By Jim Carchidi
July 27, 2026
South Florida-based GT USA is confirming the details of its Panther Run community in South Lake County’s Wellness Way. The 2,241-acre plan includes homes, roads, a school, and an allocation of 1,626 acres for conservation.
How it started
The concept began with a property sale that broke county records in 2024. GT USA paid $165 million for undeveloped land between US Highway 27 and the Orange County line that included Arnold Groves & Ranch and the neighboring Roper property. The land is within the 15,000-acre Wellness Way master plan that features approximately 16,000 housing units, more than 11 million square feet of non-residential commercial space, and the Olympus mixed-use sports and health complex.
Panther Run originally spanned more than 3,000 residential units with single-family homes, apartments, 55+ active adult neighborhoods, and entitlements for two 600-room hotels and 1,000 vacation homes. The plan pivoted when county leaders expressed concern over the number of residential properties potentially adding pressure on public schools.
Concept revisions
A Panther Run community map shows residential and business uses, and a proposed high school. Image courtesy of GT USA
Lowndes attorney and Panther Run representative Tara Tedrow said the county provided the vision for Wellness Way in its Comprehensive Plan, which was approved in 2016. She adds the current Panther Run plan for 2,600 homes meets or exceeds county requirements by impacting less than a fourth of the property with low-density neighborhoods connected by trails and parks.
“We are therefore not seeking any amendment to that (Comprehensive Plan),” Tedrow said in a prepared statement. “Rather, we are only requesting an implementing PUD (planned unit development) approval as required by the county’s policies.”
GT USA COO Doug Bruk said discussions are in progress for the addition of a public safety complex and a new high school to serve South Lake county.
“We appreciate this opportunity to partner with Lake County on the execution of this portion of Wellness Way, where GT USA has designed a site with the stakeholder’s needs in mind,” he said.
Additionally, efforts to relieve traffic congestion in south Clermont and the Sawgrass Bay neighborhoods will include a two-mile extension of CR 455 to SR 516 and a two-mile connection from US 27 to CR 455.
By the numbers
A rendering of planned green space and trails in the Panther Run master plan. Image courtesy of GT USA
The new Panther Run master plan includes the following:
- One million square feet of employment uses expected to create more than 3,000 jobs in the manufacturing, medicine, finance, research and development, technology, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality and tourism industries.
- More than 4 miles of new roads connecting surrounding communities to relieve congestion on existing roadways.
- Approximately 72.5% of the property will be saved for conservation with 1,170 acres for wetlands and water bodies and 456 acres for parks, recreation trails, and a wildlife corridor.
- An 8-acre site for a proposed public safety complex with a fire station and a sheriff’s substation.
- 192 acres of multi-use employment centers
- 347 acres for neighborhoods
- 76 acres of infrastructure
- 20 community parks
- 90 acres of vacation home development expected to generate $6 million in county revenue
The Panther Run PUD will be on the Aug. 5 meeting agenda of Lake County's Planning & Zoning Board. Bruk said GT USA expects to break ground in the first quarter of 2027. GT USA will share information about the development at an open house on Aug. 10, from 5-7 p.m., at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 S Hwy 27.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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