Shadow Wood Preserve: a community for nature lovers

COURTESY PHOTO Clubhouse at the Arthur Hills-designed golf course.

Sue and Ed Lode live in the very back development within Shadow Wood Preserve, but they are by no means removed from the rest of the gated community.

Actually, the two-year residents of Cypress Bend are quite involved in life at the Bonita Bay Group project, which is west of U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers.

"It's like a big family here," said Sue Lode, 56. "If there is a party, everybody comes. We try to support our (community) club. We are so surprised at the good friends we have made."

Cypress Bend is the final neighborhood being built in Shadow Wood Preserve and has 32 home sites, said Shannan O'Brien, marketing director for Harbourside Custom Homes in Bonita Springs.

Harbourside was among the preferred builders in earlier developed neighborhoods within the community and is the only builder of the singlefamily homes in Cypress Bend, where O'Brien said seven homes have been completed.

Shadow Wood Preserve has traditional and custom single-family homes and lifestyle homes, she said, and most packages start from the $900,000s.

COURTESY PHOTO Shadow Wood Preserve residences have preserve, golf and lake views, many of them all three.

Cypress Bend offers seven lifestyle plans of 2,400 to 2,800 square feet of living space, she said. Onsite models are of the Tuscany (2,692 square feet) and Mirabella (2,904 square feet), both one-story designs, according to the Harbourside Web site.

The Lodes relocated from near Chicago to Southwest Florida after being seasonal residents at another area community for seven years.

Although they had friends from back home living in Shadow Wood at the Brooks, they still made a list of criteria they sought in a full-time residence once they started looking. They wanted to be west of 41, close to the beaches. They wanted a quiet, private community. Cypress Bend has more than met their criteria, Sue Lode said.

"We like the feel," she said. "It's a small community. It's got that natural feel to it. It's spread out, and it's really nice. The people are just fabulous."

COURTESY PHOTO Mirabella model at Shadow Wood Preserve.

Shadow Wood Preserve is a lowdensity community, with 300 homes planned on 440 acres, O'Brien said, and bordered by Estero Bay Preserve State Park. "Cypress Bend is definitely a community for nature lovers," she said. "There are walking trails and beautiful preserves."

O'Brien said Shadow Wood Preserve residences have preserve, golf and lake views, many of them all three. Buyers have been snowbirds and full-time residents. Some residents are even building their second residence within the community.

The Lodes were among the first residents on their cul-de-sac. They own a one-story pool home with views of a lake and the seventh hole of The Preserve, an 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course. "It is very quiet," Sue Lode said. "We don't hear traffic."

As it is, they most enjoy The Preserve, one of three golf courses in Shadow Wood Preserve. Ed Lode, 59, golfs at least a couple of times a week there because Sue Lode said he thinks "it's challenging. You have to have course management."

COURTESY PHOTO A view of the clubhouse from the golf course.

Sue Lode also plays golf, though less frequently than does her husband. Instead, she works out five times a week at The Commons Club fitness center, which includes workout, locker and sauna areas. She uses the free weights and exercise machines and attends spin and step classes. An outdoor heated pool includes swimming lanes, and there is a spa.

Shadow Wood Preserve has a park near Mullock Creek, with a tot lot, canoe and kayak launch, tennis courts and recreational and fitness trails.

Additional amenities, such as access to the Town Center at the Brooks, are available to residents who become members of The Commons Club.