Tangerine Improvement Society works to keep it country
As suburban development in Orange County continues to grow, Tangerine’s rural roots hold firm. The unincorporated community, home to just under 4,000 residents, stretches across several lake shores, with quiet streets, large lots and mature tropical greenery. Its natural beauty was the reason for its founding, and why members of the voluntary Tangerine Improvement Society (TIS) are working to keep it country. Indra Kasireddy, a Certified Commercial Investment Member with Blissful Real Estate, says he was shocked when almost 200 residents attended a recent public hearing regarding potential rezoning in the area. “They want to keep [Tangerine] small. They’re against master-planned development,” he says. “People move there for privacy and space, so the community is set on maintaining their large lots.”
Lakeside parks provide camping, fishing and boardwalk strolls
Tangerine touches four lakes – Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair, Lake Carlton and Lake Ola – so waterfront recreation is easily accessible. On the west side, Trimble Park is a 71-acre peninsular green space with campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing docks and a boat ramp. Palm Island Park has a boardwalk on Lake Dora, popular for watching sunsets. Deer Island Country Club sits between Lake Beauclair and Lake Dora with a championship golf course and a driving range. The club is just across the water from Tangerine, but it’s around a 10-mile drive; Mount Dora Golf Club is a closer option, less than 3 miles away. Tangerine also has a couple of pocket parks, and various scenic green spaces are nearby in Mount Dora.
Home prices reflect a mix of charm, space and exclusivity
The median sale price in Tangerine is around $630,000. It features many historic and custom-built homes, giving it a diverse architectural profile that ranges from early 20th-century farmhouses and quirky midcentury cottages to Spanish Revivals from the early 2000s and sleek contemporary new builds. Many of the waterfront properties are million- and multi-million-dollar estate-style homes. Half- and full-acre lots are common; multi-acre lots, including the odd equestrian property, are rarer on the market. Waterfront homes, or any other property within a special flood zone, will require flood insurance for a federal mortgage. Hurricane season ranges from June to November.
Tangerine students can apply to countywide magnet programs
Orange County Public Schools has an A-minus on Niche and offers school choice. Tangerine is zoned for nearby schools: Zellwood Elementary, graded B-minus; Wolf Lake Middle, graded B-plus; and Apopka High, also graded B-plus. The high school is home to Orange County’s Advanced Engineering Applications magnet program; students can apply to magnet programs at other schools, which focus on different fields, from digital media and gaming to veterinary animal science. Local private options include the faith-based Mount Dora Christian Academy, graded A-minus, for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Mount Dora’s historic downtown offers culture, cuisine and creativity
U.S. Highway 441 runs along the community’s east side. There’s a shopping plaza on it with a few chains – Publix, Beef ’O’ Brady’s and McDonald’s. More local options for shopping and dining are less than 5 miles away in Mount Dora. The small town’s historic downtown has gourmet grocery stores, a Sunday fresh market and a variety of locally owned restaurants, such as Pisces Rising, where seafood is served with a Caribbean flair. The area is also known for hosting various festivals, most famously the Mount Dora Arts Festival, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Highway 441 is the main route for Tangerine commuters
Car-dependent Tangerine is about 30 miles northwest of Orlando, and Highway 441 is the commute’s first leg. Orlando International Airport is 40 miles away. The closest emergency room is UF Health Emergency & Urgent Care Center, less than 10 miles away.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
