Brightwater Opens SWFL’s First Lagoon‐Centric Community to Big Crowds

A New Kind of Community Pool

Metro Development Group’s latest master‑planned community in North Fort Myers officially opened Brightwater Lagoon on May 30, 2025, unveiling a 6‑acre chlorinated lagoon set with sandy beaches, lounge cabanas, a swim‑up bar, slides, mini‑golf, and food trucks. It marks the fourth MetroLagoons location in Florida.

Residents and day‑pass visitors flocked to the site this summer, with up to 1,000 guests daily, making Brightwater a standout attraction in inland SWFL.

Designed as a Social Hub

Developed on a 700-acre community with up to 1,500 homes, Brightwater already has roughly 400 homes built and occupied, priced from the low $300,000s. Residents enjoy exclusive lagoon access and discounted rentals, while the general public can buy day‑pass entry (about $25 per person) and enjoy amenities like kayak rentals and aquatics programming.

The lagoon’s enclosed, shark‑free, refractive-blue environment with depths up to 12 or 16 feet creates a beach-like feel inland—no gulf swells, no ocean wildlife, just clean fun.

More Lagoon Communities on the Way

Brightwater is the fourth completed MetroLagoons site, following locations in Wesley Chapel, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. Metro plans additional lagoon-centric communities:

• Seaire Lagoon, a 4-acre amenity in Parrish (launching next year)

• Angeline, for Land O’ Lakes, with a 6,200-acre master plan and future lagoon

• Diamond Springs (Jacksonville) and Sandal Key (Hernando County), both slated for future construction

• A Laguna destination in Duval County also in planning stages
  

Each lagoon is built via Miami-based Crystal Lagoons technology, consuming far less water than traditional amenities and offering iconic visuals and recreation.

Why It’s Making Waves

Inland lagoon communities offer resort-style living without the flood risk or beachside insurance premiums. The crystal-clear, chlorine-treated lagoons don’t attract jellyfish or marine life, and placement inland avoids coastal flooding risk. That peace of mind paired with resort amenities is attracting both buyers and visitors.

The communal lagoon model also helps Metro stand out in a crowded marketplace of new developments. These bodies of water are more than decorations—they’re social centers, hosting concerts, fitness classes, movie nights, and sports events.

What Comes Next

Metro will begin opening new lagoon communities in 2026 and beyond, including Seaire in Parrish and Sandal Key in Hernando County. Analysts expect accelerated interest in these inland "water living" models—especially for buyers who seek resort-style access without beachside exposure.

Brightwater delivers on the promise: a self-contained waterfront experience, locational safety, and built-in community life—all without the salt or sand.