Wellington

Greenview Shores is physically at the center of Wellington, offering a peaceful waterfront energy in an already quiet village west of Palm Beach. “It’s one of the most sought-after non-gated areas,” Michelle Gibson of the Hansen Real Estate Group shares. Over two decades of experience in the Wellington real estate market make her the go-to source for all things Wellington; her wealth of knowledge is shared on her website, WellingtonHomeTeam.com. “Compared to other communities, you won’t find the same price point with the amount of space you’re afforded. Most of the people in Greenview Shores live here full-time, and they range from families just starting out to people who have lived in the homes they built for decades.” “Most of the original owners bought their land and built their homes during construction years,” Gibson says. “They’re mostly ranches, but all of them are pretty unique as far as layout and you won’t get much of the cookie-cutter feeling as you’re driving through. It’s a very well-planned community that doesn’t get a lot of through traffic. Each village has only one or two ins and outs, so they’re very secure.” While most of the communities in Wellington have HOAs, options on the canals and man-made lakes leading to Lake Wellington that give homeowners free reign to decorate as they please. Four bed, two-to-three bath ranch-style homes on quarter acre lots with large garages and colorful exteriors go for $650,000 to $760,000. Meanwhile, stately stucco and tile and Greek Revival influences with grand columns make up the gated and manned Polo West community, where homes go for $1.3 million to $2.25 million dollars. The Palm Beach School District is known for being one of the best in the state. Kids in Greenview Shores can start strong at Wellington Elementary School or New Horizons Elementary School, both earning a B-plus from Niche. They move on to Polo Park Middle School or Wellington Landings Middle School, both earning an A-minus from Niche. They finish strong at Wellington High School, which was first established as Wellington College of Design in 1886. The historic school earns an A from Niche. Besides the equestrian fields nearby, grassy escapes with swings and slides are also easy to find within Greenview Shores. Farmington Park is open to the public and sits right on the lake. Nearby Tiger Shark Cove Park is beloved by locals, not only for its ocean-themed play structures, but also because of its history as a community-led project dreamed up from the ideas of local children. The same goes for Scott's Place Barrier-Free Playground. “My family and I helped build Scott’s Park and volunteered during the construction,” says Gibson. “It’s a park for children of all abilities, so there are play structures for kids in wheelchairs, for example.” Thousands of horses arrive during peak season (January through the end of March) to compete in the heavily attended Winter Equestrian Festival. On the non-equestrian front, Greenview Shores is 4 miles from the Wellington Branch Library, which finished renovations at the end of 2021 and hosts a wide variety of events from Zumba to board game nights. Residents pick up the necessities from the local Publix before eating out at familiar favorites like Lindburgers, a Southeast Florida staple celebrating nearly 40 years of service. The Movies at Wellington holds strong as an independent, family-owned movie theater showing blockbusters and indie films alike. The Wellington Mall is a 5 mile drive away for a full day of shopping and chain restaurant fare. While most of Wellington is car-dependent, locals get creative when getting around. “Some people have golf carts, and during peak season, you’ll see horses walking down some of the main streets,” Gibson shares. U.S. Route 98 and Florida’s Turnpike are nearby for the 18-mile commute to West Palm Beach. Locals welcome their visitors at the Palm Beach International Airport 15 miles to the east. “Wellington is pretty quiet and there’s no through traffic in the neighborhoods, but the roads do get busier during horse show season,” Gibson says.

