Imperial Lakes is a large established residential community along Imperial Lakes Boulevard in Mulberry, Polk County, west of Lakeland in Central Florida (local community guides, 2026). It is organized around the Imperial Lakes golf course and is widely described as a community of roughly 1,300 homes across several subdivisions and clusters; confirm the exact count and the specific subdivision for any parcel.
The community is a mix of housing types, including villas, townhomes, condominiums, and single-family homes in both open and gated pockets (community guides, 2026). The golf course itself opened in the mid 1970s and is associated with Florida course designer Ron Garl (golf course directories, 2026). Because the housing type and the subdivision vary so much, the homeowner or condo association, the dues, and what they cover differ by pocket, so confirm the exact association and fee for the specific property.
Two real items shape value here. Part of the golf course was approved for residential redevelopment, with Polk County commissioners approving rezoning for 188 homes in 2022 (The Ledger via LkldNow, 2022), so the future of golf frontage and views near a given parcel should be confirmed directly. Separately, the community has had recurring drainage and flooding issues, and Polk County approved a multimillion-dollar drainage improvement project along Imperial Lakes Boulevard (Polk County, 2024 to 2025).
The pitch is an established, golf-oriented community with mature trees and lakes, a range of housing types and price tiers, and a Central Florida location near Lakeland with reach to both Tampa and the Interstate 4 corridor. The work is the diligence: pin down the subdivision, the housing type, the association and dues, the golf-course and drainage picture, and the condition of the specific property before you buy.
