- March 19, 2026
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An entertainment district was envisioned years ago as part of Lakewood Ranch’s long-term development strategy.
Now, that vision is coming to life on the Sarasota County side of the master-planned community that borders Manatee. Projects include:
Amanda Zipperer, director of property management and leasing for Lakewood Ranch Commercial, says these businesses will provide experiences that appeal to families, young professionals and active adults so the district will meet the evolving needs of the overall community while attracting both residents and visitors.
A deeper look at the projects include:
Urban Air is already seeing success. Owner Michael Tucci says he has no complaints about the Lakewood Ranch location, which is the third Urban Air Tucci and his wife, Tracey Tucci, have opened in the Tampa Bay area.
At 60,000 square feet, the Lakewood Ranch location is not only the biggest location the Tuccis own, but the biggest of 400 Urban Air locations in the country.
The Urban Air in Lakewood Ranch features trampolines, mini-carts, a climbing area, laser tag, battle beams and a ninja course.
Tucci has become friendly with the owners of both SkyTrack and Backyard Social, so there’s a feeling of camaraderie over competition between the attractions. Tucci opted for mini-carts, which cater to ages 7 and under, instead of go-karts because he left those to SkyTrack.
“We should all partner together,” he says. “It’s going to be fantastic.”
The entertainment district is expected to be built out by early summer 2027.
Owner Mat Baum says there’ remains a lot to do since the foundation hasn’t been poured yet, but he and his partner John Mann are shooting for a mid-November opening.
Backyard Social is a new concept — not quite a restaurant, not quite a bar. Instead of a kitchen, food trucks will be permanently parked outside. So far, the lineup includes Gigi Gourmet, Gigi's Chicken Coop, Gyros2Go, Lobster Chef and Box Car Cantina.
Up until 9 p.m., Backyard Social welcomes all ages with games including duckpin bowling, darts, shuffleboard, cornhole and a golf simulator that allows players to play almost any course in the world.
After 9 p.m., Backyard Social only allows patrons 21 and older.
The one-story building will be about 12,500 square feet. Originally planned to be kept open in the back leading out to the lawn, the design was changed so the building can be opened up or completely closed and under air conditioning, depending on the weather.
The lawn will feature a tiki bar and a 6,000-square-foot stage for live music.
After watching his children spend hours in a small arcade inside an Orlando hotel, the idea of SkyTrack started off simple, says co-owner Dr. Wael Alokeh: A place for families to have fun.
A resident of the Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch and an internist, Alokeh also loves cars and racing.
But the vision for SkyTrack has expanded into much more. The plan now includes a go-kart track, over 85 arcade and virtual reality games, a 16-lane bowling alley, a high-end indoor mini-golf course, a full service restaurant, two bars and an outdoor stage to host live entertainment.
And, as the name suggests, the go-kart track will be the main attraction and the first thing visitors see when entering the 70,000-square-foot building. The track will twist and turn across three stories and measure more than a half-mile long. The electric karts will speed up to 27 miles per hour.
“We wanted to build a destination where families, friends and visitors can come together for an experience that feels exciting, modern and unforgettable,” Alokeh said. “We needed to add something for everyone.”
The second floor will be set up to host corporate events, and the restaurant will feature a more upscale cuisine, including steaks and carpaccio. However, other dining areas will offer fast-casual options like hamburgers.
When envisioning SkyTrack, the main goals for Alokeh and his wife, Jennifer Alokeh, are to start a business completely outside of the medical field and offer some family-friendly indoor entertainment during the dog days of summer.
“Before Urban Air, (the area) was limited in terms of what was offered for entertainment,” Jennifer Alokeh said. “Lakewood Ranch has rapidly grown and has become one of the best places to live, but there’s no bowling alley or go-karts, so the idea evolved from there.”
As parents, safety is important to the couple, too. The go-kart track will be built using advanced barrier technology, which is designed to absorb crash impacts and protect drivers from injuries.
The track is being shipped from Europe and will take 30 days to install; the overall project will take about 14 months to complete. The projected opening date is May 1, 2027.
Life Time is not a gym. Gym is not even in the company’s vernacular, according to Natalie Bushaw, vice president of corporate communications and public relations.
Life Time, instead, is an athletic country club. it has just under 200 locations across the United States and Canada.
Bushaw says the company targeted Lakewood Ranch because of the community’s "strong emphasis on quality of life, outdoor activity and family living.”
“We believe the club will become a natural gathering place for the community — well beyond just for fitness, but for social connection, family activities and everyday healthy living,” she says. “We have people who have spent their whole lives as Life Time members and are now raising their families with us. It’s neat to see.”
While it’s not anticipated to open until later this year, the waitlist is growing and membership will be limited. A traditional gym might focus on volume, but Life Time focuses on the member experience. A good experience ensures the club never feels overcrowded.
The athletic country club concept includes resort-style amenities, wellness services and social spaces. It will also have 14 pickleball courts, of which three will be indoors. The outdoor courts will be surrounded by pickleball lounges, a seating area and a bistro.
Additional amenities include a leisure pool with waterslides, two lap pools, a fitness studio for group classes, a full cardio, strength and functional training floor and a work lounge.
Recovery amenities include a spa, plus hot and cold plunge pools. Life Time also offers programming specifically for children through its Kids Academy and Kids Gym.
“Life Time is designed to be much more than a fitness center,” Bushaw says. “Our goal is for the club to serve as a hub for healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment — a place where individuals, couples and families can build daily habits around wellness and connection.”
When open this fall, the two-story, 85,000-square-foot club will employ about 200 people.
Membership pricing will be shared with prospective members closer to the opening date, and priority access will be given to those on the waitlist. To sign up, visit LifeTime.life/locations/fl/lakewood-ranch.
A version of this article originally appeared on sister site YourObserver.com.
