Reciprocal Club Information
We Look Forward to Welcoming You
Please find more information for your upcoming stay in the items below.
RESERVATIONS & RATES
In order to use reciprocal club privileges, overnight stay in the Colony House is required. A Letter of Introduction is required in advance of reservations. Once the letter is received and confirmed, reservations may be made directly with Lodging. Reservations may be placed 30 days in advance, subject to availability and black-out days. A credit card is needed to make reservations, and all charges on property are to be paid by credit card at check out. Cancellations made within 21 days of your confirmed arrival date will result in $250 fee per reservation. A reservation moved to another date within the same season will not be penalized. 19% Service Charge, 7% Florida Sales Tax and 5% Hotel County Occupancy Tax are added to nightly room rates.
Letters of Introduction & Reservations:
Karen Wimberley
863-679-2423
lodging@mountainlakeflorida.com
Tee Times:
Golf House
863-679-2420
golfhouse@mountainlakeflorida.com
CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
Check-in time is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 11:00 am. The Front Desk is available 24-hours
RESERVATIONS
Dining: 863-676-5900
Golf Tee Times: 863-679-2420
Tennis & Croquet: 863-679-2466
ROOM RATES
HISTORY
A History Generations in the Making
A winter respite for the fortunate few located in Florida’s most unique lands
History – and the visionary legends who make it – add a satisfying, substantial layer to those pursuits and places that are fortunate to be steeped in rich, enduring traditions. It is impossible to imagine the timeless, peerless grandeur of Mountain Lake without looking back more than a century to its storied beginning.
The history of this private community is so rich that three books have been written about it thus far. Justly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mountain Lake Historic District comprises a living history that the patina of time has only burnished. The one-thousand-acre enclave of natural and architectural beauty is as lush and vibrant as ever, its glory days remain alive and well.
Mountain Lake was established in 1916, the brainchild of Baltimore businessman Frederick S. Ruth, as a secluded, luxurious hideaway. Ruth’s vision of developing a winter colony anchored by a golf course and buoyed by a thriving citrus venture was pioneering at the time. For this to become a reality, the first step was assembling nearly 3,500 acres of the most unique land atop ancient sand dunes. Within hours of arriving, he was in awe of the pristine lakes, abundant game, wildlife, and verdant landscapes.
“…it will be possible to create a district exceptional for its beauty as well as for its productiveness, and as such exceptionally attractive to the seekers of winter homes in Florida who want the very best.”
-Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
To anchor this venture, he sought two critical architects to design Mountain Lake: Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and Seth J. Raynor. Olmsted, of the most famous landscape architect firms in the United States, expertly draped a system of roads and homesites across the site, even providing a preliminary routing for the golf course. Residents affectionately refer to their community as “the Park” for good reason.
Olmsted wisely turned the reins of the golf course’s design to the up-and-coming protege of C.B. Macdonald: Seth Raynor. Together, these two legends helped create timeless landscapes. The beautifully designed grounds, historic Colony House, and iconic Raynor golf course remain true to the original vision.
Mountain Lake was the first time this duo collaborated, and they would later be paired together to design and develop Fishers Island and Yeamans Hall Club.
AMENITIES
While enjoying your stay, you are welcome to enjoy everything Mountain Lake has to offer.
COLONY HOUSE
Colony House:
The Centerpiece of the Park
For all his genius in landscape design, Olmsted was also adept at bringing the concept of beauty to the indoors. His extraordinary design skills can be seen in Mountain Lake’s historic Colony House. The social and recreational hub of the community also serves as a private hotel for the guests of Resident Members, their guests, as well as other members and their guests from across the globe. This iconic example of Mediterranean Revival architecture has been in continuous service since its construction in 1916 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The first level contains the Library, Front Desk, a Living Room for card games, gatherings, and social functions, and the Raynor Bar & Lounge for cocktails and small plates. The Sunroom, which is spectacularly lit in the mornings for coffee and conversations, connects to dining areas ranging from casual breakfast to private dining and 1916. Adjacent to the Colony House are the Pool, Fitness Center, Spa, and Pool House, which offers lunch daily and dinner on select nights. The golf course begins and ends at the Colony House: the first tee is steps from the front door, and the eighteenth fairway rises to meet the Colony House Terrace at the rear.
The recent renovation of the first level shows that, for all the splendor of its past, time has not stood still here. Designer Amanda Lindroth, known for her timeless interiors which are layered with comfort and breezy elegance, reemphasized the magical spaces Olmsted so brilliantly designed in his original plan.
The second and third levels feature 34 rooms for members and guests. Each room is thoughtfully appointed and room types include Standard, Premier, Junior Suite, or Deluxe Suite. As can be expected in a historic building, each room is unique with its own charm.
Rooms facing east overlook the croquet lawns, Mountain Lake, and Bok Tower. Southern facing rooms peer through venerable oak tree canopies to the eighteenth hole, appropriately dubbed “Colony House” by Seth Raynor. Rooms facing north have long reaching views down the first fairway (“Double Plateau” for those keeping score).
