What to Look Forward to in Wellen Park in 2027 🌴

If you think there’s a LOT going on around Wellen Park right now, you’re not imagining it!

Every time I drive around, it seems like there’s another construction site, a new business getting ready to open or something else taking shape. So what do we have to look forward to as we head toward 2027? Quite a bit!

🏨 The Wellmar Hotel
The new 148-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio boutique hotel is expected to open in 2027, complete with a rooftop bar, event space and views overlooking Grand Lake.

🍴 More places to eat!
Downtown Wellen continues to add to its restaurant lineup, with names including Agave Bandido, La Maison, Easy Does It Comfort Kitchen and Grain & Berry joining the mix.

🛍️ More shopping, services & businesses
Downtown Wellen's expansion is fully leased, bringing additional shops, fitness, health and beauty businesses, professional services and other new reasons to spend time downtown.

🏗️ The BIG Benderson project
This one has my attention! Approximately 500,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and mixed-use development is planned near Tamiami Trail and West Villages Parkway. We don't know all the names that will eventually be coming—but I think a lot of us are waiting to find out!

🏡 Westlake
This new luxury residential neighborhood is taking shape close to Downtown Wellen, with custom and semi-custom homes and its own resort-style amenities.

🌴 More neighborhoods growing around us
Development continues throughout Wellen Park, including communities such as Palmera, Brightmore and Esplanade, bringing even more choices in homes and lifestyles.

🐕 More outdoor spaces
Additional nature trails and recreational areas continue to be added, along with plans for a new two-acre fenced dog park in Downtown Wellen.

🛒 More everyday conveniences
New shopping and services continue to fill in along the Tamiami Trail corridor and surrounding Wellen Park area—including additional grocery options.

🎨 The Wellen Park Fine Arts Festival returns in February.

🏃 The Half Marathon & 5K returns too—whether you're running or happily cheering from the sidelines!

☘️ The Irish Festival brings music, food and plenty of green back to Downtown Wellen in March.

🎸 And more of what makes Downtown Wellen fun—live music, markets, festivals, family events, outdoor dining and evenings around Grand Lake.

And here's what may be the most interesting part…

We don't even know everything that's coming yet.

There are still businesses, restaurants and retailers to be announced as all of this development continues. That's one of the things I'll be watching closely as we head into 2027.

I've been here long enough to remember when much of what we see today wasn't here at all. It's pretty amazing to watch Wellen Park continue to grow and change right before our eyes.

So I'm curious—what are YOU hoping comes to Wellen Park next?
A particular restaurant? A favorite store? More entertainment? Something completely different?

I'd love to hear what everyone has on their wish list! 🌴