After Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach made his money in auto parts, he took up horse-breeding. That brought him to the equestrian-rich area around Ocala in central Florida, where he is turning some of his vast holdings into a high-end community that reflects his dedication to luxury and taste: Adena Golf & Country Club.
For example, he designed the golf course, which features major elevation changes as it winds past limestone-quarry lakes, rugged rock faces, and meadows of Spanish moss-draped oak trees. Holes range from a par four that tees off atop a waterfall to a 747-yard par five, one of the longest in North America.
Stronach believes “you are what you eat,” so the club has its own cattle and chicken farms—supplying the restaurant with organic beef, poultry, and eggs—and relies on locally sourced produce. The emphasis on health extends to the fitness center, tennis courts, heated lap pool, and family-friendly vibe. “We’re building a youthful membership,” says Director of Membership and New Development Stacey Rollins. “They understand the need for good food, good golf, and want their children to have only the best.”
The first custom lots are now available for building townhomes, villas, and estates in a range of sizes and prices. Adena also has a relationship with nearby Jumbolair, a private airstrip that can handle the largest jets. As Rollins says, “It’s all in our tagline: Luxury Understood.”
