Huntington Lakes

Pros

• Huntington Lakes is described as ideal for those seeking an easy lifestyle.
• The newly renovated two-floor clubhouse looks like a resort.
• There is never a dull moment in Huntington Lakes thanks to its many amenities, including tennis, pickleball, swimming pools, and a fitness center.
• Dozens of clubs are available to join.
• Many buildings offer easy access to long walking trails, with residents seen walking, jogging, or bicycling.
• Quality shops, restaurants, and grocery stores are plentiful around Huntington Lakes.
• Wakodahatchee Wetlands are nearby for nature walks.
• The showroom in the newly renovated clubhouse is open, and events like Celebrate have drawn a full house.

Cons

• They feel the community is poorly run and that the management takes advantage of residents.
• Construction has dragged on for months, subjecting residents to daily jackhammering and scaffolding.
• The lanais are being boarded up and elderly residents are asked to clear furniture and face restricted sunlight.
• Residents are told on some days to leave their homes for eight hours, with no good daytime alternative.
• The new clubhouse is closed due to a mold issue, depriving residents of a gathering place.
• It's suggested that millions were spent on the clubhouse and a restaurant/cafe would have been a better use of funds.
• Castle Group's communication and management are described as very poor.
• At least one resident regrets moving there and another is selling an investment condo due to mismanagement.
• A resident complains about smoking in a non-smoking building causing misery.
• Gate operations are inconsistent, causing frequent frustration for residents and visitors.

Review

Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach is presented in many voices as a place with real promise and real pitfalls. It's billed as a 55-plus, amenity-rich community that can feel like a resort when everything is running smoothly, but a number of residents and observers have voiced serious concerns about management, ongoing construction, and how the needs of older residents are being addressed. The contrast between bright promises of resort living and the day-to-day realities described by longtime residents creates a complicated picture that many prospective buyers or renters will want to weigh carefully.

A prominent thread running through several reviews is the disruption caused by long-running construction and repairs. One resident recounts that their mother's building has been under work for nearly ten months, with daily jack hammering, men on scaffolding, and noise that never seems to end. They report the lanai work now involved, including boarding up sliding doors and effectively blocking sunlight, while residents - some of them elderly - are asked to clear furniture from lanais and ceilings fans, a task that doesn't feel considerate to people who may have mobility or safety concerns. Compounding the frustration is a directive to vacate their homes for eight hours on a given day, a policy that would be burdensome even for able-bodied residents, let alone those who rely on health routines or who don't have easy alternatives. The situation grew more perplexing when the new clubhouse, described as newly renovated, was closed due to mold, leaving residents without a central place to gather or take refuge from the construction. The question "Where do they want them to go?" captures the sense that the disruption has been misaligned with the practical needs of the community's residents.

These experiences feed into broader criticisms about Castle Group's management and communication. A number of reviews explicitly caution potential buyers and renters away from developments managed by Castle Group, citing "very poor communication & management skills" and even advising to stay away from Huntington Lakes. One reviewer described their investment condo there as a money-losing proposition largely because of HOA and management issues, ultimately deciding to sell. Taken together, these comments paint a picture of a management team that some residents feel falls short in coordinating projects, communicating plans, and prioritizing residents' welfare - especially for a community with a large elderly population that may have particular needs during construction or renovation projects.

Amid the negative feedback, other voices highlight considerable positives that reality-check the overall picture. Several reviewers praise the clubhouse after renovation, describing it as "two floors" and looking "like a resort." They emphasize a wealth of amenities - tennis, pickleball, swimming pools, fitness centers - and the existence of dozens of clubs to join. The walking trails are repeatedly cited as a major draw, with residents noting easy access to water views, nature, and a generally clean, well-cared-for environment. Proximity to local attractions and services - such as Atlantic Avenue, Delray Marketplace, and a cluster of shops and dining options - adds to the sense that Huntington Lakes can be a very appealing place to live for those who value an active social life in a resort-like setting.

Other positive threads focus on the quality of life within the community on an ongoing basis. People share experiences of a well-maintained, pleasant environment, friendly neighbors, and a general sense of convenience that comes with a wide range of facilities. The clubhouse's potential is frequently celebrated, with mentions of state-of-the-art spaces, an auditorium, a ballroom, and a showroom that has hosted events and performances. Some reviewers specifically point to the daily life of the community - walking and biking trails, scenic views, and easy access to daily amenities - as reasons Huntington Lakes remains a desirable place to retire for those who can navigate the governance and upkeep. In short, there is a solid contingent who believe the core appeal of Huntington Lakes is very real and enduring when the operational pieces align.

There are also practical concerns about day-to-day logistics that don't neatly fall into "good" or "bad" categories but matter in real life. One reviewer notes that the gate system and entry process can be maddeningly inconsistent, with a personal vehicle sporting business signage sometimes blocked or redirected, forcing a longer drive and more frustration than necessary. The issue of consistency at the gates - especially for visitors or family members who come to help elderly residents - highlights how small operational lapses can have outsized effects on residents' daily routines. Another personal account mentions living in a non-smoking building only to be affected by a smoker downstairs, illustrating how conflicting expectations around rules can affect resident satisfaction even in a community designed to be an ideal, peaceful retirement setting.

Overall, Huntington Lakes appears to be a place of substantial assets married to substantial challenges. On one hand, residents celebrate the resort-like clubhouse, the abundance of amenities, the walking trails, water views, and the social richness of a community designed for active adults. On the other hand, ongoing construction with limited disruption management, mold-related closures, and criticisms of Castle Group's communication and leadership create a backdrop of frustration and caution. For someone considering moving here, the evidence suggests a trade-off: a vibrant, active community with excellent upside if you can tolerate significant construction periods and navigate complex management issues; or a place where heavy-handed scheduling, inconvenient disruptions, or perceived mismanagement could diminish the experience.

In the end, Huntington Lakes offers a compelling case study in how a retirement-oriented, amenity-rich development can deliver high-quality living spaces and social life while simultaneously testing residents' patience with construction, governance, and operational coordination. For potential residents, the decision to move here will likely hinge on how much weight you assign to the long-term lifestyle advantages - the clubs, the trails, the clubhouse, the location - versus the short-term realities of renovations, HOA communication, and management responsiveness. The spectrum of opinions makes one thing clear: Huntington Lakes can feel like a dream come true for some and a source of ongoing frustration for others, depending very much on the timing of renovations, the specific building you choose, and how well the management team addresses residents' practical needs.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Nino's Of Delray (0.9 miles)
• Wendy's (1.1 miles)
• Sicilian Oven (1.9 miles)
• Burger King (2.2 miles)
• Poppies (2.9 miles)
• Hunan Gardens Chinese Restaurant (2.9 miles)
• La Bamba Mexican Spanish (3 miles)

Physicians

• Diagnostic Centers Of America (1.3 miles)
• Cohen Medical Associates (1.3 miles)
• National Spine & Pain Centers - Delray Beach (1.9 miles)
• Personal Physician Care PA (3 miles)
• Boynton Beach Skin (4.4 miles)
• Diagnostic Centers of America (4.5 miles)
• Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches (4.5 miles)

Cafes

• The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• The Seed (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Parks

• Caloosa Park (5 miles)
• Boca Tierra Park (5.4 miles)
• Mizner Bark Dog Park (6.4 miles)
• Gulfstream Park (7.1 miles)
• Spanish River Park (7.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital West (5.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation B'nai Israel (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (6.4 miles)
• Cinemark Premier (6.7 miles)
• Regal Shadowood (7.1 miles)