Solivita’s® Resident Anglers Hooked on Fishing
September 15, 2008
POINCIANA, FL---Every third Tuesday of the month you'll see them grouped along the banks of Solivita's® numerous lakes and waterways, fishing poles in hand and electronic scales nearby, hoping to hook the prize-winning bass.They are the nearly 70 members of the Fishing Club at Solivita®, an early-rising group of anglers who are as concerned about catching "the big one" as they are about conserving the environment at the award-winning, active-adult community being developed by Avatar Properties Inc. 21 miles south of Walt Disney World® in Orlando.
"We try to make everyone environmentally conscious about our lakes and waterways and the things we can do to prolong the life of the fish and improve water conditions," said Phil Maus, president of the club, one of 114 resident-run clubs in the 4,300-acre master-planned community on the Polk County side of Poinciana which covers nearly 74 square miles in northwest Osceola and northeast Polk counties.
Toward that end, these resident anglers meet the second Tuesday of every month to view videos and occasionally host guest speakers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District. One speech led to the club installing brush piles in the lakes.
"We live in a fisherman's paradise and want to keep it that way," said past club president Dean Wilgus. "Central Florida is the bass fishing capital of the world, and we have very good bass in our lakes," he said, noting a recent prize-winning catch tipped the scales at 9.25 pounds.
"There are some as big as 11 pounds in our lakes," said Wilgus, emphasizing the club, formed five years ago by Solivita® resident Stan Lavine, promotes catch and release at Solivita®.
When they're not fishing at home the club takes periodic fishing trips, which have included excursions to the Gulf of Mexico for snapper and grouper, Brevard County's Mosquito Lagoon for redfish, tarpon and snook, and Orlando's Turkey Lake for bass.
Fishing is just one of many activities available to Solivita® residents. The community has two 18-hole championship golf courses at the Stonegate Golf Club, a dynamic Mediterranean-style Village Center with three restaurants and the award-winning 32,000 sq. ft. Riviera Spa & Fitness Center, Freedom Park which includes a championship caliber softball diamond and a total of 10 lighted tennis and pickle-ball courts, and the brand new Palms amenity complex and 20,000 sq. ft. lifestyle center which has already earned a 50+ Housing Award from the National Association of Home Builders and a pair of Aurora Awards at the 2008 Southeast Building Conference.
Winner of Builder magazine's 2002 Grand Award as America's Best Active Adult Community, and three times named one of America's 100 Best Master Planned Communities for active adults by Where to Retire magazine, Solivita® currently offers 19 detached single-family home plans in five collections at base prices from the $130s to the $330s, and four attached single-family home plans in The Courtyards at Montelena at base prices from the low $200s. Seventeen furnished models are featured in the community's model home parks.
For more information about the Solivita® Fishing Club, contact Phil Maus at (863) 852-8837 or Dean Wilgus at (863) 427-9330. For more information about Solivita's® resident-run clubs, activities and events, contact Solivita® Lifestyles at (863) 427-7125 or visit Solivita's® Web site at http://www.solivita.com.
Pursuant to the Fair Housing Act, housing within Solivita® is intended for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per home, although the occupants of a limited number of homes may be younger, but no one under 18 years of age may be in permanent residence. Ownership of a home will require payment of additional fees, including association assessments and mandatory club membership dues, which are subject to change from time to time. Golf facilities are privately owned and operated and membership and additional fees for golf required. Purchase of a residence does not grant any use of or access to the golf club and its facilities. The developer may change home design, floor plans, specifications, amenities, dimensions, materials, features, methods of construction and price without prior notice. This is not an offer in states and jurisdictions where prior registration is required and void where prohibited by law. Prices and availability subject to change without notice. QB# 1224. Avatar Properties Inc., 395 Village Drive, Poinciana, FL 34759.