Park Ridge may get its name from a local golf course, but what homebuyers are most interested in are its schools. The neighborhood lies on the edge of rural western Palm Beach County, deep in the suburbs where most streets are sidewalk-lined, quiet until school lets out for the day. Students are zoned for excellent elementary and middle schools, as well as the county’s newest high school, Dr. Joaquín García High, which is right in the heart of the community. While Park Ridge’s earliest homes date back to the 1970s, most of the planned subdivisions were developed in the early 2000s. New construction has been a constant since, steadily transitioning the area away from its rural roots. According to Realtor Jann Flowers with Realty Home Advisors, this is thanks in part to infrastructural changes. “Since they widened Lyons Road, Park Ridge has really seemed less remote. Its main road isn’t a rural backroad anymore.” Convenient commercial developments were built around it, which coupled with the community’s location directly off Florida’s Turnpike to ease day-to-day routines. Most homes in Park Ridge are Contemporary Spanish Revivals and New Traditional houses. HOAs are mandatory, excluding a pocket of midcentury ranch-style homes off Lyons Road. Three-bedroom residences list from the mid $400,000s to the high $800,000s. Four- and five-bedroom properties range from around $700,000 to $1.5 million. Depending on the subdivision, lots can be less than 5,000 square feet or more than an acre. “Those larger lots are becoming more rare in this part of South Florida,” Flowers says. Front yards are manicured, and many backyards have lakeside views. Two-car garages and driveways are standard in the planned subdivisions, most of which are gated. New construction townhouses are in the community as well, ranging from the mid $500,000s to the high $700,000s. Park Ridge is served by the School District of Palm Beach County, including two schools that are right in the neighborhood: Woodlands Middle, graded B-plus on Niche, and Dr. Joaquín García High. As the county’s newest high school, Dr. Joaquín García High is currently unrated on Niche. Students there enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, such as ballfields, weightlifting and wrestling rooms, tennis courts, a stadium, and a sand volleyball court. Students interested in health, information technology and military career paths should check out the school’s programs and academies. Discovery Key Elementary, graded A-minus, is also nearby, about a mile or two up Lyons Road. The wide open fairways at Park Ridge Golf Course allow locals to take in the scenery as they navigate the greens and a multitude of elevation changes, some climbing higher than 85 feet. The uniquely mountainous course has 18 holes and was originally developed in the early 2000s. Part of that development involved revitalizing a retired landfill. Today, the course is Audubon-certified, so while golfers appreciate a beautiful and lush backdrop, local wildlife enjoy a healthy habitat. A grocery store is never too far away in Park Ridge. Walmart, Target and Aldi sit right on the neighborhood’s fringes. Additionally, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are less than 5 miles up U.S. 441. “All the new developments that are going in around here are connected by 441,” Flowers says. “It’s putting the area on the map.” These new developments include fast-food favorites like Wendy’s and KFC, as well as locally owned restaurants. Delicias Cuban Bakery has been family-owned and operated since it opened in 2003. The neighborhood staple has grown with the community, selling fresh Latin specialties, from savory empanadas to sweet guava-and-cheese-filled pastelitos (pastries). It’s an 18-mile commute to Downtown West Palm Beach, taking Florida’s Turnpike, which can be accessed right outside Park Ridge. Palm Beach International Airport is 15 miles away. The nearest hospital is Wellington Regional Medical Center, 5 miles north.

Resort-style amenities and suburban charm come together in Olympia. Tucked in the east side of Wellington, this neighborhood’s homes sit along winding canals and lakes. The neighborhood’s two guard-gated subdivisions – Olympia to the west of Lyons Road and Village Walk to the east – prioritize a lifestyle of comfort and peace of mind. "Olympia is very friendly, pet-friendly and family-oriented. People wave to each other. Every now and then, you'll see someone on a small boat in one of the lakes or by the water fishing with the kids, and you'll wave to them, too," says Chris Chames, Associate Broker with Exit Realty Oceanside. In addition to selling homes nearby, Chames has been an Olympia resident for more than seven years. Olympia’s prime location on the east side of Wellington places it close to prime shopping options, local schools and plentiful recreation.<br><br>Homes in the Olympia area share Spanish Revival and Mediterranean design aspects. Barrel roof tiles, arches, warm colors and stucco exteriors contribute to the neighborhood’s look. Many homes’ backyards are connected to the area’s lakes and canals, and in-ground pools are a common feature. Most homes in the neighborhood were built in the 2000s, and buyers can find a mix of single-story ranchers and two-story estates nearby. Move-in ready homes sell between the mid-$400,000s and $1.6 million. “They do the landscaping perfectly. Everything is very well maintained. My HOA fee covers lawn maintenance, too," Chames says.<br><br>Olympia residents have access to an impressive selection of recreational facilities. “Compared to other areas that I looked at, you see way more people walking around here. People are outside all the time. They're riding bicycles, playing tennis, swimming in the pool, working out in the gym," Chames says. Within the neighborhood, the private clubhouse area includes greenspace, a wetland preserve and courts for volleyball, pickleball, tennis and basketball. Close to the neighborhood’s schools, Olympia Park offers facilities for baseball, football, track and more. "Both my sons are in soccer, and Wellington has a great soccer team, so I've been there a lot," Chames says. "It's a really good spot." Just north of the neighborhood, the Banyan Golf Club offers a private 18-hole course with tennis courts and onsite dining. And less than 4 miles northwest of Olympia, Okeheelee Park is one of the West Palm Beach area’s largest recreational areas, with an equestrian center, a 27-hole public golf course, a BMX track and lake access for boating and fishing. <br><br>Immediately west of the neighborhood near Forest Hill Boulevard, the Wellington Green complex offers multiple dining and shopping options. The Mall at Wellington Green hosts Dillard’s, Macy’s, Ashley Furniture and JCPenney stores, along with retailers like H&M and Apple. Outside the mall, smaller shopping centers host retailers like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market, and well-known restaurants such as Five Guys and First Watch. Sports bars nearby include Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grille, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill and Buffalo Wild Wings.<br><br>Students in the Olympia area can attend schools in the Palm Beach County School District, including Equestrian Trails Elementary School. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and holds an A grade on Niche. Emerald Cove Middle School holds an A-minus grade. Both schools are less than 4 miles away for most Olympia residents. Palm Beach Central High School offers more than 50 student clubs and organizations. The school earns an A grade on Niche.<br><br>Olympia is situated 13 miles southwest of downtown West Palm Beach and 45 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. Residents are connected to the rest of the West Palm Beach area by Florida’s Turnpike to the east, Forest Hill Boulevard/FL-882 to the north and South State Road 7/US-441 to the west. The nearest hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center, is immediately northwest of the neighborhood on Forest Hill Boulevard. Flights depart from Palm Beach International Airport, 11 miles northeast of Olympia.

