About Montara Neighborhood
Montara is located on the western side of Hunter's Creek, off Hunter's Creek Boulevard west of John Young Parkway. Its defining feature is geographic: the neighborhood sits on a peninsula that juts into Lake Calabay, with water on three sides and a small ornamental pond at the entrance. Every one of the 24 homes has a water view of some kind — it's structurally impossible to build a home in Montara without one, given the lot layout.
The homes are mid-1990s to early-2000s-era single-family construction in the mid-to-upper size range for Hunter's Creek, typically 4–5 bedrooms with square footages in the 2,400–3,500+ range. Architectural styles lean traditional Florida with Mediterranean and transitional accents, and the low home count means the streetscape reads as a tight, uniformly maintained pocket rather than a sprawling subdivision.
Montara's scale — just 24 homes — produces a demographic and lifestyle profile distinct from the rest of Hunter's Creek. Turnover is low, neighbors know each other, and the water-framed peninsula geography gives the neighborhood a semi-private character without actually being gated. Buyers choosing Montara are typically prioritizing the combination of water views, Hunter's Creek schools and amenities, and a quiet low-density setting over community size or shared amenities.
📊 Quick Facts
🏡 Common Home Features
- Water views from every home (lake, pond, or conservation)
- Two- and three-car garages with pavered or tiled driveways
- Tile and hardwood flooring in main living areas
- Volume ceilings — often vaulted or tray — in primary living spaces
- Screened rear lanais with pool options on many lots
- Primary suites with large walk-in closets and en-suite baths
- Split-bedroom and formal-dining plans common
- Updated kitchens with granite or quartz counters in many homes
🌊 Lake Calabay Setting
Lake Calabay wraps the Montara peninsula on three sides, creating the neighborhood's signature visual identity. The lake is part of Hunter's Creek's interior waterway network — stocked, used for catch-and-release fishing by residents, and connected to the broader Shingle Creek conservation corridor. A small ornamental pond at the entrance anchors the neighborhood's visual approach, and the overall water-to-land ratio in Montara is higher than anywhere else in Hunter's Creek.
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Montara Location & Connections
Montara sits in the western portion of Hunter's Creek, off Hunter's Creek Boulevard west of John Young Parkway and close to the Vistas area of the community. The Lake Calabay peninsula location means the neighborhood is self-contained with a single point of entry — a layout that deters through-traffic and reinforces Montara's quieter character.
Despite its tucked-away feel, the neighborhood is well-positioned for the full John Young Parkway commercial corridor and the Town Center retail cluster. Hunter's Creek Boulevard connects Montara to the rest of the community's parks network and internal road system, with quick access to Florida's Turnpike on the west and SR 417 to the east for longer-distance travel.
🏘️ Adjacent Neighborhoods & Areas
- Calabay Cove — gated 104-home village also on Lake Calabay
- Hunters Isle — gated custom-home enclave just east
- Ashton and Ocita — smaller established villages nearby
- Hunter's Creek Boulevard and the John Young Parkway corridor
- Lake Calabay, small interior pond at entrance, and the Shingle Creek conservation corridor
🚗 Detailed Commute Times
- Downtown Orlando: ~22 minutes (~15 miles via SR 417 or John Young Parkway)
- Walt Disney World: ~18 minutes (~10 miles)
- Universal Orlando: ~22 minutes (~12 miles)
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~15 minutes (~7 miles)
- Gatorland: ~12 minutes (~6 miles)
- Lake Nona Medical City: ~22 minutes (~14 miles via SR 417)
- Cocoa Beach: ~60 minutes (~58 miles via SR 528)
- Florida Mall / Millenia area: ~15 minutes via John Young Parkway
✈️ Airport Access
- Orlando International Airport (MCO): ~18 minutes (~12 miles via SR 417)
- Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM): ~15 minutes (~9 miles)
- Orlando Executive Airport (ORL): ~25 minutes (~18 miles)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB): ~50 minutes (~42 miles)
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Montara Amenities & Lifestyle
Montara's small scale and water-dominated setting shape a specific kind of daily rhythm: walking loops around the peninsula, fishing Lake Calabay, and using the rest of Hunter's Creek as extended backyard. Because the neighborhood itself is 24 homes and has no dedicated community amenities, residents lean heavily on the broader Hunter's Creek parks system, Town Center Boulevard retail, and John Young Parkway's dining and services corridor.
🏊 Neighborhood Amenities
Amenities within Montara are intentionally minimal, consistent with the neighborhood's small-scale design:
- Lake Calabay access for residents — fishing, paddling, shoreline walking
- Ornamental pond at the neighborhood entrance
- Low-traffic peninsula layout with single point of entry
- Access to the broader Hunter's Creek parks and trails network just outside the neighborhood
- Sidewalks connecting to Hunter's Creek Boulevard and the community's sidewalk grid
🛍️ Shopping & Services
Montara residents are within 5–7 minutes of Hunter's Creek Town Center, roughly 12 minutes from The Loop Shopping Center, and have convenient access to The Florida Mall and The Mall at Millenia via John Young Parkway or SR 417.
