Why You’ll Want to Call The Chain of Lakes City Home

If you’re searching for a beautiful home in Central Florida, let us introduce you to the benefits of living in a new home in Winter Haven, FL, and one of the city's most desirable new communities, Chestnut Creek! When you call Chestnut Creek home, you’ll enjoy peaceful, country-style living while being just 4.5 miles from downtown Winter Haven, as well as an abundance of parks, recreation destinations, and attractions.

In this article, learn everything you need to know about this beautiful, brand-new neighborhood of single-family homes from the $360's and the benefits of calling Winter Haven home. Here we go!

Ideal Location

Located just south of Lake Fannie and west of Lake Hamilton, both part of the Chain of Lakes (more on that below!), Chestnut Creek offers a peaceful setting on the fringes of the Winter Haven city limits. You’ll enjoy being centrally located between Orlando and Tampa and near Lakeland, with easy access to these nearby cities thanks to major roadways including:

• US-27 – 4.5 miles from home
• Polk Parkway – 9.3 miles away
• I-4 – 13 miles from your front door

From convenient access to Downtown Winter Haven and Central Florida’s many theme parks to an abundance of lakes and outdoor recreation destinations, living here means you’ll never be bored or without things to do in Winter Haven!

Things to Do in Winter Haven

Chestnut Creek is located a quick 10 minutes or 4.5 miles from the thriving, walkable Downtown Winter Haven! This cute city is known for its many small businesses, local events, and friendly neighbors that make it a close-knit community that residents are proud to call home!

The downtown area hosts numerous regular events, including the Winter Haven Farmers Market and the Saturday Market. The farmers market happens every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the Saturday Market happens two Saturdays per month, September through June. There are also annual events that locals and visitors alike look forward to, including the Havendale Christmas Parade, Rockin’ Freedom Fest, Octoberfest, Art Walk, Carols in the Park, and more.

While you’re downtown, be sure to stroll on into the many shops and small businesses that line the streets. From local antique shops and clothing stores to specialty shops, there’s something for everyone! Search for one-of-a-kind treasures at The Village Sampler, get your outdoor gear at Andy Thornal Company, taste specialty olive oils and gourmet foods at The Treasured Olive, or find the perfect gift at Amy’s Party Store.

Winter Haven, the Water Ski Capital of the World, is also home to the world-famous Cypress Gardens Water Ski team that performs free monthly shows on Lake Silver, just north of downtown. If you’ve never seen a professional water ski team perform, you have to put catching one of the team’s shows on your to-do list – trust us and prepare to be wowed!

You’ll find cultural opportunities in downtown Winter Haven, too! Theatre Winter Haven hosts musicals, plays, and special performances all year long, while Gram Parsons’ Derry Down is the premier musical listening destination in the area!

Art enthusiasts enjoy strolling Downtown streets to peep at murals adorning the sides of buildings and downtown alleyways – how many can you find?! While you’re searching, be sure to keep an eye out for all of the uniquely painted electrical boxes downtown.

This is just a small sample of what makes Winter Haven so great! Learn more about your new hometown on the It’s Happenin’ in the Haven podcast.

Recreation and Attractions

LEGOLAND Florida, arguably Winter Haven’s most well-known attraction, is just 6.2 miles from your new home at Chestnut Creek. This popular attraction is a themed experience unlike any other with more than 50 rides, a water park, interactive attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Orlando’s storied theme parks are also a short drive away from your new home:

• Walt Disney World Resort – 24 miles
• SeaWorld – 33.9 miles
• Universal Orlando Resort – 37.8 miles

If a round of golf is up your alley, your new home at Chestnut Creek is just 3-miles from The Country Club of Winter Haven. The Country Club offers a beautiful golf course located along the shores of Lake Hamilton, and you'll find dining, tennis, and fitness amenities. While it’s the premier golf destination in Winter Haven, the city is also home to a multitude of additional public and private courses so if you love golf, you’ll never run out of courses to play close to home!

Garden and nature lovers, rejoice! When you call Chestnut Creek home, you’re just a quick drive away from:

• Bok Tower Gardens, a garden paradise named for the historical marble and coquina rock tower at its center that is surrounded by 700 acres of groves, flowers, meadows, endangered plants, and protected land
• The South Lake Howard Nature Park, where a one-mile paved loop trail lets you enjoy wildlife along the lakefront shore while walking, biking, or rollerblading - and, a 1,000-foot long boardwalk provides a nature-watching vantage point over the water
• Mackay Gardens and Lakeside Preserve in neighboring Lake Alfred, FL, provides 112 lakeside acres with trails through native Florida flora, along with a playground, dock, and events venue.

Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes

We told you we’d share more about the famed Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, and here's the info you've been waiting for! There are an impressive 55 total lakes in Winter Haven, with 24 of them connected by canals and collectively known as the Chain of Lakes. Why is this so unique? This land-locked city offers a staggering 55-miles of waterfront coastlines, the canals provide a way to travel from one side of the city to the other by boat, and you can enjoy all forms of water recreation and a lakeside lifestyle!

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that water activities are one of the top things to do in Winter Haven! Whether you appreciate energetic kayaking, water skiing and wakeboarding, or more peaceful boating, paddleboarding or fishing, living in the Chain of Lakes city provides it all. There are several public boat ramps near Chestnut Creek, allowing you to access the many lakes and waterways - Closest to home, the Lake Hamilton Public Boat Ramp is 4.9 miles from Chestnut Creek, and the Lake Fannie Boat Ramp is 6.1 miles away.

And, let's not forget about one of the other amazing aspects of living in the Chain of Lakes city - waterfront dining!

Dining and Daily Conveniences 

Picture this - enjoying a delicious meal and beverage with your honey, while water gently laps the shoreline, and a beautiful orange sunset reflects off the waters. Any tension from your day just disappears while you relax to the beautiful sites and sounds of lakefront dining. Bliss. 

Ready to go? Here are a few of our favorite lakefront restaurants in Winter Haven:

• Harborside on Lake Shipp – waterfront views, great seafood, and you can even arrive by water and dock your boat here
• Harry’s Old Place on Lake Ned – seafood and land options alike, as well as craft cocktails
• Tanner’s Lakeside on Lake Howard – best known for the shrimp and grits
• Twisted Prop Bar & Grille on Lake May – delicious bar food options

Looking to sip a cool beverage? There are plenty of options for happy hour in Winter Haven. Visit Grove Roots Brewing Co. to sample artisanal ales or stop by Union Taproom for dozens of self-pour options. The Social Cocktail Lounge is another must-see spot for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap.

Grocery store conveniences are close to home, too. The first-ever Publix was built in Winter Haven, so you’ll feel like you’re part of Florida history when you shop at your local Publix - Publix Super Market at Northgate is less than 4 miles from your front door.

Health and Wellness

Whether you work in the healthcare industry or have wellness needs, Chestnut Creek is convenient to medical centers to aid in your health and wellness:

• Winter Haven Hospital – 3.7 miles
• BayCare Urgent Care – 4 miles    
• AdventHealth Heart of Florida Hospital – 12.2 miles

You can also rest assured that your furry family members will receive top care at Garden Grove Animal Hospital (5.6 miles) or Veterinary Healthcare Associates (2.9 miles).

New Homes in Winter Haven, FL

From its historic downtown to delicious dining and a lakefront lifestyle, Winter Haven is a fantastic place to call home! That’s why we chose to build new homes in Winter Haven, FL at Chestnut Creek - and this amazing, brand-new neighborhood offers even more to love about living in the Chain of Lakes city with spacious homesites, flexible home designs, and an attainable price point from the $360's.

These days, many new home communities seem to have houses one right on top of the next. That's part of what makes Chestnut Creek so unique - here, you’ll enjoy a large homesite averaging 1/4-acre in size and 80 feet in width, which provides for space between homes as well as a yard that offers a good amount of space but not too much to maintain.

And the homes!! Chestnut Creek offers some of our most spacious home designs with 1,878 to 3,315 square feet of living space designed with you in mind. These new homes in Winter Haven offer you an open living area, a luxurious owner's suite with a dual vanity en-suite bath, and a covered lanai for your outdoor living enjoyment. In addition, you'll find formal and casual dining space, a two or three-car garage, and flexible-use rooms such as a loft bonus room, den, or in-law suite option on select home plans.

Once you've selected your ideal home layout, the professional designers at the Highland Homes Personal Selection Studio will help you personalize your dream home! A wide selection of included features are available to choose from, along with upgraded design options, so you can personalize your home to your style and needs, all while staying within your budget.

Homes are available now in this desirable brand-new neighborhood, and the onsite information center is open daily, with the new model home scheduled to debut later this summer. For more information about available homes and to get your VIP tour of this beautiful community, call or email our Winter Haven New Home Specialists today!