A delight for many visitors include the louver doors, which hearken back to pre-climate control days. Luxurious beds and linens provide restful sleep after partaking in all the Park has to offer. And when the next day arrives, coffee, breakfast, and fresh squeezed orange juice await in Palm Court.
GOLF
A Golf Course That Has Stood the Test of Time
A stunning example of the Golden Age of golf course architecture, Seth Raynor’s 1916 layout is set on some of the most rolling terrain in the Sunshine State. Though Frederick Ruth originally had his heart set on hiring Donald Ross to create the golf course over a century ago, the intervening years have proved that Raynor created an undisputed gem.
Raynor’s design at Mountain Lake features many of his favorite template holes, the importance of which he learned while apprenticing with C.B. Macdonald, America’s first great golf course architect. Proof that these template holes hold up more than 100 years later is verified by golf publications and golfers alike.
The course opens just steps away from the Colony House with Double Plateau. The routing meanders counterclockwise to the west, with notable template holes that include Biarritz, Road, Short, Redan, Punchbowl, and Eden, before culminating in a climb up the hill to the Colony House.
Marion’s 11th Tee is a popular spot to eat, even for non-golfers, and is named after the long time host, Marion. She was so lucky, she won the lottery twice! Signature items include the Berry Dog, of course named after a cardiologist, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and complimentary ginger snap cookies.
The golf experience is one of the finest in Florida, thanks to a relaxed atmosphere created by Jonathan Powell, Director of Golf & Athletics for over 20 years. Golfers enjoy a quick pace of play, organized ladies-, mens-, and mixed golf days.
The course is open for play seven days a week in season. Notable annual events include the Mountain Lake Challenge, which are teams comprised of Mountain Lake Members, their golf professional from their home club, and two guests. The Citrus Bowl is a ladies pro-am with members and guests playing with female LPGA TOUR and club LPGA or PGA professionals.
RACQUETS
Racquet Sports
Racquet enthusiasts enjoy a wealth of opportunities to stay light on their feet. Daily clinics and organized play are ways members and guests stay active and moving. Clinics range from beginner to advanced in both tennis and pickleball. When the courts aren’t in use for a class, an experienced tennis professional is always ready for a personal lesson or hitting session.
The standout events for the season include the Tennis Mixed Doubles Invitational, which features three days of round robin matches and a grass court professional exhibition match for all to be inspired.
Holidays and Spring Break are popular family times at Mountain Lake, and the Junior Clinics available for tennis are always fully subscribed.
CROQUET
Championship Croquet
Croquet lawns should, in theory, be ordinary, flat spaces for playing the sport. Mountain Lake croquet lawns are exceptionally flat, but far from ordinary. Where else can the sport be played on the best lawns in the country, perched above a pristine lake, wafts of orange blossoms floating on the breeze, and carillon melodies lilting through the air?
Players of all levels find camaraderie along the shores of the lake playing croquet. Golf croquet is the predominant variation of the sport here. Four full sized lawns are host to a thriving program that is growing with each new season.
In season, organized play takes place four days a week with seven sessions available. Thursday afternoons are for the gals, when fun matches are enhanced with a glass of wine. Weekend mornings include coffee and pastries lawn-side in the new pavilion. Constructed in 2023, the pavilion offers shade and shelter between matches.
What started as a program contained to one lawn has burgeoned thanks to a family effort to grow the sport at Mountain Lake. David Maloof picked up the sport in 1978 in addition to being the Tennis Professional. A quick study, his skills developed as he climbed the ranks in tournament play. His talents caught the attention of the United States Croquet Association, and as the Mountain Lake croquet program grew, so too did David’s global tournament experience.
Today, the program is in the deft hands of his son, Kyle Maloof, who serves as the Tennis & Croquet Professional. His story follows in his father’s footsteps, and together they are blazing new trails for the sport.
They are both nationally ranked players, and have teamed up to be National Doubles Champions in 2022. Kyle has represented Mountain Lake and the United States internationally, winning the Solomon Trophy as a member of Team USA, and reaching the playoffs in the Croquet World Championships and the Egyptian Open.
FITNESS & POOL
Work Out or Jump In
When you’re in town, you can stay on top of your routines. The Fitness Center opens daily at 4:30 in the morning. Equipped with everything you need to keep moving, the Fitness Center is also where massage rooms can be found.
The pool is heated and is the perfect space to swim laps or soak in some sun.
DINING
Share a Warm Smile or a Great Meal
The perfect meal is a feast for the senses.
Variety is the spice of Mountain Lake life, from sophisticated dining to casual cookouts by the pool, wine dinners and tastings to signature grab and go items on the golf course. No matter the venue, it’s all prepared by an award-winning chef.
Palm Court: Breakfast
The Bunker: Beverages & Handhelds
Marion’s: Lunch on the Golf Course
Pool House: Lunch & Weekend Brunch
Raynor Bar: Cocktails & Dinner
1916: Dinner & Events
BOK TOWER GARDENS
The Best Neighbor
In the early days of Mountain Lake, the land atop the highest point in the Park sat unoccupied. Residents would follow natural paths through the area to exercise, clear the mind, and pass time. One such resident was struck by the long reaching vistas from Iron Mountain. He purchased over 100 acres of this land and ambitiously sought to create a sanctuary for birds and animals to have a safe haven and for humans to connect with nature.
