The Villages of Citrus Hills

Pros

• The landscape and rolling hills are well maintained and admired by residents.
• The Bella Vita spa and fitness Center, Skyview Country Club, and on-site restaurants offer excellent food at very reasonable prices.
• The Skyview golf course is meticulously maintained and highly regarded by residents.
• Residents thoroughly enjoy the amenities and feel there is much more to explore.
• The community is described as the absolute best 55+ community in the Southeast, offering joy and peace.
• The homes are beautiful, and the community is described as very nice.
• The area features custom-built homes with golf courses and pickleball.
• The waitstaff at the on-site restaurants is excellent, and the sales staff is knowledgeable and helpful.
• Visitors and prospective buyers find the area beautiful and inviting.

Cons

• Citrus Hills Construction destroyed the reviewer's backyard and fence to build a large retaining wall.
• The backyard was graded and sod laid a full year later, leaving their new puppy with nowhere to run.
• They paid to replace the fence, including 44 feet erected on top of the retaining wall that sits on someone else's property.
• After emailing and certified letters, the company (and its counsel) allegedly ignored requests for reimbursement.
• The reviewers describe the developers as greedy for destroying land to build the project.
• Marketing materials are misleading, maintenance is lacking, and the golf courses are mismanaged.
• The management and marketing department should resign and let someone who knows what they're doing run the development.
• A tile substitution was done without informing the buyer, leaving them unhappy with the house.

Review

A homeowners' battle over property and boundary lines has mingled with a broader mosaic of opinions about the Villages at Citrus Hills, a landscape of rolling hills and well-keeled greens that many describe as beautiful and welcoming, but that others view through a more problematic lens. In one lengthy and difficult episode, a family discovered that a project begun by Citrus Hills Construction to install a large retaining wall down the hill from their yard came at a steep, personal cost. In May 2024, their yard and fence were destroyed to make way for the wall, and their back lot remained unusable for a full year. By May 2025, the yard was finally graded and sod laid, but the delay meant a new puppy had no space to run, and the family's plans to plant new trees never materialized as hoped. After frequent emails and conversations with Citrus Hills Construction employees, the family decided to hire their own fence company to replace the fence. They paid for two months of watering for the new sod and, to their dismay, 44 feet of replacement fencing ended up being erected on top of the retaining wall, effectively placing a fence on top of a neighbor's property rather than on their own. They sought reimbursement for the fence they paid for, the watering charges, and for the section of fence that no longer sits on their property. Their attempts to get a response included direct emails, communications with the general counsel, and a certified letter; when those were ignored, they filed a BBB complaint, lamenting the lack of accountability and asking, with frustration, why some companies "can't do the right thing." Through it all, the sentiment of "we're family" in Citrus Hills felt tested by a very public civil dispute.

Beyond this personal dispute, the community is described by many as a genuine, intertwined neighborhood where relationships go beyond simple neighborly courtesy. The refrain "we are more than neighbors, we're family" recurs as people recount how living in Citrus Hills feels like being part of a larger, caring community. There are stories of long-term enjoyment of the amenities - clubs, fitness centers, lakes, and the social calendar - paired with a backdrop of maintenance and governance questions that surface in varied degrees of intensity. Several reviewers highlight the experiences that keep them here: reliable, friendly staff; well-kept greens and facilities; the sense of a robust, active lifestyle; and the welcoming atmosphere that makes the community feel closed-knit and supportive.

Dietary and dining experiences in the community offer a mixed menu of praise and critique. One reviewer found a particular dining visit disappointing: bland flounder with crab, a lack of flavor, a slaw that wouldn't accommodate substitutions, and repeatedly running out of sweet tea, with a party of seven not enjoying the meal and finding the price/value not fully justified. This contrasts with other residents who praise the breadth of dining options, the quality of the staff, and the value found across the amenities, noting that the overall experience can still feel rewarding when the kitchen and service align with expectations. The contrast between individual dining experiences and the overall positive tone of the community illustrates how daily operations can significantly color the perception of a place that otherwise offers abundant recreational and social opportunities.

The community's cadence is defined in part by its welcoming, long-term residents and the enthusiastic voices of those who have embraced the lifestyle. Several reviews speak to a positive, ongoing relationship with the sales process and the early impressions of Citrus Hills. A frequent refrain is gratitude for a knowledgeable, helpful sales team, with references to a particular guide who left a strong impression during tours and introductions to the facilities. One couple recalls meeting a sales representative, Gus, who painted a compelling picture of goals and preferences and invited them to experience the landscape, amenities, and culture firsthand. The sentiment grows into a longer-term appreciation: after nearly two years, they remain confident in their choice and encourage others to visit and explore, underscoring the belief that Citrus Hills offers a rare blend of lifestyle, amenities, and community.

