About Black Lake Preserve Neighborhood
Black Lake Preserve is a gated single-family neighborhood in central Winter Garden, fronted by an impressive brick wall along Sunridge Boulevard. The community was developed by Royal Oak Homes (a division of AV Homes) starting in 2014, with the bulk of homes delivered between 2015 and 2016. It is one of the smaller new-construction communities in the Black Lake corridor — just 91 homesites — and is physically separate from Black Lake Park on the eastern shore.
Royal Oak originally offered eight floor plans here ranging from roughly 2,575 to 5,233 square feet, with three to seven bedrooms and one- and two-story configurations. Larger plans include three-car garage options and bonus rooms; a handful of the homesites are waterfront or have water views, but the majority of the community is interior. Lot widths of 70 feet are notably wider than typical newer Horizon West construction, which generally uses 50- or 55-foot lots.
The setting is the draw: Black Lake itself is a 212-acre natural lake connected to Lake Tilden by a navigable canal, and the southern edge of the neighborhood transitions into conservation land along the lake. The community's amenities are intentionally modest — a children's playground (tot lot) and a small recreation area — with the lake and the surrounding open space doing most of the work. Residents are five to ten minutes from Winter Garden Village and roughly 10–15 minutes from historic downtown Winter Garden and Plant Street.
📊 Quick Facts
🌊 Black Lake & Lake Tilden Setting
Black Lake is a 212-acre natural lake on the southern edge of the neighborhood. It connects via a navigable canal to Lake Tilden (~40 acres) to the west, and from Black Lake boaters can access Johns Lake further west via a secondary channel. Most homes in Black Lake Preserve are not waterfront; a small number of homesites are on the lake or have water views.
🏗️ Construction & Floor Plans
Royal Oak Homes offered eight floor plans in Black Lake Preserve. The largest model (the William) is a two-story home with six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Floor plans included three-car garage options, optional bonus rooms, and theater room upgrades. Most homes were owner-personalized at the build stage, so finishes and elevation choices vary across the community. Lot dimensions of approximately 70 feet wide by 110 feet deep are wider than standard new construction in the Horizon West/Hamlin corridor of Winter Garden.
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Black Lake Preserve Location & Connections
Black Lake Preserve sits in central Winter Garden at the corner of Sunridge Boulevard and Avalon Road (CR-545), south of Hwy 50/W Colonial Drive. The single gated entrance is on Sunridge Boulevard. SR-429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) is a few minutes east, providing direct access south to Walt Disney World and north to Florida's Turnpike.
🏘️ Adjacent Neighborhoods & Areas
- North: SunRidge Elementary School and SunRidge Middle School campus (across Sunridge Boulevard)
- South: Black Lake and surrounding conservation area
- East: Cypress Reserve
- West: Oxford Chase; Lake Tilden beyond
- Boundary roads: Sunridge Boulevard (north) and Avalon Road / CR-545 (west)
🚗 Detailed Commute Times
- Downtown Winter Garden & Plant Street: ~10–15 minutes (~5 miles)
- Walt Disney World: ~20–25 minutes (~14 miles via SR-429)
- Universal Orlando: ~20–25 minutes (~15 miles)
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~25–30 minutes (~17 miles)
- Downtown Orlando: ~25–30 minutes (~13 miles)
- UCF Campus: ~35–40 minutes (~25 miles)
- Cocoa Beach: ~75 minutes (~70 miles via SR-528)
- Lake Nona Medical City: ~35–40 minutes (~25 miles)
✈️ Airport Access
- Orlando International Airport (MCO): ~30 minutes (~22 miles)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB): ~45–50 minutes (~35 miles)
- Orlando Executive Airport (ORL): ~30 minutes (~16 miles)
🛣️ Major Roads & Highways
- SR-429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway): ~3 minutes; primary north-south toll route to Disney and Florida's Turnpike
- Hwy 50 / W Colonial Drive: ~5 minutes north; main east-west surface route
- Florida's Turnpike: ~8–10 minutes via SR-429 north
- I-4: ~15–20 minutes east via Hwy 50 or SR-429
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Black Lake Preserve Amenities & Lifestyle
Lifestyle in Black Lake Preserve leans residential and quiet. The community itself offers a tot lot and a small recreation area rather than a clubhouse or pool, with the lake and conservation land defining the south edge. Most everyday retail sits within five to ten minutes — Stoneybrook Village's Publix is roughly 2.4 miles south and Winter Garden Village is the larger destination — and historic downtown Winter Garden with Plant Street, the farmers market, and Crooked Can Brewery sits a short drive north.
🏊 Neighborhood Amenities
Amenities found within Black Lake Preserve:
- Gated entry on Sunridge Boulevard
- Children's playground (tot lot)
- Recreation area
- Brick perimeter wall along Sunridge Boulevard frontage
- Conservation views and limited waterfront homesites on Black Lake
🛍️ Shopping & Services
Stoneybrook Village (with Publix) is roughly 2.4 miles south for everyday grocery and pharmacy needs, and Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves is the major shopping destination 5–10 minutes north with Target, Best Buy, Lowe's, and a wide range of restaurants and services.
