Hillcrest Lodge

Pros

• The new owners created a quiet and peaceful place with wonderful views.
• Visitors have had amazing times by the lakefront beach area and by the fire pit with other tenants.
• Overall, it's a great place to live.
• It is a beautiful place to visit in Central Florida with outstanding lakeside views.
• The new ownership has resulted in a great-looking place that is perfect for events.
• It is a nice, safe place to live.
• It is a beautiful place with several lakefront apartments and a big clubhouse.
• The setting is breathtaking with impressive views.
• The community is beautiful and peaceful, with boating and fishing opportunities.
• The amenities include a boat ramp, a small beach area, and reasonably priced cottage rentals.

Cons

• It's completely run down and a dump.
• It needs to be sold and rebuilt.
• There are snobby residents with no manners or respect.
• The owner, specifically an old lady, is mean.
• It's horrible; renters are warned not to rent there, as the owners don't care, with rats, roaches, spiders, and snakes; landlords don't fix anything and are rude and nasty; it's the worst place in the world.

Review

This lakeside locale in Central Florida has a long memory of being a family favorite for boating, fishing, and carefree summer days. In the earlier days, many travelers recall it as a great destination where kids could roam the shores, families could park a boat, and evenings around a fire pit by the lake felt like small-town magic. Over time, however, the place slipped from its nostalgic glow and began to feel run down - a place that many remember fondly but also describe as a dump, sad to see after being a frequent stop for generations. The sense from those years is of a resort-type property that was once alive with activity but gradually needed significant attention, a situation that led some to call for a sale and a rebuilding to restore its former charm.

Yet the narrative is not all decline. More recently, several voices pivot to a much more hopeful frame: new ownership has brought a distinctly different energy. Describe it as a great place to be, quiet and peaceful with wonderful views, and a setting where the lakefront beach area becomes a favorite gathering spot for tenants who enjoy the company around a crackling fire by the water. For many, the changes have translated into a better experience of daily life - an improved sense of community, a safe environment, and a place that feels welcoming enough to return to for visits with family and friends. The sentiment climbs from "nice and peaceful" to "beautiful place to visit," with outstanding lakeside views and a fresh, attractive appearance that hints at possibility.

The property itself offers a blend of features that appeal to a broad audience. It includes several apartments and a handful of houses clustered around a large clubhouse, with a strong sense of history woven into its walls. Some visitors even describe the place as a little eerie or creepy in a way that's oddly cool, a reminder of its past that adds character rather than detracting from its beauty. The lakeside vistas are repeatedly highlighted as breathtaking, and the overall feel is consistently described as beautiful and serene. The combination of quiet landscapes with water-based recreation makes it an attractive destination for those seeking a picturesque escape in Central Florida.

Community life is a recurring theme as well, with persistent emphasis on the lakeside charm and the lifestyle surrounding it. The place is painted as a peaceful, safe community where apartments sit on the waterfront, perfect for boating and fishing. The presence of a boat ramp and a small beach area adds practical charm to the scenery, and cottage rentals offer affordable, cozy options that fit a family budget. A narrative of neighborliness emerges - people looking out for each other like a family, offering help when needed and preserving a culture of peace, tranquility, and privacy. In this telling, the space works not just as a residence but as a small, supportive community that people want to be part of.

Still, not all experiences align with the idyllic image. A subset of reviewers describes the place with a harsher lens: snobbery and a perceived lack of manners among some residents, a sentiment that tarnishes the sense of community for at least some visitors. One account bluntly notes a "bunch of snobby people ? no manners nor respect for no one," while another points to a personal grievance with the owner, calling the old lady who runs the place mean. These comments reflect tensions within the social fabric of the community, suggesting that while the grounds and views may be beautiful, interpersonal dynamics can complicate the living experience.

Other voices deliver a stark cautionary tale: renters who describe persistent neglect by owners, with complaints about pests like rats, roaches, spiders, and snakes, and a general inability or unwillingness of landlords to fix problems. The sentiment conveyed is one of a place that, despite its potential, has earned a reputation for being the worst place in the world to rent in the eyes of those who felt ignored or mistreated. Taken together, these warnings underscore that the quality of experience can vary dramatically from unit to unit, and from season to season, depending on management and maintenance realities.

In the end, the landscape of this Central Florida lakeside property is a mosaic of bright memories and rough edges. For some families, it remains a beloved retreat - an easygoing, picturesque spot where boating, fishing, and fireside chats by the lake feel like home. For others, it is a cautionary tale of neglect and social friction, a place with extraordinary views that struggles under the weight of maintenance, management, and community dynamics. The threads of nostalgia, opportunity, and warning pull in different directions, but the overarching impression is clear: this place holds immense potential, wrapped in a complex mix of beauty, history, and human strain.

If you're drawn to lakefront living with strong scenery and a sense of quiet, this property offers a compelling canvas. It can be a sanctuary for those seeking peace, privacy, and a safe neighborhood atmosphere where neighbors look out for one another. At the same time, potential visitors and residents should enter with eyes open to the layered realities: the beauty of the landscapes and the promise of renewal on one hand, and the concerns about maintenance, pests, and neighborhood culture on the other. The future could be bright if the new ownership continues to invest in restoring the historic charm while nurturing a respectful, well-maintained community that truly feels like a family by the lake.

This area of Lake Wales, Florida, offers a convenient location with easy access to essential services and amenities. Close proximity to Holy Spirit Catholic Church provides a spiritual community for those seeking religious services. The nearby hospitals, such as Lake Wales Medical Center, offer quality healthcare options for residents. Several dining options are available within a short distance, including fast food chains like Burger King and family restaurants like Manny's Chop House. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are easily accessible for prescription needs. The Regal Eagle Ridge Mall theater offers entertainment options for seniors looking to catch a movie. Overall, this area provides a comfortable and convenient living environment for seniors in Lake Wales.

Places of Worship

• Holy Spirit Catholic Church (0.3 miles)
• Winter Haven Worship Center (10.2 miles)

Physicians

• Advanced Interventional (0.4 miles)
• Heart Of Florida Ob/Gyn Associates (0.4 miles)
• Central Florida Cancer Institute (0.7 miles)
• Caroline C Honculada MD Pa (0.9 miles)
• Dr Oropeza's Office (0.9 miles)
• Allam Mahesh G, MD (0.9 miles)
• Royal Palm Orthopedics (0.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Burger King (0.7 miles)
• Lake Wales Family Restaurant (0.9 miles)
• Mannys Chop House (1 miles)
• Little Caesars Pizza (1.1 miles)
• Junior's Fish Market (1.2 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (1.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• The Apothecary Shop (0.8 miles)
• Sweetbay Supermarket (1 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Lake Wales Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Mpn Medical Center Dundee (9.3 miles)
• Day Surgery Center (11 miles)
• Winter Haven Hospital Cath Lab (11.2 miles)
• Regency Medical Center (12 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Eagle Ridge Mall (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (9.7 miles)