At
Keene's Pointe, Castle & Cooke has combined the classical
architecture styles of the past with the flowing and open
interiors of today. The Keene's Pointe community features
14 unique villages, set among the Butler Chain of Lakes
and its golf course.
Over
400 acres just south of Keene's Pointe are designated as
the Tibet-Butler Preserve, housing a bird sanctuary and
several endangered species of animals and plants.
Windermere is located in Orange County, Florida, just a few miles
south-west of Orlando with a population of just over 2,000.
Walt Disney World and many other exciting attractions are
only a few miles away.
History
of Windermere
The
area surrounding Keene's Pointe and Windermere is rich
in history. For over 100 years, the mild climate and the
beauty of the lakes have attracted settlers, farmers, tourists
and homeowners.
After
the end of the Seminole wars in 1858, the federal government
- in an effort to bring settlers & farmers to the area,
offered homesteaders 160 acres of free land in exchange
for cultivating 5 acres and building a cabin. The resulting
development brought more and more settlers, tourists, merchants
and farmers to the area, first by dirt trails, then by
steamboats and finally by railroads.
The
city of Windermere was founded in 1887 and continues to
grow as a highly desirable vacation destination and as
a community of luxury living. Today's Windermere still
shows its past in the historic Town Hall (built 1922-24),
Cal Palmer’s original office building (built 1911-12),
the well-preserved Bumby house (built 1911) and the Armstrong-Beggs-Parramore
house (built 1890 or earlier), which served as the town’s
first school in the same year.
R.D.
Keene (1885 – 1973) began working in the area’s
orange groves at the age of 20 and quickly progressed
from laborer to buyer. He ultimately owned several groves
and a packinghouse of his own. In 1932 he acquired the
northern portion of the land now known as Keene’s
Pointe, which was used to develop orange groves. Then
in the 1940’s he acquired the southern portion.
R.D. was known to be an innovator and over time improved
orange growing techniques and developed the preparation
and marketing of frozen orange juice. As a visionary,
he formed a grower’s association, later to become
the Florida Citrus Mutual. However, after several devastating
freezes, the Keene’s family realized the need for
change and rezoned Keene’s Pointe land for developers.
Today,
Windermere is a luxury community that has retained its
small town charm. Many movie stars and professional athletes
have made it their home. As you establish your home in
Keene’s Pointe, you will become part of the next
chapter in its history and development.
Community & Activities
Residents of Windermere enjoy the town hall and
surrounding area, which includes the Chase Memorial Library,
basketball courts, a municipal office building and the
Cal Palmer Memorial Building, named after one of its
founding residents. The town hall is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The town is literally set
on a small strip of land amongst the Butler Chain of
Lakes, offering residents glorious vistas and a retreat
from the sometimes-tropical heat.
Orlando's
theme parks make sure that no one goes home empty-handed.
There's plenty of gift shops selling everything from
Mickey Mouse key chains to Alfred Hitchcock movies. But
there's also an array of fine art galleries and stores
with handicrafts and the likes. A selection of great
Outlet malls can be found as well, such as:
Millennia Mall
World-class shopping and dining can be found at this upscale mall. Cartier,
Bloomingdales, Lacoste, Neiman Marcus, Macy's are
just a few of the over 140 shops and restaurants to be
found.
Florida Mall You won't believe the incredible
variety of stores here, such as JC Penney's, Zales Jewelers,
Pearl Vision Express, Saks Fifth Avenue, Thomas Kinkade
Gallery, Officemax, Dillards and many
more!
Winter Garden Village Winter Garden Village is an open-air shopping center offering shopping and gathering opportunities to fit everyone's needs. From department stores to electronics to a health club and specialty retailers, along with the wide array of restaurants and eateries, visitors enjoy a variety of experiences here.
Orlando Premium Outlets Find impressive savings at Ann Taylor, Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, Coach, Diesel, Fendi, Gap Outlet, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, MaxMara, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Theory, Tommy Hilfiger and more. With 110 stores to choose from, there's something for everyone.
Enjoy
the immense variety of theme parks and attractions nearby!
There's something for every age, interest and activity
level! There are too many to list, but some of the most
popular attractions are:
Walt Disney World®
The Magic Kingdom is fun for all ages. From thrill-rides to parades
to meeting all of your favorite Disney characters, Walt Disney
World is definitely a must see attraction.
Universal Studios Florida®
At this real working film & TV studio, an incredible array
of rides, shows, movie sets and attractions put you right in your
favorite scenes from your favorite movies. It's the number one
movie studio in the world!