Located within the Equestrian Capital of the World, the Landings at Wellington is where suburbia and horse ownership merge. Just 15 miles outside of West Palm Beach, homeowners in the Landings at Wellington can stay close to equestrian amenities and festivities. “People like this neighborhood because it’s away from the hustle and bustle side of town, but within a good school district,” says Martha Jolicoeur, real estate broker at Douglas Elliman, and long-time resident of Wellington. The Landings at Wellington has several distinct areas. Lakefield, in the northern portion, is a collection of gated communities, such as Lakefield West, which is directly across from The Wanderers Club. Houses here are three- to four-bedrooms. At the Aero Club, homeowners can access the neighborhood’s private runway. Homes can have as many as five bedrooms and five baths and at least 1 acre of land, with private hangars where residents can store their personal planes. Houses with barns and training fields on the properties are also commonplace across the Landings at Wellington to accommodate local competitive equestrians. Spanish Revival homes are the standard style throughout the neighborhood. Prices in the Landing at Wellington often start at $550,000, but many homes cost as much as $2 to $3 million, especially around the Aero Club. Houses closer to the runway will often list higher due to their prime location, as well as those with more amenities like barns and open fields. Awarded an A from Niche, Binks Forest Elementary is a K-5 that students in the neighborhood can attend. Wellington Landings Middle School receives an A-minus from Niche and offers students several specified programs, like Pre-Information Technology, where students can learn the foundations they need for programming and software development. At Wellington Community High School, students can enroll in the Pre-Veterinary Program to learn about horse anatomy, behavior and physiology. Niche also awards this school an A. Events in Wellington draw international visitors. Wellington is famous for its Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), where amateurs and professional equestrians can compete at the Wellington International in jumping, dressage and hunting events. The festival spans 13 weeks from January to March, with 80 acres of arenas to host competitors and spectators. Throughout the year, Wellington International hosts Saturday Night Lights, inviting the public to watch grand prix competitions, listen to live music or ride the old-fashioned carousel. Every March, the Wellington Bacon and Bourbon Festival brings local flavor and charm to the neighborhood. Vendors offer whiskey tastings paired with bacon and pork dishes. Greenbriar Park has a designated dog park where residents can let dogs loose to play and water fountains to keep pets hydrated. The park even has different areas catered to dogs of different sizes for more controlled playtime. The Wanderers Club is a private golf course and country club with a driving range, tennis courts, pools and a clubhouse. Equestrian fields encourage athletes to practice and perfect their techniques before competitions. Residents in the Landings at Wellington can find local restaurants and familiar brands at the Courtyard Shops at Wellington only 3 miles away. “When it’s too busy in the winter during the festival, you won’t have to wait to eat on this side of town,” says Jolicoeur. The Publix in the complex allows people to complete their grocery shopping. The Kontiki Wine and Raw Bar has Thai and other Asian cuisine at a more premium price. Its chandelier and neon sign create an elegant atmosphere for a nice night out. For the best burgers, Lindburgers Wellington is a more casual option with a diverse menu of American classics. At the Mall at Wellington Green 7 miles away, residents can find a Trader Joe’s and a Whole Foods Market. Because of its design and layout, the Landings at Wellington is a car-dependent community. “You’ll see a lot of golf carts here because the parking can be difficult,” says Jolicoeur. When driving, residents may need to stop at horse-crossing signs, as equestrians use Wellington’s horse trails to exercise their show horses.