Millsboro used to be that place you drove through on your way to Rehoboth or Dewey. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it stretch of road, mostly agricultural, until things started changing fast. Now, if you’re looking at real estate in Southern Delaware, you’ve definitely heard of Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club. It’s massive. It’s loud in its ambition. But honestly, it’s often misunderstood by people who just see the "Golf" in the name and assume it’s only for retirees with expensive polos and a 15-handicap.
That isn't the case.
Lennar, the developer behind this sprawling community, basically bet the farm on the idea that people want resort-style living without paying the "east of Route 1" price premium. They were right. The place has become a microcosm of the modern Delaware lifestyle—a mix of young families, remote workers escaping city taxes, and active seniors. It’s a gated community, yeah, but it feels more like a small, self-contained town than a fortress.
The Arthur Hills Connection and the Turf
Let’s talk about the grass first. The golf course at Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club is an Arthur Hills signature design. If you know golf, you know Hills doesn't do "easy." He likes to play with the natural topography, which in Sussex County is, well, mostly flat. To fix that, they moved a lot of dirt.
The result is an 18-hole championship course that’s surprisingly challenging. It’s got these rolling fairways and bunkers that seem to catch exactly what you thought was a decent drive. What’s cool is that it’s a "Golf Inclusive" community for many residents. This means your HOA fees actually cover your greens fees. That’s a huge deal. Usually, country clubs hit you with a $10,000 initiation fee and $500 monthly dues. Here, it’s baked into the cost of living.
The course is public-accessible too, which is a smart move for the local economy. It keeps the pro shop busy and the Landing Bar & Grill buzzing. Speaking of the Landing, it’s not your typical soggy-sandwich snack shack. It’s become a legitimate dining destination for Millsboro residents who don't even live in the North or South sections of the development.
What People Get Wrong About the Amenities
You might think a pool is just a pool. At Plantation Lakes, the "amenity wars" are real. They have multiple community centers. The newer one is a beast. We’re talking about 20,000-plus square feet of space.
✨ Don't miss: Am I Gay Buzzfeed Quizzes and the Quest for Identity Online
It has:
- A fitness center that actually has enough squat racks.
- Lighted tennis and pickleball courts (pickleball is basically a religion here).
- A massive outdoor pool with plenty of space so you aren't literally touching elbows with your neighbor’s toddler.
- Walking trails that actually go somewhere.
The sheer scale is what gets people. You can walk for miles and never leave the neighborhood. It’s designed so you don't feel like you’re trapped in a suburban sprawl. There’s a distinct "North" and "South" side, each with a slightly different vibe. The South side tends to be where a lot of the newer, larger single-family homes are popping up, while the North side has that established, slightly more manicured feel near the main entrance.
The Real Cost of Living in Millsboro
Delaware is a tax haven. We all know it. No sales tax. Low property taxes. It’s why everyone from New Jersey and New York is flooding the 19966 zip code. But Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club isn't exactly "cheap" anymore.
A few years ago, you could snag a townhouse here for a steal. Now? Prices have climbed. You’re looking at a range from the mid-$300s for a nice townhome to well over $600,000 for the larger, single-family "estates." Then there are the HOA fees. This is where people get tripped up. Because there are different sections—some with golf included, some without—the monthly carrying costs vary wildly.
You have to do your homework on the specific "village" you’re buying into. Some fees cover everything from lawn maintenance and snow removal to your internet and cable. For a lot of people, especially those looking to downsize their responsibilities, that’s a win. You trade a higher monthly fee for never having to touch a lawnmower again.
Why Location Matters (The Traffic Talk)
Let’s be real for a second. Route 24 can be a nightmare in the summer. If you live at Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club, you are about 15 to 20 miles from Rehoboth Beach. On a Tuesday in October, that’s a 25-minute breeze. On a Saturday in July? It’s an hour of white-knuckle idling behind Maryland plates.
🔗 Read more: Easy recipes dinner for two: Why you are probably overcomplicating date night
However, the location is strategic. You’re close to the Indian River Bay. You’re close to the outlets. But you’re far enough away that you aren't paying $1 million for a 1,200-square-foot cottage with no parking. Millsboro itself has exploded with infrastructure. There’s a BJ’s, a Chick-fil-A (the ultimate sign of suburban arrival), and plenty of healthcare facilities. You don't actually have to go to the beach to live a full life here.
Sustainability and Construction Quality
Lennar uses "Everything’s Included" pricing. It’s their gimmick, but it works. When you walk into a model home at Plantation Lakes, you aren't looking at $100,000 in upgrades that you can't afford. The quartz countertops and the ring doorbells are usually just part of the package.
Energy efficiency is a big talking point. These homes are tight. With the Delaware wind coming off the Atlantic, you want a house that doesn't leak heat. Most of the newer builds are Energy Star certified. It matters when your electric bill hits in January.
Is the construction perfect? It's production housing. Let’s be honest. They build them fast. If you’re looking for hand-hewn beams and custom masonry, this isn't it. But for a modern, functional home with a warranty, it hits the mark for most buyers.
The Social Hierarchy of Pickleball and Events
The social committee at Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club works harder than a Starbucks barista on a Monday morning. There are food truck nights, craft fairs, and enough clubs to fill a university catalog.
If you’re an introvert, this might sound like hell. But if you’re moving to a new state where you don't know a soul, it’s a godsend. You can join a wine club, a hiking group, or a poker night within a week of moving in. The community is built around the idea of "active adult" living, even for the residents who aren't technically "adult" age yet.
💡 You might also like: How is gum made? The sticky truth about what you are actually chewing
Navigating the Buying Process at Plantation Lakes
If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a home here, don't just walk into the sales center. The sales reps work for the developer. Bring your own agent who knows the Sussex County market.
Check the "CDD" fees. In some Delaware communities, there are Community Development District fees that are separate from your taxes and HOA. You need to know exactly what your total monthly "nut" is before you sign.
Also, look at the resale market versus new construction. Sometimes a two-year-old home in Plantation Lakes is a better value because the previous owner already installed the blinds, the ceiling fans, and the fence—things that add up fast in a brand-new build.
Environmental Considerations
The community has a lot of water. Ponds, wetlands, and the proximity to the river. While it’s beautiful, it means you need to stay on top of your pest control and understand the drainage on your specific lot. Delaware is essentially a giant sandbar. Drainage is everything. Lennar has done a decent job with the master plan for stormwater management, but it’s always worth asking for the site maps to see where the water goes when a Nor'easter hits.
Actionable Steps for Prospective Residents:
- Audit the HOA: Request the full breakdown of the "Golf" vs. "Non-Golf" HOA tiers. The price difference can be several hundred dollars a month, and you can't always switch between them later.
- Visit in July: Don't just visit in the quiet off-season. Drive from the community to the beach on a weekend afternoon. If you can handle that traffic, you can handle anything.
- Check the 10-Year Plan: Ask about the remaining phases of construction. Living in a "new" community is great until you realize you'll be living next to a construction site for the next five years.
- Test the Food: Eat at the Landing Bar & Grill. It’s the heart of the community. If you don't like the vibe there, you probably won't like the vibe of the neighborhood.
- Compare Taxes: Get a real quote on the property taxes. People often underestimate the school district tax portion of the bill in Sussex County.
The growth of Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club isn't slowing down. It has fundamentally changed the footprint of Millsboro. Whether you're there for the Arthur Hills greens or just the low-maintenance lifestyle, it’s a massive experiment in "resort-at-home" living that seems to be paying off for the people who call it home.