Universal's
Islands of Adventure®
Experience unexpected adventure and innovative thrills as you take
an un-forgettable journey through the five islands - Seuss Landing™,
The Lost Continent®, Jurassic Park®, Toon Lagoon® and
MarvelSuper Hero Island®!
SeaWorld® Orlando
Experience thrill-a-second rides one minute and count the teeth
on a shark the next! Feed the dolphins, take in an incredible
performance, and just try to stay dry when the world famous
Shamu® comes a-splashing! SeaWorld® Orlando has a wide
variety of rides, shows and attractions, including roller coasters,
flight simulator rides, children's play areas, shows featuring
pets, water-ski stunts, Shamu® and family, sea lion shows
and many others. Or stroll through the tropical reef aquarium,
turtle point, the dolphin nursery or manatee aquarium.
The
Orlando area is home to a fabulous variety of first class
restaurants. From favorite cuisine's such as American,
Italian, Chinese and Thai, to the more exotic tastes
of Africa, Greece, Cuba and Scandinavia. There are also
an impressive number of National award-winning restaurants,
such as:
Emeril's
Restaurant
Manuel's
on the 28th
Morton's The Steakhouse
The
Palm
Roy's
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Seasons 52
Victoria & Albert's
There
are also a number of exciting dinnershow restaurants, offering
great food paired with a variety of entertainment options,
such as:
Arabian Nights is a dinner show that brings a fairy tale to life on horseback. As the
story unfolds, guests see a wide variety of equine entertainment,
from "Dancing Horses of the Desert" to "Square Dance" on
horseback. As you watch the show, a feast is served followed
by a scrumptious dessert.
.
The Florida Medieval Times
The Castle has been open for performances daily since 1983. In
addition to its beautiful white brick facade and moat, it is also home to the Medieval
Life village where visitors can experience life as it was in the
11th Century. Set within the walls of the European-style castle,
the live show recreates a Middle Age tournament of skill and sport,
featuring valiant knights and powerful stallions. And the hands-on
medieval feast is sure to please all guests!
Pirates Dinner Adventure
This exciting dinner show puts you and your family right in the
middle of all of the swashbuckling action. This Broadway-quality
show is presented on an enormous, fully-rigged pirate’s
galleon. The elaborate set provides the backdrop for action,
romance, and comedy.
Disney's Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club
Charming Victorian elegance and lavish decor combine with impeccable
service to offer guests of this world-class spa a truly unique
experience. Our spa invites you into an environment of gracious
hospitality and luxurious service. Our commitment to your well
being is embodied in each of our customized therapies to elevate
your spirit, relax your body and invigorate your mind. Enjoy
a Grand level of massage therapies, facials, hand & foot
and body treatments.
Euro Day Spa & Salon
Central Florida's Award winning Day Spa was voted Best Day Spa
in the Orlando area by the readers of Orlando Magazine for
1999, 2000 & 2001. The large variety of available services
include luxurious algae, mud and dead sea salt treatments,
massages and reflexology, a full service salon, facials and
skin treatments, nailcare, toning and infratonic QGM therapy.
Eo Inn & Urban
Spa
Located in downtown Orlando, overlooking Lake Eola the Eo Inn & Urban
Spa was built approximately 1923. Treatments range from massages,
body care and facials to manicures, pedicures and a beauty salon.
Gaylord Palms
A world class resort and convention center, with a
full service spa. Treatments range from massages,
facials and body wraps to a full service beauty
salon. There's also a leading-edge fitness & health
facility and a championship golf course.
Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa
Located in the Walt Disney World Resort this 10,000 square foot
European style spa offers more than 60 services and treatments,
full service beauty salon and fitness center, private spa lap
pool, sauna and whirlpools.
The
Orlando Philharmonic began in 1991
as a Chamber Music group. It began operating as the Orlando
Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO) in 1995. Program planning
for the season is done by Music Director, Hal France and
resident conductor, Andrew Lane, who also leads concerts.
In their concert season OPO performs rich musical offerings
of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, O'Connor, Bach, Schumann, Brahms,
Vivaldi, Mahler and Sung, to name a few.
The Orlando Ballet
Orlando Ballet was founded in 1974 and is one of the oldest and
most renowned professional dance companies in the Southern US.
Directed by the legendary Fernando Bujones, the company’s
mission is to set and promote the standards of dance not only as
an art form, but also a vehicle for bringing culture and artistic
education to the community. Orlando Ballet is central Florida’s
only fully professional Ballet Company. The 29 year-old organization
performs at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.
