Choosing a new build community is about more than square footage. You want a place that fits your daily routine, your design preferences, and the way you plan to enjoy your home for years to come. If you are considering The Grove in Oakland, this guide will help you understand what stands out, what questions to ask, and who this community may suit best. Let’s dive in.
What The Grove Offers
The Grove is a 44-lot luxury master-planned community in Oakland, Florida. Homesites range from about 8,750 to 10,800 square feet, which gives the neighborhood a more spacious feel than a dense subdivision while still keeping a close-knit community layout.
The community plan includes walking trails, bike paths, parks, lush common areas, meeting zones, and water features. That mix supports an outdoor-oriented lifestyle and helps set the tone for a neighborhood that feels intentional and well curated.
Oakland itself is a small Lake Apopka town with about 2,200 residents. Orange County notes that the town is home to the West Orange Trailhead and Oakland Nature Preserve, which adds to The Grove’s appeal if you value access to open space and small-town surroundings.
Why Oakland Location Matters
When you look at The Grove, the location is a major part of the story. This is not positioned as a high-density suburban setting. It reads more like a small-town luxury enclave with strong ties to outdoor recreation and the Oakland and Winter Garden corridor.
Sales materials place The Grove just west of Downtown Winter Garden and within the Golf Cart District of Oakland and Winter Garden. Oakland allows limited golf-cart use on designated roadways, which may matter if you want flexible local mobility for short neighborhood trips.
The West Orange Trail also shapes the lifestyle here. Downtown Winter Garden notes that the trail passes through neighboring Oakland and Winter Garden and runs 34 miles overall, giving you broad access for walking, biking, and outdoor time.
Home Size And Luxury Profile
The Grove sits firmly in the large-home luxury segment. Current examples on the sales site include homes with more than 4,200 livable square feet, lofts, covered terraces, summer kitchens, pools, spas, and garage configurations that go beyond the standard setup.
For example, one listed homesite features 4,204 livable square feet, a 3-car garage, a second-floor covered terrace, a loft, office, summer kitchen, and custom pool with a projected Fall 2026 timing. Another example shows 4,433 livable square feet with a loft, pool and spa, lanai, summer kitchen, and golf cart storage with a projected Summer 2026 timing.
That matters because The Grove is likely a better fit if you want a home with a strong indoor-outdoor living focus, more entertaining space, and room for specialized features. If you are looking for a smaller-scale new build or a compact low-maintenance footprint, this community may feel larger in scope than what you need.
Builders And Build Paths
The current sales site names four builders at The Grove: Pioneer Builders, Element Home Builders, Davila Homes, and Justice & Wood Builders. That gives buyers more than one path within the same community, but it also means your experience may depend on the builder, lot, and specific plan you choose.
For buyers who value a design-led process, builder selection matters. A boutique builder like Davila Homes brings a more integrated approach that can help simplify the path from homesite selection to architecture, interiors, construction, and sales coordination.
If you are deciding between available inventory, pending opportunities, sold-out sections, and pre-construction homesites, it is smart to compare not only price and floor plan but also timeline, included features, and the level of customization allowed.
Design Style At The Grove
One of the clearest signs that The Grove is a curated community is its architectural direction. The design guidelines favor British West Indies, Florida Vernacular, Florida Coastal, and French Farmhouse influences, with an overall contemporary rustic and coastal feel.
The guidelines also emphasize covered front porches, simple roof forms, restrained color palettes, and review-board approval for deviations. In practical terms, that means the streetscape is meant to feel cohesive rather than visually scattered.
If you appreciate a neighborhood with a consistent design identity, that structure may feel like a benefit. If you prefer a highly modern exterior palette or a less regulated design process, this could be a point to weigh carefully.
Lot Width And Layout Flexibility
Not every lot at The Grove works the same way. The published lot standards show that internal lots start around 70 feet wide, while the largest lots run roughly 106 to 115 feet wide.
That width range helps explain why some homes can accommodate side-facing garages, larger outdoor living zones, golf cart storage, and expanded layouts. Still, the exact fit depends on the specific homesite and design review approval.
This is one reason you should look beyond the marketing renderings. A plan that works beautifully on one lot may require changes on another, especially when garage orientation, setbacks, and outdoor features come into play.
Amenities And HOA Details
The Grove offers attractive lifestyle features, but buyers should look closely at how they are structured. The community page says the HOA covers Spectrum cable, Wi-Fi, and common grounds maintenance, which may help reduce a few recurring service items.
