History of Our Community

The Lake of the Woods of Jacaranda (LOWofJ) is a medium-sized community boasting three unique neighborhoods. We have several lakes offering serene water views where you’ll see birds, otters and, yes, alligators. Our community borders a preserve so if you’re lucky you may see panthers, bobcats and deer.

The land known as the Lake of the Woods of Jacaranda (LOWofJ) was originally called Lake of the Woods (LOW). Unfortunately, the name had to be legally changed because another community already owned the name Lake of the Woods. In August, 1989 the legal name of our community became the Lake of the Woods of Jacaranda and is our master association. Documents and signs still reflect the original name, which can be confusing. The land we know as the Lakes of the Woods of Jacaranda or LOWofJ for short was originally developed by Gulfstream Development Corporation. The intention was to include sub-divisions on the property such as Park Estates. When Gulfstream began to experience financial difficulty and declared bankruptcy, our community was in legal “limbo.” Park Estates was already being developed as a sub-division of LOWofJ with the intention of making it a separate entity, but still governed by LOWofJ. Then Taylor Woodrow Communities purchased the Lake of the Woods of Jacaranda (LOWofJ) property and entered into an agreement with J & J Homes, Inc. to build on the undeveloped portion of LOWofJ. J & J Homes was granted legal permission to rename the land he was to develop to the Lakes of Jacaranda (LOJ),. Like Park Estates LOJ would be a separate entity yet still be governed by the master association, LOWofJ. Under J & J Homes, Inc. Grassy Oaks II & III would be designated as a maintenance-free sub-section of the Lakes of Jacaranda (LOJ) . Grassy Oaks II has a community well and Grassy Oaks III has individual wells.

There are 871 lots under the master association LOWofJ. The number of lots in the three sub-sections are:

182 lots in the Lake of the Woods (LOW)
613 lots in the Lakes of Jacaranda (LOJ), and
76 lots in Park Estates (PE)

When J & J Homes, Inc. went out of business, there were five undeveloped lots that J & J Homes, Inc. owned. They were sold to Neal Homes, Inc. to be developed. Neal Homes, Inc. had first-right-of-refusal to build on any lots privately owned, but never did.