3,000-home master-planned community coming to Polk County

A new master-planned community offering more than 3,000 homes is taking root in Lake Wales.

BTI Partners began construction on its ViaTerra mixed-use community Dec. 1, a spokeswoman for the company says. The project is expected to be completed in late 2026, with additional amenities slated to open in late 2027.

Located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Thompson Nursery Road, across the street from the Eagle Ridge Mall, the new Polk County community spans 1,841 acres and cost developer BTI Partners, based in Fort Lauderdale, an estimated $43 million, according to the company’s website. 

The transaction for ViaTerra closed in late 2021 after the company received zoning and annexation approvals for 725,000 square feet of commercial, office and assisted living space in the community, Polk County records show. There is also land earmarked for two schools within the community, as well as a fire station and library, according to county records. 

Construction began on the community in 2023, a release states. 

Anchored by Peace Creek, a protected natural waterway, ViaTerra is located in between the cities of Lake Wales and Winter Haven, in close proximity to local shopping, healthcare and dining options, as well as Legoland Florida Resort and Bok Tower Gardens. 

The homes in ViaTerra were designed with diversity in mind, a release says, creating a community that blends single-family residences with active adult homes and apartments. The amenity-rich development offers walking paths inspired by nearby Bok Tower Gardens, and a full calendar of festivals and community events. 

The community offers a pool that spans 2 acres and includes a lazy river and “splash zone” along with cabanas, fire pits, grilling areas and a dry playground. Art installations will decorate the community’s roundabouts and residents will enjoy multiple parks, sports fields, dog parks as well as a community clubhouse, food hall and event space. 

According to the community’s website, the eventual school will be a charter school for up to 3,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, with an emphasis on its science, engineering and arts programs. 

The two-story food hall will host multiple vendors inside its 16,000 square foot facility, with an estimated 380 parking spaces and both indoor and outdoor event spaces. 

ViaTerra isn’t BTI Partners’ first venture in and around Polk County. The company developed another community along U.S. 27 called Posner Village and owns more than 3,000 acres along Lake Tohopekaliga in neighboring Osceola County where it is developing the CrossPrairie community. 

BTI Partners' projects include mixed-use communities, luxury residential properties and revitalization projects in local neighborhoods and marinas. The company has developed numerous projects across the state, including luxury waterfront development Marina Pointe in Tampa and multiple master-planned communities in Clay County. BTI Partners is involved in real estate transactions totaling more than $3.6 billion, according to its website.