano says. “It’s gone from just mobile homes to a place with the possibility of growing wealth and ownership.” New homes are built on the same large lots, so regardless of home style, ample yard space is standard. Prices typically range from around $200,000 to more than $400,000. The occasional multi-acreage home offers room for amenities such as horse stables. The community began with dirt roads, but most have been paved in recent years to improve the infrastructure for a growing population. A recent hit-and-run of a child waiting for the bus has spurred calls for more street lights. Because of the river’s proximity, flooding is a moderate risk throughout the year. Wind damage is a high risk during hurricane season from June through November.
B-rated elementary, A-minus middle and IB high in top St. Johns
Students face a bit of a drive in this car-dependent community, but their schools are well-rated. South Woods Elementary School is B-rated by Niche; Gamble Rogers Middle School is rated A-minus; and Pedro Menendez High is a B-rated International Baccalaureate school that offers career academies in business, health and architectural design. “For a lot of people in St. Johns County, and Saint Augustine in particular, prices have just gotten too high,” Feliciano says. “Flagler Estates allows them to stay in the area and still be in the highly rated county school system.”
Botanical garden and surrounding conservation land
Flagler Estates sits amid thousands of acres of public conservation land, giving residents a backyard buffer of longleaf pines, palmetto flats and marsh. Inside the community, Flagler Estates Park provides a shady playground, a short wooded trail and a horseshoe pit that doubles as a meet-up spot during weekend cookouts. Just west of the neighborhood line, the St. Johns Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve showcases native and exotic palms, cycads and bromeliads along mulched footpaths, offering guided walks and plant sales that draw gardeners from across the county. Together, the surrounding preserves, pocket park and living plant collection make outdoor time a daily option without leaving the local roads.
State Road 207 diners, riverfront seafood, St. Augustine big-box store
Flagler Estates has no retail core, so residents shop and dine mainly along State Road 207 in nearby East Palatka, Hastings and St. Augustine. Locals grab all-day breakfast or a patty melt at 207 Diner before stocking up on groceries at chain supermarkets and dollar stores clustered around Hastings and East Palatka. For fresh-caught fare, they head to Corky Bell’s Seafood at Gator Landing on the St. Johns River for fried catfish, shrimp and gator tail served with sunset water views. Bigger-box retailers, specialty markets and national chains line U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 in St. Augustine, while roadside farm stands sell seasonal produce such as potatoes, cabbage and Datil-pepper sauces that hint at the area’s agricultural roots.
County Road 13 to I-95, 30 minutes to hospital, 50 miles to Daytona ai
County Road 13 provides convenient access to Interstate 95 about 15 miles east of the community. It also connects residents to Hastings. From there, it’s a little more than 15 miles to Saint Augustine and the Atlantic coast. HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka is about a 30-minute drive. Daytona Beach International is the closest commercial airport, about 50 miles via I-95.
