901-home community in Parrish marks new concept for national developer

Del Webb, a national developer known for creating resort-style 55-plus communities, is debuting a new brand to appeal to a younger demographic, and one of the first developments in the country will be in Manatee County. 

Del Webb Explore North River Ranch will include 901 homes within a gated community in Parrish open to all ages.

The move by Del Webb to lift its age requirement comes as the result of market research by its parent company, PulteGroup, revealing 40% of potential Del Webb buyers wanted the brand’s active lifestyle without the requirement of being 55 and older.

“A lot of the buyers that are considering 55-plus communities like the idea of kids in the neighborhood because it gives them that feeling of vitality and youth. They could still have children at home,” PulteGroup’s West Florida Division President Sean Strickler tells the Business Observer. In age-restricted communities, he notes, there are limits on how long people under 19 can stay.

"Del Webb Explore North River Ranch represents our response to what today's Gen X buyers are telling us they want — a vibrant, active lifestyle with sophisticated amenities and experiences,” Strickler says in a statement.

The centerpiece for the community will be a private amenity campus featuring a zero-entry pool with lap lanes and lazy river; indoor and outdoor bar and grill; multimillion-dollar clubhouse with fitness center; covered pickleball courts; golf simulator and putting green; fire pit with gathering areas; and walking trails.

On 413 acres, the development will be within the master-planned community of North River Ranch, off Fort Hamer Road and North River Ranch Trail.

“We will be the only gated neighborhood in North River Ranch,” Strickler says. “There’s a lot of growth in that particular area," with a hospital, State College of Florida campus, middle school, restaurants and retail being built. “All of those we think really appeal to the buyer that we’re going after.”

Homes will range from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet, according to Strickler. Most will be single-level, while a few will be two stories. All will have paver drives, tile roofs and quartz countertops. Some homeowners will still be part of the workforce, he says, while others may choose to purchase a residence there to have as a vacation home. Pricing information has not yet been released.

The Del Webb Explore concept is launching in two communities to start: Palm Desert in southern California and Parrish. The California community is already selling. Meanwhile, development is expected to begin soon in the north Manatee County community, and sales at Del Webb Explore North River Ranch will commence in the first quarter of 2026, Strickler says.

“The brand has been in the works for a while,” Strickler says. “You’ll see more [Del Webb Explore communities] popping up around the country….I would envision there will be more that would be coming to the Tampa area as well.”

Del Webb is not abandoning its traditional 55-plus brand but instead adding to its offerings, according to Strickler. The idea in large part is to appeal to Generation X, defined as those born from 1965 to 1980, between the Baby Boomers and Millennials.

“We’re seeing a convergence of Gen X reaching their peak earning years, with sophisticated tastes shaped by decades of travel and lifestyle experiences. The extension of the ageless Del Webb brand means we can now offer a product to those who crave a vibrant, active lifestyle, regardless of age,” PulteGroup’s President and CEO Ryan Marshall says in a statement.

Communities for those 55 and up that Del Webb has developed in the area include Del Webb Catalina in Lakewood Ranch as well as Del Webb Bayview in Parrish. 

“Del Webb Bayview has been incredibly successful,” Strickler says. “We know that the demand is deep enough in that neck of the woods to support both an age-restricted offering and age-targeted offering.” The company will also begin selling homes at Del Webb Sunchase, a 55-plus community in Parrish, starting this summer.

Del Webb is a brand within Atlanta-based PulteGroup, which is one of the country’s largest homebuilders, with operations in more than 45 markets. In 2024, PulteGroup generated nearly $18 billion in revenue.