For comprehensive shopping information: Discover even more shopping options with our comprehensive Hunter's Creek shopping guide.
🍽️ Restaurants
The John Young Parkway and Town Center Boulevard corridors provide Montara residents with sports bars, sit-down chains, international cuisine, and family-friendly spots within a short drive. Fine-dining options are accessible via SR 417 in the Millenia and Dr. Phillips areas.
For comprehensive restaurant information: Explore dining options in our complete Hunter's Creek restaurants and dining guide.
🎭 Arts & Culture
Hunter's Creek hosts year-round community events and public art installations, and Montara residents can access downtown Orlando's cultural venues including the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Orange County Regional History Center within 20–25 minutes.
For comprehensive arts & culture information: Explore more area arts & culture options in our comprehensive Hunter's Creek arts and culture guide.
🏃 Health & Wellness
HCA Florida Hunter's Creek Emergency provides 24/7 emergency care within the community, and AdventHealth Kissimmee is the closest full-service hospital. Urgent care, primary care, and specialty clinics cluster along John Young Parkway.
For comprehensive health & wellness information: For a complete directory of healthcare providers, visit our comprehensive Hunter's Creek health and wellness guide.
🌳 Parks & Recreation
While Montara itself doesn't have a dedicated park, residents have quick access to Osprey Park (the community's flagship), Eagle Park, and the full seven-park Hunter's Creek network. The Shingle Creek Trail is also within reach for hiking, biking, and kayaking.
For comprehensive parks & recreation information: Discover more parks, trails, and outdoor recreation in our detailed Hunter's Creek parks and recreation guide.
⚽ Sports & Athletics
The 18-hole Hunter's Creek Golf Club championship public course is a short drive, and tennis, basketball, and racquetball courts are available at Eagle Park and throughout the community parks network.
For comprehensive sports & athletics information: Find complete information on golf, fitness, and recreation in our detailed Hunter's Creek sports and athletics guide.
🎉 Fun Things to Do
Montara residents enjoy Hunter's Creek's signature community events — Bunny in the Park, Fourth of July celebrations, the Fall Festival, Hunter's Creep Halloween nights — plus fast access to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Gatorland.
For comprehensive events & activities information: Find even more things to do in our complete Hunter's Creek entertainment guide.
🎓 Schools
Montara is zoned for the following Orange County Public Schools:
- Elementary: Hunter's Creek Elementary School (gifted & talented magnet)
- Middle: Hunter's Creek Middle School (dual language, Project Lead The Way)
- High: Freedom High School or Cypress Creek High School (IB program)
School assignments are subject to change. Verify current zoning directly with Orange County Public Schools (407-317-3200) before making any purchase decision based on school boundaries.
For comprehensive school information: For detailed school ratings and educational resources, visit our comprehensive Hunter's Creek schools and education guide.
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How Montara Compares
Montara is a scarcity play. With just 24 homes — every one with a water view, none on a through-street — inventory rarely opens up, and the neighborhood competes with other small Hunter's Creek water-adjacent villages rather than the community's larger subdivisions. Here's how Montara stacks up against nearby lake-and-pond villages.
| Feature | Montara | Calabay Cove | Hunters Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Homes | 24 (smallest in Hunter's Creek) | 104 | 92 |
| Gated | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water Views | All 24 homes | Many (on Lake Calabay) | Nearly all homes |
| Typical Home Size | 2,400–3,500+ sq ft | 2,300–4,000+ sq ft | 2,300–4,900 sq ft |
| Year Built | Mid-1990s–early 2000s | 1993–1998 | 1990–1999 |
| Through-Traffic | None (peninsula, single entry) | None (gated, single entry) | None (gated) |
| Inventory Turnover | Very low — few listings per year | Moderate | Low to moderate |
💡 Value Proposition: Montara is the only Hunter's Creek village where water views are a structural guarantee rather than a premium upgrade — the 24-home peninsula layout makes every lot a waterfront lot. Buyers who prioritize water views and a tight, low-density setting over gated-community security or larger square footage typically find Montara a uniquely hard option to replicate.
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Montara HOA & CDD Information
Montara residents are part of the Hunter's Creek Community Association, which manages shared community amenities, the parks system, common-area landscaping, and architectural standards across all 35 Hunter's Creek villages. A village-level association covers Montara-specific matters. Hunter's Creek is not a CDD community — no Community Development District assessments apply on top of the HOA fees.
💰 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
- Community-wide amenity maintenance (parks, trails, common areas)
- Street and entrance-feature landscaping
- Community events programming across Hunter's Creek
- Community standards enforcement and architectural review
- Reserve funding for long-term infrastructure
- Sidewalk, lighting, and signage maintenance
- Pond and conservation-edge upkeep
- Village-specific landscaping and entrance features for Montara
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Tanya Cheng