Edward Bok, author and publisher of the Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal, dedicated the land to the people of America. He enlisted Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to design the sanctuary, the centerpiece of which would be a place of repose for the human spirit.
The tower rises 205 feet above Iron Mountain and holds a 60 bell carillon, the largest bell weighing 22,400 pounds. Construction began in 1927, with the architect Milton Medary assembling the nation’s highest regarded craftsmen to provide the brass, wrought iron, tile, stone, and stained glass adornments.
The gardens are host to several ecosystems, the centerpiece being the informal woodland setting in the shadows of Bok Tower. The area is host to 126 species of birds. Other areas in the gardens include nature trails through native pine ridge, an outdoor kitchen and garden, a kid’s play area, as well as a visitors center which includes a theater, museum, cafe, and gift and plant shop.
The tower can be seen and heard from most areas of the Park, with many homes designed to beautifully frame the tower in windows or as part of the outdoor living spaces. The tower utilizes several medias to depict Florida flora and fauna and scenes from the Book of Genesis.
Mountain Lake residents champion the gardens by being Bok Tower Gardens members, some serving on the board. Residents enjoy the convenience of a private gate to enter the gardens from the Park.
Today, Mountain Lake members carry a philanthropic torch by contributing to their communities here and abroad. Members find common ground in this bucolic setting where an understated elegance is tucked safely within the protective enclave, beyond status.
GETTING HERE
Miles from Ordinary
Seclusion isn’t the only thing that put us on the map.
Mountain Lake puts you in a position of remarkable convenience: you can dip your toes in either the Gulf or the Atlantic in under 90 minutes. If it’s time to head north for the summer, business, or vacation, options are plentiful. Be wheels up within 15 minutes of leaving your residence by flying private out of the Lake Wales Municipal Airport, or take your pick flying commercially from Tampa or Orlando International Airports, both equidistant from the gates.
Grocery shopping options are as close as five minutes away, and you can arrive at the gates of Disney World and Universal Studios in well under an hour.
Members of Mountain Lake enjoy a network of access to reciprocal clubs ranging from golf courses on the Atlantic Ocean with private beach access to city clubs throughout the country and abroad, nearly all having overnight accommodations.
Getting Here
| Lake Wales Municipal Airport X07: | 12 minutes |
| Bartow Executive Airport KBOW: | 30 minutes |
| Winter Haven Regional Airport KGIF: | 35 minutes |
| Lakeland Linder International Airport LAL: | 45 minutes |
| Orlando International Airport MCO: | 70 minutes |
| Tampa International Airport TPO: | 80 minutes |
DRESS CODE & ETIQUETTE
Please help us maintain the traditions of decorum, refinement, and style at Mountain Lake by always dressing appropriately at all times. Blue or ripped denim, cargo pants and hats worn backwards are considered inappropriate attire anywhere at Mountain Lake. Other than to and from, and while using the Fitness Center, Spandex bottoms or Leggings are considered inappropriate unless worn under skirts, skorts or dresses. For gentlemen, shirts are to be tucked in (unless the shirt is designed to be worn, or is customarily worn untucked) and hats are to be removed inside the Colony House and Pool House.
| Colony House/Olmsted Dining | Casual Attire |
| Colony House/Olmsted Dining | 6:00PM or after: Jackets Required/Ties Optional |
| Pool House | Casual Attire/Shorts (All Day) |
| Pool House Outdoor Tables | Casual Attire/Shorts and Athletic Attire |
| Mountain Lake Events | Event Specific |
| Raynor Bar & Grille | Casual Attire |
Casual Attire
Ladies shall wear blouses, sport shirts, sweaters, or collarless shirts with appropriate necklines and dress slacks, skirts or dresses. Denim in colors other than blue may be worn if it is not ripped. Gentlemen shall wear collared shirts tucked in (unless the shirt is designed to be worn, or is customarily worn untucked) and slacks. Shorts may be worn by Ladies and Gentlemen prior to 6:00pm in the Colony House and they are permitted all day in the Pool House. Shorts and athletic attire may be worn on the Colony House Terrace when open and all day at the Pool House outdoor tables.
Athletic Attire-Golf
Only shoes with soft spikes are allowed. Acceptable attire for Ladies: Blouses, sport shirts, sweaters, or collarless shirts with appropriate necklines; golf slacks, skorts or shorts (no cargo shorts) with a maximum of three inches above the knee. Acceptable attire for Gentlemen: Sport shirts with collar, shirts tucked in; slacks or shorts with a maximum of three inches above the knee.
Athletic Attire-Racquets
White clothing only, colored trim allowed. During cold weather, “warmth over white clothing” is permitted. Only tennis shoes with correct soles may be worn to protect the clay court surface.
Athletic Attire-Croquet
White clothing only, colored trim allowed. During cold weather, “warmth over white clothing” is permitted. Skirts or shorts can be a maximum of three inches above the knee. Only white shoes with soft soles may be worn to protect the lawn surfaces.