Sales materials also describe a membership option for nearby Briley Farm. That option includes access to a resort-style pool and clubhouse, fitness center, pickleball and tennis courts, a half basketball court, private walking trails, and a splash pad.
The key phrase here is membership option. You should confirm what is included through your HOA by default and what requires separate membership or additional dues so you have a clear picture of your full monthly and annual costs.
Who The Grove May Be Right For
The Grove may be a strong fit if you want a smaller luxury community with a clear architectural identity. It also makes sense if you value outdoor amenities, trail access, and proximity to Winter Garden without being in a more crowded setting.
You may also appreciate this community if your wish list includes a larger homesite than many production neighborhoods offer, along with room for features like a pool, lanai, summer kitchen, loft, or golf cart storage. Buyers who enjoy a polished, design-conscious neighborhood environment may find that especially appealing.
For relocation buyers, The Grove can check several important boxes at once: new construction, curated community planning, and lifestyle access tied to Oakland and Winter Garden. That combination may feel especially attractive if you want a move-in-ready or pre-construction luxury option in Central Florida.
When The Grove May Not Be The Best Fit
No community fits every buyer. Based on the published homesite sizes, architecture rules, and amenity structure, The Grove may be a weaker fit if you want very large acreage or a less structured design environment.
It may also be less ideal if you expect every amenity to be fully bundled inside the HOA. Because some nearby amenities appear tied to an optional membership structure, you will want to make sure the value lines up with how often you would use them.
You should also pause if your preferred exterior style leans strongly outside the approved design language. In a community with review standards, flexibility exists within boundaries, not without them.
Questions To Ask Before You Buy
Before you move forward in The Grove, ask direct questions about the lot, the plan, and the approval process. That will help you compare options more accurately and avoid surprises later.
Here are some of the most important questions to ask:
- Which lot type is available, and how does it affect setbacks, garage orientation, and usable yard space?
- Which features are already approved, and which ones still need design review?
- What is the realistic build timeline for this homesite and floor plan?
- What does the HOA include today?
- What is included through Briley Farm, and does it require separate dues or membership?
- Are pools, summer kitchens, golf cart storage, detached structures, or exterior changes permitted on this lot?
These questions matter because luxury new construction is highly specific. The right answer is rarely based on the community alone. It usually comes down to the exact homesite, plan, and builder team.
How To Decide With Confidence
The best way to evaluate The Grove is to match the facts of the community with the way you actually live. Think about how much space you want, how important design consistency is to you, and whether the Oakland and Winter Garden lifestyle matches your day-to-day priorities.
If you like the idea of a boutique luxury neighborhood with outdoor character, curated architectural standards, and access to the West Orange corridor, The Grove has a compelling profile. If you want more land, fewer design controls, or a different amenity structure, it may be worth comparing it with other options in Central Florida.
At Davila Homes, we believe your next home should reflect both your lifestyle and your standards for design, craftsmanship, and clarity throughout the process. If you are exploring The Grove and want expert guidance on available opportunities, custom fit, or what to expect from the build journey, Davila Custom Homes can help you take the next step.
FAQs
Is The Grove in Oakland a large community?
- No. The Grove is a 44-lot luxury master-planned community, which gives it a more boutique feel than a large-scale subdivision.
What home styles are allowed in The Grove Oakland?
- The design guidelines favor British West Indies, Florida Vernacular, Florida Coastal, and French Farmhouse influences, with a contemporary rustic and coastal direction.
What amenities are included at The Grove in Oakland?
- The community plan includes walking trails, bike paths, parks, common areas, meeting zones, and water features. The HOA also covers cable, Wi-Fi, and common grounds maintenance, while some nearby amenities are described as part of an optional Briley Farm membership.
Can you use a golf cart near The Grove in Oakland?
- Oakland allows limited golf-cart use on designated roadways, and sales materials place The Grove within the Golf Cart District of Oakland and Winter Garden.
Is The Grove near Winter Garden and the West Orange Trail?
- Yes. Sales materials place The Grove just west of Downtown Winter Garden, and the West Orange Trail runs through neighboring Oakland and Winter Garden.
What should you ask before buying in The Grove Oakland?
- Ask about lot type, setbacks, garage orientation, outdoor space, design review requirements, realistic build timing, HOA coverage, optional membership details, and whether features like pools or summer kitchens are permitted on your specific lot.