For comprehensive shopping information: View our Winter Garden Shopping Guide →
🍽️ Restaurants
Dining ranges from Winter Garden Village's national chain restaurants to the independent restaurants and breweries along Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden, including Crooked Can Brewery at the Plant Street Market.
For comprehensive restaurant information: View our Winter Garden Restaurants Guide →
🎭 Arts & Culture
Historic downtown Winter Garden anchors the area's arts scene with the Garden Theatre on Plant Street, a year-round Saturday farmers market, and seasonal festivals along the brick streets — a 10–15 minute drive from Black Lake Preserve.
For comprehensive arts & culture information: View our Winter Garden Arts & Culture Guide →
🏃 Health & Wellness
AdventHealth Winter Garden is the closest full-service hospital, located off Daniels Road near Winter Garden Village (~6–8 minutes), with Orlando Health and AdventHealth specialty offices distributed across the West Orange corridor.
For comprehensive health & wellness information: View our Winter Garden Hospitals Guide →
🌳 Parks & Recreation
The conservation area and Black Lake shoreline along the south edge of the neighborhood give residents direct access to nature without leaving the community. The West Orange Trail — a 22-mile paved rails-to-trails system — is a short drive north for walking, running, and cycling.
For comprehensive parks & recreation information: View our Winter Garden Parks & Recreation Guide →
⚽ Sports & Athletics
Boating and watersports on Black Lake (with canal access to Lake Tilden and Johns Lake) are the most distinctive recreational draw. Golfers have West Orange Country Club and Orange County National Golf Center within a short drive.
For comprehensive sports & athletics information: View our Winter Garden Sports & Athletics Guide →
🎉 Fun Things to Do
The Saturday farmers market on Plant Street, the year-round food and brewery scene at the Plant Street Market, and easy access to the Orlando theme parks via SR-429 give Black Lake Preserve residents a wide range of weekend options without long drives.
For comprehensive events & activities information: View our Winter Garden Events & Things To Do Guide →
🎓 Schools
Black Lake Preserve is likely zoned for the following Orange County Public Schools — verify current attendance zones with OCPS before relying on assignments:
- Elementary: SunRidge Elementary School (likely zoned — campus is directly across Sunridge Boulevard from the neighborhood; verify with OCPS)
- Middle: SunRidge Middle School (campus is directly across Sunridge Boulevard)
- High: West Orange High School (~4.2 miles)
Note: School assignments are subject to change. Always verify current zoning directly with the school district.
For comprehensive school information: View our Winter Garden Schools Guide →
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How Black Lake Preserve Compares
Black Lake Preserve sits in a competitive corridor — the Black Lake / Lake Tilden area of central Winter Garden has several similarly-aged or newer gated single-family communities. Buyers cross-shopping the area typically compare it against neighboring Cypress Reserve and Oxford Chase, and against the older but larger Black Lake Park on the eastern shore.
| Feature | Black Lake Preserve | Black Lake Park | Cypress Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Homes | ~91 | ~278 | Smaller community (verify) |
| Year Built | 2014–2016 | 2005–2008 | Newer construction (verify) |
| Builder | Royal Oak Homes | Multiple (verify) | Verify |
| Typical Lot Width | ~70 feet (oversized) | Standard | Standard (verify) |
| Gated | Yes | Yes | Verify |
| Community Pool | No | Yes | Verify |
| Lake Position | North shore of Black Lake | Northeast shore of Black Lake | Adjacent (verify) |
| CDD Fee | No (verify) | No (verify) | Verify |
💡 Value Proposition: Black Lake Preserve trades a community pool and large amenity package for oversized lots, a small home count (only ~91 doors), and direct proximity to the SunRidge school campus and Black Lake conservation frontage — a profile aimed at buyers who want a newer gated home in central Winter Garden without paying for amenities they wouldn't use.
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Black Lake Preserve HOA & CDD Information
Black Lake Preserve is governed by a mandatory homeowners association covering the gated entry, common areas, perimeter wall, and recreation amenities (tot lot and recreation area). HOA fees, payment schedules, and the management company contact are subject to change.
No source confirms a Community Development District (CDD) for Black Lake Preserve, and the community is not within a known Horizon West CDD. Buyers should verify CDD status directly through Orange County tax records on a per-parcel basis, since CDD assessments appear on the property tax bill rather than as a separate HOA charge. For background on what these are and how they differ, see What's an HOA? and What's a CDD?
💰 HOA Fees & Management Contact
HOA fees and management company information often change. Please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with the current HOA fee, payment schedule, and direct contact information for the HOA management company. We can also check for you to see if there are any current or upcoming special assessments.
📋 What HOA Fees Typically Cover
- Gated entry maintenance and access control
- Common area landscaping and irrigation
- Perimeter brick wall and entry signage
- Children's playground (tot lot) upkeep
- Recreation area maintenance
- Street lighting in common areas
- Reserves for capital repairs
- Master association insurance for common areas
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David Myers