Within the broader ecosystem of the village, the Village of Citrus Hills is celebrated for its amenities - the Bella Vita spa and fitness center, Skyview Country Club, clubhouses, and the restaurants that span the property. The golf courses receive high marks from many, with one reviewer naming the Skyview course as among their favorites in the state and praising its meticulous maintenance. Waitstaff and service teams across dining venues are singled out for commendation, with residents encouraging visitors to explore the entire property and experience the breadth of what the community has to offer. Yet, even in this positive frame, some reviewers describe ongoing concerns about governance, maintenance, and what they perceive as a misalignment between marketing promises and daily realities.

A thread of critique runs through many comments about marketing and management. Several reviewers express frustration with how information about fees, HOA expectations, and long-term costs is communicated. A recurring theme is the sense that the marketing materials may be misleading or insufficient regarding what is included in HOA fees and what residents should realistically expect in terms of maintenance, facilities, and long-term costs. A notable sentiment centers on concerns about the leadership and operations of the management and marketing departments, with some residents calling for leadership changes, or at least greater transparency and accountability. In this vein, a few reviewers describe experiences where the development's pace, priorities, and customer service did not meet their expectations, leaving them feeling uncertain about future obligations or the overall value proposition.

Among the most pointed criticisms are references to specific construction and customization decisions. One review highlights a troubling lack of transparency in a home customization episode: Citrus Hills Construction allegedly substituted a blue stone tile with a beige concrete-look tile and did not inform the buyer, resulting in a mismatch with the house trim paint and other materials chosen or special-ordered at purchase. The outcome was a home build that felt less aligned with the buyer's vision and more expensive to rectify, leading to perceptions that the process prioritized expediency or standardization over personalized customer care. Accompanying these concerns is a broader sense that the quality and consistency of attention from construction and development teams could be improved to meet buyers' expectations and preserve the envisioned character of their homes.

Despite the friction, many residents continue to celebrate Citrus Hills as among the most appealing 55-plus communities in the Southeast. They describe a life of rich social engagement, a host of outdoor activities, and a sense of security and belonging that comes with living in a well-developed, self-contained community. The appeal lies in the promise of an active, social retirement with golf, dining, and exercise opportunities woven into daily life. Yet, behind that bright surface, there remains a spectrum of experiences - some residents praising the community's leadership and amenities, others voicing concerns about management decisions, maintenance standards, and the accuracy of marketing communication. It's a portrait of a place that many find deeply desirable, but that also presents real challenges for its residents when disputes arise, expectations are unsettled, or when personal property and landscaping are affected by development activity.

In the end, Citrus Hills emerges as a place of strong affection and significant contention. Its residents are drawn by the beauty of the landscape, the breadth of amenities, and the sense of community that can make a retirement feel active and engaged. They also ride a current of dissatisfaction around property disputes, construction decisions, and governance practices that remind them that even in a seemingly idyllic setting, accountability, transparency, and genuine responsiveness matter. As with any vibrant, evolving community, the experience hinges on how well the ideal of "family" and the reality of day-to-day operations align - how promptly concerns are addressed, how sincerely promises are kept, and how effectively a community can balance growth with the comfort and assurance its residents rely on.

This part of Hernando, Florida offers convenience and a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in the area. With multiple pharmacies nearby such as CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, access to healthcare is easily accessible. There are also several dining options including Burger King and New China Chinese Restaurant, catering to different tastes. For those seeking medical care, there are physicians like Citrus Hills Medical Center and specialists like Tri-County Hearing Aid within close proximity. Additionally, there are parks like Rockwood Park for outdoor activities and places of worship such as Calvary Church for spiritual enrichment. The presence of hospitals such as Lecanto Surgery Center ensures that seniors have access to quality healthcare services when needed. Overall, this part of Hernando provides a balance of amenities and services that can cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable living environment.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (0.1 miles)
• Drug Dealer's (1.4 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)

Restaurants

• Burger King (0.2 miles)
• Skyview Clubhouse (0.4 miles)
• World Fusion (1.5 miles)
• New China Chinese Restaurant (1.9 miles)
• Bangkok Thai (1.9 miles)
• Wendy's (2.2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)

Cafes

• Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters (0.3 miles)
• New England Pastry & Cafe (1.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.6 miles)
• Internet Cafe (8.2 miles)

Physicians

• Citrus Hills Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• PedIM Healthcare (1.4 miles)
• Tri-County Hearing Aid (1.8 miles)
• Citrusdiabetes Treatment Center (1.8 miles)
• La Wraps (1.9 miles)
• Bhadresh K Patel (1.9 miles)
• Cypress Healing Art Center (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Rockwood Park (0.9 miles)
• Whispering Pines Park (7 miles)
• Liberty Park (8.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Iglesia Pan De Vida (1.7 miles)
• Calvary Church (3.6 miles)
• Hernazsm Prayer/News (4.7 miles)
• Tree of Life Lutheran Church (4.9 miles)
• First Church of God (5.9 miles)
• Citrus Vineyard Community Church (6.8 miles)
• North Oak Baptist Church (7.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Pet Services of Florida (2 miles)
• Lecanto Surgery Center (3.9 miles)
• Conservancy Of Southwest FL (7.3 miles)
• Bayfront Health Seven Rivers - Wound Care Center (8.1 miles)