Yalaha offers laid-back living on Lake Harris
Yalaha is a small, quiet community on the southern shore of central Florida’s Lake Harris. Homebuyers are drawn to the laid-back, Lake County location, which skews rural rather than suburban. The water, glittering between small, often gated developments and groves of live oaks draped with Spanish moss, is visible from the flat, two-lane highway through town. “Yalaha is for people who want the rural, more country scene. It’s only two seconds big,” says Amanda Harrison, broker/owner of Harrison Real Property Group with nearly 20 years of real estate experience.
Competitive prices for waterfront homes
Prices for contemporary, Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired New Traditional and ranch-style single-family homes start under $100,000 and rise to more than $770,000. Townhomes typically sell for between $265,000 and just over $350,000. Large, custom-built homes with private lake access can go for nearly $1 million. HOA fees vary by subdivision. “We’re cheaper than Palm Beach, but the waterfronts have definitely gone up in value,” Harrison says. The risk of flooding and wind damage, while elevated during hurricane season, are low compared to coastal Florida.
Leesburg High offers a Health Science Collegiate Academy
Lake County Schools, which earns a B from Niche, serves nearly 50,000 students across close to 50 schools with a 21-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The district allows controlled open enrollment. Most Yalaha kids go to Leesburg Elementary, Oak Park Middle and Leesburg High, all three of which earn C-plus Niche grades. Leesburg High is one of several schools in the district that offers the Health Science Collegiate Academy, a STEM and health sciences-based career exploration program. Students take classes and participate in observations/job shadowing at Lake Sumter State College, South Lake Hospital and the University of Central Florida.
Outdoor recreation on Harris Lake, golfing at Mission Resort & Club
Lake Harris is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, connected by canals, that spans sections of Lake and Orange counties. Covering more than 50,000 acres, it’s one of the largest lake chains in Florida. “A lot of people have private docks, or they keep their boats in Tavares,” Harrison says. Dry dock storage and wet slips are available at several marinas in the nearby town, including Fisherman’s Cove Marina. Hickory Point Recreation Complex has public boat ramps, along with a fishing pier and a swimming beach. The nearly 70-acre waterfront park is at the north end of Lake Harris Bridge, within 5 miles of most homes. Mission Resort & Club, south of the bridge in the neighboring Howey-in-the-Hills community, has a private marina, as well as two private golf courses, a spa and several restaurants. “We call it Mission Inn, and it’s beautiful. It’s really good golfing,” Harrison says.
Shopping/dining at locally owned spots like Yalaha Bakery
Gas stations, banks, fast-food restaurants and retailers like Publix, Dollar General and Ace Hardware fill the busy corner of U.S. Route 27 and State Road 48, within 5 miles of most homes. There are a few small businesses scattered along State Road 48 as it meanders through Yalaha, including Mansfield Landscaping’s nursery and showroom, a Chevron with an Easy Food Mart and a post office. “There’s also the wonderful German bakery, Yalaha Bakery, which I have to stay away from because it’s so good,” Harrison says. The family-owned bake shop and restaurant is famous for its organic, homemade pastries and breads, and it hosts live music every weekend in the attached biergarten. Yalaha Bootlegging Co. at Blue Bayou Farms is a moonshine distillery and country store known for craft cocktails, Amish butter, local honey and more. The family-owned farm also offers pick-your-own blueberries every spring.
Yalaha is within an hour of Orlando, UF Health Leesburg Hospital
State Road 19 connects northeast toward Tavares and southwest to Groveland. The two-lane highway runs roughly perpendicular to Florida’s Turnpike, which is within about 10 miles of most homes. Orlando, around 40 miles away, is about a 45-minute drive with light traffic on State Road 19 and the turnpike. UF Health Leesburg Hospital, a top regional employer, is about 10 miles north. The commute typically takes less than 20 minutes on U.S. Route 27. Lake County Connection provides door-to-door paratransit service.
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Photography Contributed By
Stephen Flint
