News
Residents Say Miromar Lakes Lives Like A Resort
18 October 2009
MIROMAR LAKES, FL. - If timing is everything, then completion of the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club held particular significance to the Fredericks. Miromar Lakes resident Connie Frederick says "it seemed like the Beach Clubhouse was being built just for my daughter's wedding". The Frederick family watched construction progress with great anticipation and a few months after completion, their beautiful event took place. That was a little over a year ago. Since then, the Beach Clubhouse has been the site of many holiday celebrations, private family gatherings and a host of community activities.
The Beach Clubhouse is the third and final building in the 39,000 square foot, award-winning Beach Club, which is the centerpiece of the community. With architectural flair and amenities that are much more than the typical country club, the Beach Club has garnered numerous "Best Clubhouse" awards and it has proven to be a major influence in shaping the social life of Miromar Lakes' residents. As a residential waterfront resort community with over 700 acres of contiguous aquamarine freshwater lakes, three miles of private, white sandy beach and "signature" championship golf, all within one setting, Miromar Lakes lives like a resort. Comments Frederick: "Our guests traveled from other states for the wedding and loved that they were granted access to all the Miromar Lakes amenities during their visit. I was pleasantly surprised afterwards when I received thank you notes not only for the wedding but for the wonderful vacation getaway that came with it."
Residents Anna and Bob Cole also celebrated their daughter's nuptials with a barbecue at the Miromar Lakes Beach Club. They hosted out-of-town guests the day after the wedding of their daughter, Melanie. As Dr. Cole stated: "Everybody loved Miromar Lakes. It was wonderful to be able to have an event of that quality in our own community." Mrs. Cole, who is of Italian heritage, was even able to share recipes with the chef who prepared them in keeping with her family tradition of serving pasta on Sundays.
One couple whose wedding exemplified the benefits of being able to keep the entire social package in one place was that of Jackie Riggle and Jim Green. A part time resident of Chicago with a home in Miromar Lakes that she purchased over six years ago, Riggle and her groom, held their rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception and after-wedding-day brunch at the Miromar Lakes Beach Club in May. Green describes her special weekend as a "dream come true in paradise, picture perfect and over the top." Since most of the guests were from out of town, they loved being able to set up special activities on site, such as a spa day for women at the Miromar Spa and a golf outing for the gentlemen at the Miromar Golf Club, both followed by luncheons. Riggle said she was surprised when numerous male guests made it a point to say it was the best wedding they had ever attended. Says Riggle: "The entire Miromar team went all out. The food was above and beyond, the servers made every guest feel at home and the surroundings were impeccable. One manager even went so far as to drive some of our older guests back to their hotel when they tired."
Accolades are not restricted to those from Miromar Lakes residents. Kira Krümm, a Marco Island resident and principal of the award-winning Kira Krümm Interior Design firm at the International Design Center in Estero, was a recent guest at the Beach Clubhouse and sent a note about her experience: "All I can say about Miromar is WOW! I wish I lived there. Our lunch has opened my eyes to this magnificent place. I look forward to sharing the Miromar community with my team, soon."
Miromar Lakes residents can also be confident about the solidity and permanence of their amenities at a time when the economy finds many country clubs on shaky ground. Jerry Schmoyer, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Miromar Development Corp., states: "Miromar Development, the developer of Miromar Lakes, is a multi-faceted real estate development company which holds a portfolio of residential and commercial properties in the Southwest Florida. In 2008, the company celebrated its 20th year in the property development business. We are a privately owned company. Through prudent management practices, we remain financially sound and maintain a very strong balance sheet."
Located directly on the water's edge, the Beach Clubhouse offers intimate spaces and large gathering areas for just about any type of occasion, including gourmet evening dining indoors or under the stars with seating for 200 people in the main dining room, beachside terrace dining for 80 guests and courtyard seating for 60. A private beachside dining room provides intimate seating around a fireplace and is a favorite setting for wine tasting dinners, business functions and cozy get-togethers. A 50-seat theater hosts movie showings several nights a week; meetings and programs throughout the year such as Florida Gulf Coast University's Renaissance Academy; and special televised events like the opening and closing nights at the Olympics, the Wimbledon finals or an evening at the Academy Awards. The Beach Clubhouse also has an indoor/outdoor bar lounge with wine rooms, a library, billiard room, card room and business center.
