A 15-acre man-made lagoon has turned a once-rural part of central Florida into one of the state's fastest-growing housing markets, with developers struggling to build homes quickly enough to meet demand.
The Crystal Lagoon sits at the center of Mirada, a master-planned community in San Antonio, Florida, about 30 miles north of Tampa. The turquoise water has become the main draw for a mix of young families and retirees seeking a resort lifestyle without paying beachfront prices.
At more than 15 acres, roughly the size of 11 football fields or about 150 NBA basketball courts, it is now the largest swimming pool in the United States. It overtook the previous record holder, Beachwalk Club's Crystal Lagoon in St Johns County. The same developer's first community, Epperson, has a lagoon spanning a comparatively modest 7.5 acres.
Mirada has already grown to around 3,900 occupied homes and is expected to reach up to 5,000 residences in total. Several major builders are constructing homes there, including Homes by WestBay, Casa Fresca Homes, Dream Finders Homes and Maronda Homes, offering buyers townhomes, family houses and properties for residents aged 55 and over.
The development ranked sixth among Florida's top master-planned communities for 2025, according to John Burns Research & Consulting. Sister community Epperson is already 94 percent occupied, while Mirada is about 75 percent occupied as construction continues.
Homes at Mirada range from townhomes starting around $250,000 to mansions priced above $1 million. The community also has a dedicated neighborhood for residents 55 and older, with homes starting around $236,000.
A Resort Feel Without Leaving the Neighborhood
The lagoon features clear water, sandy beaches, paddleboarding, kayaking, floating obstacle courses and a swim-up bar, designed to mimic an upscale Caribbean or Dubai resort. Homeowners get discounted access, while visitors can buy day passes for around $50, subject to availability.
Lisa Gibbings, vice president of corporate affairs for Metro Development Group, told the New York Post that the lagoon is one of the biggest drivers of buyer interest in communities like Epperson and Mirada, creating an immediate sense of excitement that people can't find in a traditional neighborhood.
Gibbings said the lifestyle around the lagoon is what keeps winning buyers over, noting that the community's Social Hub helps new residents find neighbors and friends from day one regardless of where they're moving from.
The Social Hub hosts more than 300 events a year, including fitness classes, family activities, holiday celebrations and gatherings meant to encourage neighbors to mingle. Residents also have access to walking and cycling trails, dog parks, playgrounds, pickleball and tennis courts, bocce courts, fitness centers and clubhouses. Ultra-fast internet and EV-friendly infrastructure were built into the communities from the start.
The 55-plus neighborhood in Mirada includes a resort-style pool with beach entry, a full-service cafe and bar, wellness facilities and a full calendar of social events.
Metro Development Group introduced the lagoon concept nearly a decade ago with Epperson before scaling it up further at Mirada. Gibbings said buyers increasingly want the water, the energy and the sense of escape that comes with coastal living right outside their front door.
More Lagoons on the Way
The developer's next major Florida project, Sandal Key in Hernando County, will include another Crystal Lagoon along with Metro Development Group's first-ever lazy river, as the company continues betting that buyers will pay a premium for resort-style living.
Gibbings said the lagoon concept continues to evolve, and that the excitement around these communities shows people are looking for a complete package, a beautiful home in a thriving community. She said Epperson and Mirada have proven that buyers want a different kind of community, with the lagoon serving as the centerpiece that creates excitement, brings people together and gives residents an experience they can't find anywhere else.
