The Club at Pelican Preserve

What The Club at Pelican Preserve does

Pelican Preserve is a master-planned 55+ active adult residential community located on 1,100 acres in Fort Myers, Florida. Originally developed by WCI beginning in 2001 and completed by Lennar in 2022, the community comprises 2,498 residential units organized around a central Town Center that anchors the lifestyle offering. Core products include a 27-hole championship golf course operated by Heritage Golf Group under an unbundled membership model; a Soleil Health & Fitness Center and Pelican Oasis Spa; four F&B venues (Destinations restaurant, Flip-Flops poolside grill, The Casita cafe, and Pelican Perk coffee shop); 12 pickleball courts and 8 Har-Tru tennis courts; arts and crafts studios; a 38-acre nature preserve with observation boardwalk; and approximately 50 special interest clubs. The community holds Audubon International Gold Certified Sanctuary and Gold Seal of Sustainability designations.

Governance transitioned from developer control to resident ownership in June 2019, when five elected homeowners formed the Pelican Preserve Community Association, Inc. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring HOA/association fees paid by all 2,498 homeowners, supplemented by golf memberships (Heritage Golf Group), F&B transaction revenue, and fitness/spa service revenue. Infrastructure including preserves, ponds, stormwater systems, roads, and utility services to roughly 800 units is owned and maintained by the Gateway Services Community Development District, a governmental entity. Day-to-day community management is supported by KW Property Management under contract with the in-house HOA administration.

The business model is essentially a closed-loop residential lifestyle platform: homes are sold (or resold) on the open market through Realtor.com-linked real estate partnerships, and once residents move in, they generate recurring HOA revenue plus on-site discretionary spend across dining, golf, spa, and programming. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer targeting active adults aged 55+ in Southwest Florida, marketed through the community's own website and the 55Places.com listing platform, which ranks Pelican Preserve among the top 55+ communities nationally. The entity is a private, member-owned Florida homeowners association with no parent company, no venture capital backing, and no public ticker.

Name

The Club at Pelican Preserve

Legal name

Pelican Preserve Community Association

Website

https://pelicanpreservelifestyles.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Club at Pelican Preserve is a resident-controlled 55+ active adult community of 2,498 homes on 1,100 acres in Fort Myers, Florida, offering championship golf, fitness, dining, spa, sports, and approximately 50 social clubs to homeowners who pay recurring HOA fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

55+ Active Adult Residential Community

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports, Golf & Activity-Based All-Inclusive Resorts (THAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Active adult community
• 55+ residential community
• Country club amenities
• Retirement lifestyle community
• Resort style living

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. HOA/Community Association Fees: Residents pay community association fees for access to amenities, maintenance of common areas, and governance services. The Pelican Preserve Community Association is member-controlled with elected board members.
2. Golf Club Membership: The Club at Pelican Preserve, operated by Heritage Golf Group, offers golf memberships for the 27-hole championship golf course. This is an unbundled golf model where golf membership is separate from community living.
3. Food & Beverage Operations: On-site dining venues including Destinations restaurant, Flip-Flops poolside bar and grill, The Casita cafe, and Pelican Perk coffee service generate revenue from food and beverage sales to residents and their guests.
4. Fitness & Spa Services: Pelican Oasis Spa offers massage, waxing, and facial services. Fitness center and spa services are available to members with member card access.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Club at Pelican Preserve is the golf and lifestyle club within the Pelican Preserve 55+ active adult residential community in Fort Myers, Florida. It operates a 27-hole championship golf course through Heritage Golf Group and provides residents with access to a Town Center hub containing restaurants, a fitness center, spa, swimming pools, recreational sports courts, arts and crafts studios, and a 38-acre nature preserve with observation boardwalk. Membership is structured as recurring HOA community association fees with a separately unbundled golf membership option.

Product overview

The Club at Pelican Preserve is a premier 55+ active adult community offering resort-style living on 1,100 acres in Fort Myers, Florida. The community features a unified lifestyle platform built around the Town Center, which serves as the central hub connecting residential amenities, dining, fitness, and recreational facilities. Key product modules include championship golf (The Club at Pelican Preserve, operated by Heritage Golf Group), the Soleil Health & Fitness Center and Pelican Oasis Spa for wellness, multiple dining venues (Destinations restaurant, Flip-Flops poolside grill, The Casita cafe, and Pelican Perk coffee shop), recreational sports facilities (12 pickleball courts, 8 tennis courts, bocce, lawn bowling, softball, basketball, billiards), arts and crafts studios, and a 38-acre nature preserve with boardwalk. The community also supports approximately 50 special interest clubs for social engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Club at Pelican Preserve: 27-hole championship golf club operated by Heritage Golf Group within the Pelican Preserve community, offering pristine greens and natural preserve surroundings.
• Destinations Restaurant
• Flip-Flops Restaurant
• Pelican Perk
• The Casita
• Soleil Health & Fitness Center
• Pelican Oasis Spa
• Brokke Center