The Orlando Museum of Art
Reflecting the continuing growth of Florida, the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is dedicated to enriching
the cultural life of Florida by providing excellence in the visual
arts. OMA has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving and interpreting
notable works of art, to presenting exhibitions, and to providing
first-class educational programs to reach every segment of a diverse
community.
For over forty years the adventurous Robert Ripley explored the
uncanny and amazing mysteries of the earth. Ripley's Believe It
or Not!® Orlando Museum is proud
to offer visitors this fantastic collection of the world's
strangest oddities!
West
Orange Trail This world-class rail-trail offers many amenities and scenic routes
for joggers, hikers, bikers, walkers
and horseback riders. The trail is
approximately 19 miles in length and
paved. It winds alongside picturesque
Lake Apopka and the Winter Garden Historical
Museum. The trail also provides access
to and from Clarcona Horseman’s
Park. Visitors have access to several
trail heads with concessions, bike
and blade rentals, parking etc.
Boating and Fishing
With 8,500 miles of tidal shoreline, 7,800 lakes, 320 springs and
35 rivers, water defines Florida. In the Orlando area alone,
there are some 300 lakes!
Tibet-Butler Preserve
This 440-acre nature preserve offers opportunities for the whole family to learn about Florida's fragile ecosystem. The on-site Vera Carter Environment Center houses a variety of exhibits on local flora and fauna, and is also the beginning of miles of beautifully maintained trails and boardwalks that meander through pristine wilderness. The preserve borders the Tibet-Butler chain of lakes from which is takes its name.
Oakland Nature Preserve
With a 3,000 foot boardwalk that winds through wetland, this park primarily offers scenic hiking trails through the nature preserve. The boardwalk ends at Lake Apopka, a popular location for bird watching. See Red-winged Blackbirds, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and more in your walks through the preserve.
Orlando Centroplex
Located in Downtown Orlando,
The Orlando Centroplex acts as Central Florida's home for
the very best in entertainment, sports, expositions and
the arts. It consists of
Amway Arena
The
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
The
Florida Citrus Bowl
Tinker
Field and
The
Expo Centre
providing
venues for arts, theater, popular concerts, conventions,
conferences, meetings and sporting events of every imaginable
kind.
The Golden Bear Golf Club at Keene's Pointe
Open to visitors and residents
alike, this Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf
Course features some of the most breathtaking
vistas and challenging holes you'll find
anywhere. Surrounded by sparkling lakes
and majestic oaks, this 18-hole masterpiece
appeals to golfers of every level.
At
Keene's Pointe, Castle & Cooke has combined the classical
architecture styles of the past with the flowing and open
interiors of today. The Keene's Pointe community features
14 unique villages, set among the Butler Chain of Lakes
and its golf course.
The
area surrounding Keene's Pointe and Windermere is rich
in history. For over 100 years, the mild climate and the
beauty of the lakes have attracted settlers, farmers, tourists
and homeowners.
Residents of Windermere enjoy the town hall and
surrounding area, which includes the Chase Memorial Library,
basketball courts, a municipal office building and the
Cal Palmer Memorial Building, named after one of its
founding residents. The town hall is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The town is literally set
on a small strip of land amongst the Butler Chain of
Lakes, offering residents glorious vistas and a retreat
from the sometimes-tropical heat.
you take
an un-forgettable journey through the five islands - Seuss Landing™,
The Lost Continent®, Jurassic Park®, Toon Lagoon® and
MarvelSuper Hero Island®!
brick facade and moat, it is also home to the Medieval
Life village where visitors can experience life as it was in the
11th Century. Set within the walls of the European-style castle,
the live show recreates a Middle Age tournament of skill and sport,
featuring valiant knights and powerful stallions. And the hands-on
medieval feast is sure to please all guests
!
Euro Day Spa & Salon
Gaylord Palms
The Orlando Museum of Art
For over forty years the adventurous Robert Ripley explored the
uncanny and amazing mysteries of the earth. Ripley's Believe It
or Not!® Orlando Museum is proud
to offer visitors this fantastic collection of the world's
strangest oddities!
This world-class rail-trail offers many amenities and scenic routes
for joggers, hikers, bikers, walkers
and horseback riders. The trail is
approximately 19 miles in length and
paved. It winds alongside picturesque
Lake Apopka and the Winter Garden Historical
Museum. The trail also provides access
to and from Clarcona Horseman’s
Park. Visitors have access to several
trail heads with concessions, bike
and blade rentals, parking etc.
Orlando Centroplex
The Golden Bear Golf Club at Keene's Pointe
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