The Blue Water Beach Grill, which is also a part of the Beach Club, serves contemporary fare in an open-air setting with panoramic lake and beach views. It also has a marina with boat docks. Food and beverage service is also available at the cabanas which dot the adjacent beach. Since many of the homes at Miromar Lakes have private residential or neighborhood docks, going to the Beach Club by boat is a popular mode of transportation. The lakes are also popular for in-lake swimming, water-skiing and fishing. Freshwater bass as large as 12 pounds have been caught by resident anglers.
The third building comprising the Beach Club is the European-style Spa which encompasses a Zen Garden, a full-service beauty salon and a state-of-the-art Fitness Center with a Pilates Studio and Aerobics Room. Other Beach Club amenities include a 10,000 square foot, zero-edge infinity pool, world-class Concierge and Marine Services, a Tennis Club, volleyball and basketball courts, and a children's playground. The array of amenities at Miromar Lakes makes it possible to do several cross-over or tie-in events, such as resident fishing tournaments with boats and angler assistance provided by Marine Services, combined with box lunches from the restaurants; or a holiday boat parade that ends at the Blue Water Beach Grill for a celebration party. A round-robin at the Tennis Club is a great prelude to a holiday barbecue at the Beach Club where guests can also take advantage of a Spa & Fitness Center chair massage by the pool. Just imagine the range of possibilities available for summertime and holiday kids' camps!
Ron and Charlene Kyle, who live part of the year in New Jersey, think that Miromar Lakes is "truly a five-star resort environment." Says Ron: "I made it a point to have my business clients come and meet me at Miromar Lakes. It's been a great place to do both my business and social entertaining, especially with the facilities available at the new Beach Clubhouse. I have clients and friends who have traveled all over the world and they were genuinely ‘wowed' when they saw this place."
But, the Beach Club is not the only game in town! (And, while Miromar Lakes, Florida is not exactly a "town," it is indeed your certified U.S. Postal address when you live there.) The Miromar Lakes Golf Club has also earned numerous accolades from members for whom it is a social hub. Resident David Herring felt compelled to send an email after playing in this year's Men's Invitational in which he said: "I have played in tournaments like this all around the USA and in Europe. This was a first-class event!" Part of the allure for golf members is the Arthur Hills "signature" championship course - his only signature course in Southwest Florida - and part of the attraction is the multiple award-winning Tuscan-inspired Golf Clubhouse. Making it all run efficiently is a carefully cultivated and highly experienced team of professionals.
Schmoyer explains: "Our intent from the beginning was to develop a world-class environment. It is inspired by the travels of President and CEO of Miromar Development, Margaret Antonier. In particular, her vision was to recreate the unique ambiance of the French and Italian Riviera with homes and restaurants directly on the beach. We started with one mile of white sandy beach and everyone loved it. Margaret asked for another mile and we did that. Ultimately that led to three miles of private beach. Where else can you find this much water and private beach inland?" Longtime residents Mary and Doug Ballinger sum it up. On a vacation trip to Treasure Cay on Abaco Island in the Bahamas, Mary turned to Doug and said: "What are we doing here when we already live in paradise at Miromar Lakes."
Residential choices at Miromar Lakes include Beachfront Residences, Waterfront Residences, Estate and Grand Estate Homes, Luxury Villas, Full Floor Residences and Coach Homes. Prices range from the mid $200,000s to over $6 million.
Miromar Lakes continues to earn the coveted awards of "Community of the Year" and "Best Clubhouse." These honors represent Sand Dollar Awards from the Collier Builder Industry Association and Pinnacle Awards from the Lee County Building Industry Association won in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is located in Miromar Lakes, Florida, just north of Naples. Take exit 123 off I-75, turn right onto Corkscrew Road and drive a half mile east past the International Design Center and Miromar Outlets to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway. Turn left and continue 2.8 miles north to Miromar Lakes. The Sales Center is located outside of the gated entrance. For more information, please contact the Sales Center at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club at (239) 425-2340 or (877) 809-9444, or visit http://www.miromarlakes.com/ to view a new film about Miromar Lakes.