Products and services

• The Club at Pelican Preserve Golf Course 27-hole championship golf course operated by Heritage Golf Group with pristine greens, Tifeagle Ultradwarf playing surfaces, and natural preserve surroundings; available to community residents via optional golf membership separate from HOA fees
• Soleil Health & Fitness Center Member-access fitness center with cardio machines, free weights, fitness studios, locker rooms, saunas, and steam rooms; offers group classes including Yoga, Spin, Pilates, and Zumba plus personal training and nutritional counseling
• Pelican Oasis Spa Full-service spa located in the Magnolia Building offering massage, waxing, and facial services to community residents and members
• Destinations Restaurant Indoor fine dining restaurant located in the Town Center offering cocktails, wine, and dinner service for resident special occasions
• Flip-Flops Poolside Bar and Grill Casual poolside bar and grill offering appetizers, wraps, live entertainment, and happy hour for residents and guests
• Pelican Perk Coffee Shop On-site coffee spot for morning coffee service and as an informal social gathering place for residents and friends
• The Casita Cafe Cafe located in the Brokke Center open Monday through Friday mornings offering coffee service and casual dining to residents
• Pickleball Courts 12 dedicated pickleball courts supporting friendly matches, practice sessions, competitive play, and instruction for community residents
• Tennis Courts 8 Har-Tru tennis courts available for singles or doubles play, friendly matches, practice, and community tournaments
• Arts and Crafts Studios On-site creative studios for residents covering drawing, painting, flower arranging, ceramics, pottery, stained glass, sewing, woodworking, and other crafts
• Boardwalk and Nature Preserve 38-acre nature preserve with observation boardwalk for bird watching and wildlife viewing, supporting the Audubon International Gold Certified Sanctuary designation

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gateway Services Community Development District (GSCDD)coreOthers · 1 June 2019GSCDD is a governmental entity that owns and maintains much of Pelican Preserve's infrastructure including preserves, ponds, stormwater management, landscaping, roads, sidewalks, streetlights, guardhouse, fountains, and neighborhood monuments. They also provide water and wastewater utility services to approximately 800 residential units.
• LennarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008National homebuilder that purchased WCI after the 2008 recession and financial difficulties. Lennar completed construction of all 2498 housing units in 2022, finishing what the original developer started.
• WCI (Original Developer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Original developer that started planning the community in 2001 with vision for distinctive sports and arts amenities. Ran into financial difficulties during 2008 recession, halting construction before being acquired by Lennar.
• Heritage Golf GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage Golf Group operates The Club at Pelican Preserve, managing the 27-hole championship golf course with pristine greens and natural preserve surroundings. This is an unbundled golf model where golf membership is separate from community HOA membership.
• KW Property ManagementminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty management company contracted to assist in management of community facilities and activities alongside in-house HOA administration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Heritage Golf Group: Golf course operator and management company that runs The Club at Pelican Preserve. Comparable as a third-party operator managing private golf clubs within 55+ communities, providing direct insight into Pelican Preserve's golf P&L.
• KW Property Management: Florida-focused property and community association management company contracted to assist in managing Pelican Preserve's facilities. Comparable as a peer HOA management vendor serving similar 55+ and condominium communities in Florida.

Direct peers

• Solivita: Central Florida 55+ community operated by Avid Property Management with golf, pools, fitness, and 200+ social clubs. Closely comparable to Pelican Preserve in scale, amenity mix, and resident-controlled governance.
• Lakewood Ranch: Large master-planned community in Southwest Florida offering multiple villages, golf courses, sports, and lifestyle amenities. Comparable as a premier Florida community competing for similar demographic in the same regional market.
• Latitude Margaritaville: Margaritaville-branded 55+ communities in Daytona Beach and Hilton Head offering resort-style living, fitness, dining, and entertainment. Comparable as a newer-generation competitor targeting the same active-adult lifestyle buyer.
• Sun City Hilton Head: Del Webb-operated 55+ retirement community in Bluffton, South Carolina with multiple golf courses, recreation, and social amenities. Comparable as a mature 55+ community with unbundled golf memberships and similar lifestyle offering.
• The Villages: The largest 55+ active adult community in the United States, located in central Florida. Directly comparable to Pelican Preserve as a master-planned 55+ community offering golf, recreation, dining, and social clubs on a large footprint.
• Valencia by GL Homes: GL Homes' portfolio of 55+ resort-style communities across Florida featuring golf, clubhouses, and resort amenities. Directly competes with Pelican Preserve for active-adult home buyers in the Southwest Florida corridor.
• On Top of the World Communities: Ocala, Florida-based 55+ active adult community with multiple golf courses, recreation, and amenities. Directly comparable as a Florida retirement community competing for the same active-adult demographic as Pelican Preserve.

Broad incumbents

• Del Webb (PulteGroup): National 55+ community brand owned by PulteGroup operating Sun City and Del Webb developments across the Sunbelt. Comparable as a large, established active-adult homebuilder/community operator with broader geographic reach than Pelican Preserve.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-club-at-pelican-preserve

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Club at Pelican Preserve