Highland Lakes sits in Leesburg, FL, and folks know it as a gated community with 938 homes surrounded by seven small lakes and natural wetlands, so you'll see lots of wildlife and can go fishing in some of the lakes if you like. The community keeps wide open spaces and well-tended landscaping, with walking trails, a meditation glade, and labeled native plants, making it nice for getting outside or just taking a stroll. The place is built for active adults, and the Highlands Lakes Clubhouse acts as the main gathering spot for most social, club, and daily activity needs, with a community calendar full of movie nights, dances, and club meetings, plus meeting and card rooms, a billiards and ping-pong room, a library with books and puzzles, and different craft rooms for painting, quilting, ceramics, and woodworking, including their own Craftsmen Building. There's a full-time activities director who puts together more than 50 interest groups and classes, so if you're into quilting, yoga, pickleball, card games, line dancing, bowling, or travel clubs, there's likely a group for you, and they even have a Growers' association and plenty of volunteer programs. The on-site arena is available for indoor tennis, pickleball, and walking, but also hosts entertainment series, bingo, and music or drama practice.
Outdoors, Highland Lakes has a lot to offer, with four outdoor hard pickleball courts available for club play (though you need to bring your own net, and these can't be reserved), bocce ball courts, six tennis courts (two lighted, four with a cushion surface), an outdoor lap pool, eight shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, a golf driving range, a softball field right along Route 27 for tournaments, a pavilion with picnic tables and grills, and several lakes for catch and release fishing. There's also boat and RV storage, with over 260 spaces including covered options, available any time for residents. The exercise room's got treadmills, bikes, a step and rowing machine, weights, and more, while the indoor pool is heated as needed and stays open year-round for exercise and swim classes.
They provide more than just fun-it's also a full senior living community with independent living for those who don't need help, but also skilled nursing with round-the-clock medical support, wound and rehab care, plus assisted living services with 24-hour call buttons, supervision, help with daily tasks, meals, and medication. For folks with memory troubles or at risk for wandering, there's memory care in secure spaces, and they offer specialized activities to help keep minds active. Short-term respite care is available to give family caregivers a break.
The dining choices include a dining room with all-day options, a professional chef, and special menus for allergies or dietary needs. Housekeeping, laundry, move-in help, concierge, and family support are available, with other conveniences like a pet directory, vendor reviews, volunteer needs, a newsletter, service requests, and secure HOA doc access online. Highland Lakes keeps things secure with gated entry and volunteers helping out at the front gate. The community handles room reservations, has a feedback questionnaire, and offers a contact point on their website, where you'll also find a photo gallery and video tour. Pets are welcome and there are daily activities for those 55 and up, so most folks can find plenty to do and get to know their neighbors.
