Ginn Resorts' original site plan for Reunion Resort
Bobby Ginn’s vision for the ultimate resort community catering to both vacation homeowners and full-time residents a short drive from Orlando’s theme parks and attractions was to be “a place where families can convene every year for reunions.”
See below for a history and timeline of Reunion Resort.
Ginn Resorts' original site plan for Reunion Resort
Rendering of the original plans for Reunion Square
The Ginn Company agrees to purchase Magnolia Creek, the 2,300 acres of citrus groves that would become Reunion Resort, from the Herman J. Heidrich family for $42 million.
Ginn breaks ground on Reunion Resort in June 2001. Original plans are designed to feature over 5,000 properties once fully completed including condo-hotels, condos, townhomes, and single family homes.
In December 2001, Ginn holds its first priority sales event, selling 264 home sites worth $40 million in just 16 hours. After Reunion's first three sales events, some $320 million worth of real estate had exchanged hands.
From grand and ambitious plans to reality. The first homes are completed and the development begins to take shape leading to Reunion becoming one of the fastest-selling communities in the area.
The Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer golf courses are completed and opened.
More amenities open including the 5-acre water park. With 2 signature golf courses and the water park now open, Ginn launches and sells out new phases of the development in a matter of hours setting all sorts of records.
With the housing boom in full swing, speculation begins to run rampant with properties being flipped for more than double what they were originally bought for.
The Reunion Grande opens and later earns a AAA 4 Diamond rating for Reunion Resort.
With then opening of the Jack Nicklaus Tradition Course, Reunion officially becomes the only destination in the world with three signature golf courses designed by legends Palmer, Watson and Nicklaus.
Ginn faces financial difficulties due to the global financial crisis. The development of Reunion Resort is significantly impacted, with several construction projects put on hold including the highly anticipated Reunion Square. In November 2008, The Ginn Company files for bankruptcy and later turns over management of Reunion Resort.
Home values begin to plummet by as much as 90% of their once inflated prices during the housing bubble. Hundreds of properties face foreclosure in the coming years.
Salamander Hotels & Resorts, a luxury hotel management company, assumes management of Reunion Resort. Salamander focuses on revitalizing the resort, enhancing guest experiences, and continuing its development. Since most of Reunion's major amenities and infrastructure were completed before the crash, much of the original vision is still possible.
Reunion property values begin to improve as the real estate market stabilizes and the economy recovers from The Great Recession, leading to the construction of additional luxury vacation rental properties and residential homes. 2012 marks the beginning of a steady and continued growth throughout Reunion Resort.
Demand for bigger and more luxurious vacation homes kicks off a new trend of combining vacant lots in Reunion Resort for one single family home.
Holes 17 and 18 of the Nicklaus Tradition Course are redesigned to make way for a new development in partnership with Jack Nicklaus himself, The Bear’s Den. A new clubhouse, pro shop, and restaurant are also announced. The Bear’s Den will feature 50 foot homesites for custom single family homes and is privately gated from the rest of Reunion Resort. An exclusive new park, Golden Bear Park, features a playground, dog park, volleyball, and open lawn. The first homes in The Bear’s Den were completed in 2018.
Eagle Trace, a new 60-unit townhome development, is designated for a section of land adjacent to the new Nicklaus course new driving range. Construction began in 2020 with all townhomes being completed and sold by 2022.
Spectrum+, a modern 296-unit condo development specially designed for vacation rentals, is designated for the land surrounding the Reunion Water Park. The first condos were completed in 2020 with the neighborhood due to be completed by 2024. New amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, and community pool.
Reunion Resort is acquired by Kingwood International Resorts, a Georgia-based hospitality management company. Kingwood takes over the operations and management of the resort, with a focus on enhancing guest experiences and further expanding the resort's offerings.
The Nicklaus Clubhouse, overlooking the 18th green of the Nicklaus Tradition Course, is now open. Amenities include a new pro shop, Traditions Restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, and a Leadbetter Academy Golf Simulator.
The demand for luxury vacation homes is at an all time high and Reunion Resort home prices soar. In 2021, 66 Reunion homes resell for over $1 million (more than in the previous 8 years combined) including three homes for over $5 million and one home for over $6 million.
Setting a county record, a home in Reunion Resort sells for $11,700,000. Built in 2017, the home featured 15 bedroom suites, over 19,000 square feet of indoor living space, a piano bar, a spa, fitness room, an indoor sports court, game room, and multi-level pool.
Work to expand the water park begins. The expansion includes a new wave pool, water slide, and additional food and beverage options.
The future of Reunion Resort seems bright!
No other resort style community in Central Florida, zoned for short-term rentals, offers as many amenities and as much of a variety of real estate options as Reunion Resort.
More and more single family homes are being built everyday, making vacant lots seem few and far between.
In late 2022, plans were announced for a $1 billion expansion that will include 1,800 new units surrounding a 10-acre crystal lagoon and an amphitheater. The Reunion Grande will be expanded and 6 new condo-hotel buildings ranging in height from 5 to 10 stories will feature 1 and 2-bedroom condos. The project will be developed over 5 phases on the land just north of the Grande (currently the driving range and the 1st and 18th holes of the Watson Independence Course) with phase 1 of construction targeted to begin sometime in 2024.
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