Howey In The Hills, FL Properties | Stephanie LeFew

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Howey-in-the-Hills is a town in Lake County, Florida, in the central part of the state about 35 miles northwest of Orlando. It occupies a rare pocket of rolling terrain that sets it apart from the generally flat Central Florida landscape, a feature its founder celebrated by dubbing the area "The Florida Alps." The town was founded by William John Howey, a citrus grower and real-estate developer who built Florida's first citrus juice plant in 1921 and assembled tens of thousands of acres of citrus land. Incorporated as "Howey" in May 1925, the town took its current name two years later to reflect its hills and lakes. With a 2020 census population of 1,643, Howey-in-the-Hills remains a small, low-density community, part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan area but far removed from its pace. The town sits on Little Lake Harris, part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, a popular boating and bass-fishing destination, and its centerpiece is the Mission Inn Resort and Club, a 500-acre Spanish-Colonial resort with two championship golf courses known for their dramatic elevation changes. The town's day-to-day life is quiet and lake-centered. Residents boat and fish on Little Lake Harris, play the resort's two golf courses, and gather at the town's small commercial core and community events. The housing stock mixes older, established homes — some with Spanish-influenced architecture from the town's founding era — with newer construction oriented toward the lake and the resort, including an active-adult community adjacent to the Mission Inn. Howey-in-the-Hills appeals to retirees, golfers, and anyone seeking a scenic, unhurried lakeside lifestyle within reach of Orlando. Its historic character, lake access, and resort amenities give it a distinctive identity among Central Florida's small towns, while its position between Orlando and Ocala keeps larger-city services within an easy drive.

Population 1,643

County Lake

Active Listings 100

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Howey-in-the-Hills in?

Howey-in-the-Hills is a town in Lake County, Florida, located in the central part of the state. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan area, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Orlando.

Who founded Howey-in-the-Hills?

Howey-in-the-Hills was founded by William John Howey, a citrus grower and real-estate developer who built Florida's first citrus juice plant in 1921. The town was incorporated as Howey in 1925 and renamed Howey-in-the-Hills in 1927.

What is the Mission Inn Resort?

The Mission Inn Resort and Club is a 500-acre Spanish-Colonial golf resort in Howey-in-the-Hills. It is home to two championship courses, El Campeón and Las Colinas, known for elevation changes that are rare in Central Florida.

What school district serves Howey-in-the-Hills?

Howey-in-the-Hills is served by Lake County Schools, the countywide public district. Lake Hills School, located within the town, provides kindergarten through twelfth-grade education for local students, giving the community a neighborhood campus.

How far is Howey-in-the-Hills from Orlando?

Howey-in-the-Hills sits about 35 miles northwest of Orlando, a drive of roughly 40 minutes, and lies between Orlando and Ocala. The town is reached by car via the region's U.S. highway and turnpike corridors.

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About Howey In The Hills

Real Estate & Housing

Howey-in-the-Hills' housing stock reflects its small size and its resort-adjacent setting. The town contains a mix of older, established single-family homes, some with historic and Spanish-influenced architectural character, along with newer construction oriented toward the lake and the golf resort. An active-adult community near the Mission Inn resort, Lake Hills, offers a resort-lifestyle option for retirees, with membership access to the club's amenities. Homes generally sit on larger, more scenic lots than in the flat suburbs, taking advantage of the town's hills and lake views. The market is small, catering to buyers who value the community's distinctive landscape, golf access, and quiet atmosphere over the scale and convenience of larger Central Florida suburbs.

Neighborhoods

Howey-in-the-Hills is a small town organized around its lakefront and the Mission Inn Resort. The historic town center, with its Spanish-style civic buildings and oak-shaded streets, sits near the shore of Little Lake Harris, while residential streets radiate outward onto the surrounding hills. Lakefront homes line portions of the shoreline, taking advantage of the Harris Chain of Lakes views, and the Lake Hills active-adult community sits just outside the resort, offering a planned, amenity-rich neighborhood for retirees. The town's compact scale means its neighborhoods flow together without sharp divisions, and the rolling terrain gives many homes elevated views unusual for Central Florida. The overall character is quiet, scenic, and low-density.

Lifestyle in Howey In The Hills

Howey-in-the-Hills offers a quiet, lake-centered lifestyle with a distinctly historic and resort-oriented character. The town's identity is shaped by its rolling hills — an unusual feature in Central Florida — and by Little Lake Harris, which provides boating, fishing, and lakefront scenery along the Harris Chain of Lakes. The Mission Inn Resort and Club brings a refined golf and resort presence to the community, attracting visitors and residents alike, while the town's small historic core, oak-lined streets, and Spanish-influenced architecture give it an old-Florida charm. Life moves at a relaxed pace, oriented toward the lake, golf, and community events. It appeals to retirees, golfers, and those seeking a scenic, low-key alternative between Orlando and Ocala.

Schools & Education

Howey-in-the-Hills is served by Lake County Schools, the countywide public district. Lake Hills School, located in the town, provides kindergarten through twelfth-grade education for local students, giving the community a neighborhood campus within its own borders. The district's broader network offers additional elementary, middle, and high school options across Lake County, including campuses in nearby Tavares and Clermont. For families in Howey-in-the-Hills, the small-town setting is paired with access to a large countywide system, and the region's colleges and universities in the Orlando area provide further educational pathways.

Getting Around

Howey-in-the-Hills sits about 35 miles northwest of Orlando, a drive of roughly 40 minutes, and lies between Orlando and Ocala. The town is reached primarily by private vehicle, using the region's U.S. highway network and the Florida Turnpike corridor for travel to Orlando and the rest of Central Florida. There is no fixed-route transit within the town, consistent with its small size and rural-suburban setting. For residents, the town's location offers a balance of lakeside seclusion and practical access to the employment, shopping, and entertainment of the Orlando metropolitan area.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Howey-in-the-Hills centers on the lake and the golf course. Little Lake Harris, part of the Harris Chain of Lakes, offers boating, water skiing, and some of Central Florida's best bass fishing, with lake access from the town's shoreline. The Mission Inn Resort and Club provides two championship golf courses, El Campeón and Las Colinas, notable for elevation changes rare in the region. The Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve offers a 1.4-mile trail and boardwalk through live-oak hammock and wetlands, and the town's parks provide everyday outdoor space. The combination of lake, golf, and nature preserves gives this small town an outsized recreational profile.

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