Lakewood Estates may surprise you.
Tucked into South St. Petersburg, this established neighborhood feels noticeably different from many other parts of the city. Winding residential streets weave around mature trees, small lakes and the beautifully maintained fairways of the St. Petersburg Country Club, creating an atmosphere that can feel almost removed from city life.
Yet Downtown St. Pete, the Gulf Beaches and I-275 are all within easy reach.
For buyers who want a little more space, an established neighborhood and plenty of greenery without leaving St. Petersburg, Lakewood Estates offers a wonderful combination of location and lifestyle.
Golf isn't something that was added to Lakewood Estates later—it was part of the vision from the beginning.
During Florida's development boom of the 1920s, developer Charles R. Hall purchased a large portion of the area and envisioned a residential community built around a golf course.
The result was Lakewood Country Club, known today as the St. Petersburg Country Club.
The golf course remains the centerpiece of Lakewood Estates, with residential streets wrapping around its fairways, lakes and landscaped green spaces. Some homes enjoy beautiful golf course views, while the course itself creates an openness throughout the neighborhood that's difficult to replicate in newer developments.
For golfers, having a historic private country club right in the neighborhood is certainly a draw.
But even if you've never picked up a golf club, you can still appreciate what the course adds to the landscape.
Lakewood Estates began taking shape during the 1920s, when much of South St. Petersburg was still heavily wooded land filled with small streams, ponds, palmettos and sawgrass.
As the neighborhood developed over the following decades, its architecture evolved along with St. Petersburg.
Today, you'll find an interesting mixture of cottages, Mediterranean Revival influences, traditional Florida homes, mid-century ranches and more contemporary renovations.
That variety is part of Lakewood Estates' appeal.
Rather than driving down streets where every home looks alike, you'll find houses from different eras sitting beneath mature trees on established lots.
The winding roads even carry names inspired by Spanish explorers, cities and landmarks—a subtle reminder of the neighborhood's early design.
One of the things buyers often notice about Lakewood Estates is the sense of space.
Many properties offer generous yards, mature landscaping and room for pools and outdoor living areas. Homes surrounding the country club can offer views across the course and its lakes, while other streets feel tucked beneath a canopy of established trees.
The architecture is equally varied.
You might find a classic Florida ranch that has been beautifully updated inside, a home with mid-century character, a Mediterranean-inspired residence or a larger custom property overlooking the golf course.
It's the kind of neighborhood where buyers looking for character can find something that feels different from newer master-planned communities.
Another thing that makes this part of St. Petersburg special is its proximity to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.
Set along Lake Maggiore, Boyd Hill offers miles of trails through several different natural habitats and opportunities to see native Florida wildlife surprisingly close to the heart of the city.
It's a wonderful place for walking, birdwatching, photography or simply escaping into nature for a few hours.
Between the preserve, Lake Maggiore and the country club, Lakewood Estates is surrounded by an unusual amount of open and green space for a neighborhood within St. Petersburg.
The overall atmosphere of Lakewood Estates is decidedly residential.
This isn't the neighborhood you choose because you want nightlife outside your front door. It's where you come home to winding streets, mature landscaping and a quieter setting after spending the day enjoying everything else St. Petersburg has to offer.
And you don't have to go far to find that activity.
Head north and you're on your way toward Downtown St. Petersburg, with its waterfront parks, restaurants, museums, galleries and entertainment.
Travel west and you can reach St. Pete Beach and the Gulf Beaches.
Nearby I-275 also makes it convenient to travel north toward Tampa or south across the Sunshine Skyway toward Bradenton and Sarasota.
Lakewood Estates also has something that can be difficult to capture on a real estate listing: a genuine sense of community.
The Lakewood Estates Civic Association is a voluntary neighborhood organization rather than a mandatory homeowners association. It has a long history of neighborhood involvement, beautification and bringing residents together.
The neighborhood itself has also played an interesting role in St. Petersburg's history. During the 1960s, Lakewood Estates became successfully integrated and today its civic association proudly recognizes that chapter as an important part of the community's story.
It's another example of how Lakewood Estates has evolved over generations while maintaining a strong neighborhood identity.
Lakewood Estates offers a side of St. Petersburg that doesn't always get as much attention as the waterfront or downtown neighborhoods.
And that's part of its appeal.
There are winding streets instead of a rigid grid, mature trees instead of newly planted landscaping, and homes with decades of character rather than rows of identical construction.
At the center is a historic golf course. On the edge of the neighborhood is one of St. Petersburg's most beautiful nature preserves. And beyond it all are the restaurants, beaches, waterfront and cultural attractions that make St. Petersburg such a desirable place to live.
For buyers looking for an established neighborhood with space, character and a little more greenery, Lakewood Estates is one of South St. Pete's hidden gems.
