66 F
The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Villagers watch with sadness as Hacienda Hills demolished

Villagers watched with sadness as the Hacienda Hills Country Club was demolished Wednesday morning.

The demolition includes the country club restaurant, swimming pool, pool bar, tennis courts and pro shop.

A fence had been set up around the perimeter of the country club and a demolition permit had been issued by Sumter County earlier this month. Crews had cut off the water, gas and utilities in anticipation of the demolition.

The championship golf course remains open and many golfers stopped to watch the demolition of the country club, which was known for many years as “the” place in The Villages to dress up and dine.

Controversy has surrounded the Hacienda Hills site since the Developer offered to sell the property to the Amenity Authority Committee at “market price.” After an outcry from residents adamantly opposed to the acquisition, the Developer withdrew the offer last year.

The country club closed in April 2019 after it was dogged with complaints about poor service and mediocre food. An emergency shutdown by the health department appeared to have been the last straw.

Villages Operation Manager Ryan McCabe earlier this month told The Villages Daily Sun that Hacienda Hills has “outlived its useful life.”

Villagers watched with some sadness as the Hacienda Hills Country Club was demolished Wednesday morning.

The demolition work is being performed by Global Contracting of Wildwood. 

Share your thoughts on the end of the of Hacienda Hills Country Club through a letter to the editor at: https://www.villages-news.com/submit-letters-editor/

Our amenities are being used by families with kids

In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Citrus Grove resident says she is not happy about families with kids using amenities paid for by residents.

Finally allocating funds to the golf courses!

A Village of Hadley resident said he is happy that more money is being allocated to the golf courses. Read his Letter to the Editor.

Trump is unfit for any office

A Village of Osceola Hills resident, in a Letter to the Editor, details why he thinks former President Trump is unfit to hold any office.

I don’t think the original Developer saw this coming

A resident of the Village of St. Charles offers his thoughts on deed compliance and the original Developer of The Villages.

Proudly fly the flag in honor of my father’s Navy service

A Village of St. Johns resident, in a Letter to the Editor, says she proudly displays the U.S. Navy flag in honor of her father.