A new 178-home community is taking shape near the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in Minneola, where Tri Pointe Homes is preparing to welcome buyers to sweeping views of Lake County from one of the highest points on the Florida peninsula. The community, called Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain, is organized into three neighborhoods along Hancock Road just north of its roundabout intersection with Sugarloaf Mountain Road, and the builder says sales could begin as soon as December.
Tri Pointe Homes describes Pine Ridge on its own listing page as a single-family home community scheduled to open in November 2026, with a grand-opening event planned for Saturday, November 14, from noon to 4 p.m. That timeline runs somewhat ahead of an item from the Orlando Business Journal, which referred to Pine Ridge as already opened and reported that prices for the three neighborhoods range into the $700,000s. As reported by GrowthSpotter, the community spans the high $400,000s to $700,000s across 12 available floor plans.
Sugarloaf Mountain itself rises more than 300 feet above sea level, and Pine Ridge homes are positioned to capture expansive views of central Florida and Lake County, per GrowthSpotter's reporting. Joel Underwood, identified in that reporting, said Tri Pointe introduced a mountain elevation unusual for Florida, and that the builder focuses on home livability and amenities that complement residents' lifestyles. He also said Tri Pointe offers customers an online design experience throughout the build process.
Three Collections, a Range of Lot Sizes
Pine Ridge features three collections — Arbor, Park and Overlook — built on 45-foot, 55-foot and 65-foot lots, respectively, according to GrowthSpotter. Homes range from 1,712 to 3,871 square feet and include three to five bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and two- to three-bay garages. The architecture was designed by Bassenian Lagoni Architects, a California-based firm, per the same report.
Pricing sheets cited by GrowthSpotter list the Aspen plan starting at $475,990 and the Prescott plan starting at $769,000. One model, called Calderwood, has a floor area of 2,017 square feet and is designed to attract active adult buyers age 55 and older. Kelly Thomas, also cited in that reporting, said Calderwood was designed for empty-nester retirees and allows family to visit without the limitations of an age-restricted community.
Pools, Pavilions and Playground Equipment
The community's planned amenities include a 2,000-square-foot gathering pavilion for socializing and events, along with a swimming pool, cabana, wellness lawn, parkour equipment with double swings, and a playground with a jungle dome, according to GrowthSpotter's account. An amenity center is also planned to include outdoor fitness equipment, cornhole boards, ping pong tables, a fireplace, a double grill and multiple turf areas. Tri Pointe's own site separately describes plans for a pool and Gathering Pavilion, and a 2024 announcement tied to the project anticipated 15.87 acres of open space overall, including a neighborhood park, amenity center and ponds, according to a release distributed via Tri Pointe Homes via GlobeNewswire.
The grand-opening festivities on November 14 are set to take place at the community's outdoor Gathering Pavilion, where attendees can tour four model homes and explore available floor plans and customization options with the Tri Pointe Homes team, GrowthSpotter reports. The event will include catering from Three Bird Café and Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream. Tri Pointe expects a few Pine Ridge homes to be available for sale before the end of the year, with first closings anticipated for December.
Minneola's Rapid Growth Backdrop
Pine Ridge marks Tri Pointe Homes' second community to open for sales through its Orlando division, which launched in 2024. The builder previously opened sales at Eventide, a coastal-inspired townhome community in New Smyrna Beach with 75 units starting in the mid-$700,000s, located behind the Publix-anchored Indian River Village shopping center and within walking distance of the beach, according to GrowthSpotter.
The project lands in a fast-changing corner of Lake County. Minneola's population jumped 38% since 2020, according to a December 2025 report from the Orlando Business Journal, which also found that more than $1 billion combined in projects were moving from blueprints to active construction along the city's Hancock Road corridor, with the stretch near its interchange with Florida's Turnpike expected to be especially busy in 2026. A 2024 Tri Pointe announcement distributed via GlobeNewswire separately quoted its division president citing 30% population growth in Minneola between 2020 and 2023.
The land under Pine Ridge has changed hands more than once. GrowthSpotter has reported that Richland sold the approved 178-home subdivision to Tri Pointe for $23.97 million in November 2024, a deal that broke down to an average of more than $134,000 per entitled lot. Richland has also sold other Sugarloaf Mountain-area land, including a roughly $55 million deal for the 369-lot Sunny Ridge subdivision to New Home Co. that closed on October 20, 2025, and an earlier $77 million sale of the first two residential pods within Sugarloaf Mountain to Lennar in 2023.
