What's in this guide
- Executive Summary
- Quick Facts
- Community Overview & History
- Neighborhoods & Areas
- Real Estate Market
- Who Lives Here
- Schools
- Amenities & Lifestyle
- HOA, CDD & Costs
- Commute Analysis
- Shopping & Dining
- Pros & Cons
- Neighborhood Comparisons
- Hidden Things to Know
- Momentum Expert Insight
- Frequently Asked Questions
Executive Summary
The King & Bear is a gated, upscale golf community within World Golf Village in St. Augustine, built around the only course co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Set among lakes, loblolly pines, and oaks just off I-95, it pairs resort-style amenities with the prestige of golf's two greatest names, in one of the top-rated school districts in Florida.
Homes are upscale, many on golf-course, lake, or preserve homesites, trading across a wide band from the upper hundreds of thousands into the seven figures depending on the home and the view. This is the luxury, gated-golf end of the World Golf Village market.
The draw is a gated golf lifestyle on a one-of-a-kind course with full resort amenities. The trade-offs are an upscale price, HOA dues, and golf or club costs to confirm.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | World Golf Village, St. Augustine, just off I-95 |
| County | St. Johns County |
| ZIP code | 32092 |
| Type | Gated, upscale golf community |
| Golf | King & Bear (Palmer & Nicklaus co-design); Slammer & Squire nearby |
| Amenities | Swim & Tennis Center, clubhouse, fitness, lifestyle director |
| Schools | St. Johns County (top-rated in Florida) |
| HOA / CDD | HOA; golf/club separate; confirm any CDD per home |
Community Overview & History
A one-of-a-kind golf community
The King & Bear is built around the only golf course ever co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, which opened in November 2000 and measures about 7,279 yards from the back tees. Each hole blends both legends' design styles, and the course winds among lakes, loblolly pines, and stately oaks within World Golf Village.
Part of World Golf Village
As a gated community inside World Golf Village, The King & Bear gives residents resort-style amenities and a second championship course, the Slammer & Squire, nearby, with the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Renaissance Resort, an IMAX theater, shops, and restaurants all within the Village. It is an upscale, golf-centered enclave just off I-95.
Neighborhoods & Areas
In The King & Bear, the homesite and its view define the home.
Golf-course homesites
Homes fronting the King & Bear course carry the community's strongest premiums and views.
Lake and preserve homesites
Lots on the lakes and preserves offer privacy and natural views among the pines and oaks.
Custom and semi-custom homes
Upscale single-family homes with luxury finishes, varied in size and style.
Real Estate Market
The King & Bear sits at the luxury, gated-golf end of the World Golf Village market. Homes trade across a wide band, with many listings from the upper hundreds of thousands into the seven figures depending on the home, the finishes, and the golf or water view. Because homes are custom and homesites vary, pricing is individual, and the prestige of the course supports demand.
For context, Momentum tracks the wider Jacksonville metro at a 97.98 percent sold-to-list ratio and 64 days on market for our agents, against a RealMLS market average closer to 96.73 percent and 72 days, year to date. At the luxury golf end, pricing to the specific home and homesite is essential.
Who Lives Here
The King & Bear draws golfers, professionals, and retirees who want a gated, upscale home on a prestige course with resort amenities, in top-rated St. Johns schools near I-95 and St. Augustine. It is a golf-centered, luxury community for buyers who value the course and the World Golf Village lifestyle.
Schools
The King & Bear is in the St. Johns County School District, one of the top-rated districts in Florida, served by the World Golf Village-area schools. Confirm the current zoning for a specific address with the district before you buy. See the St. Johns County schools guide.
Amenities & Lifestyle
The King & Bear pairs championship golf with full World Golf Village amenities.
Championship golf
The King & Bear and the nearby Slammer & Squire give residents two championship courses among the lakes and pines.
Swim and tennis
A Swim & Tennis Center offers pools, tennis, a clubhouse, a fitness facility, and a lifestyle director coordinating events.
World Golf Village
The Hall of Fame, the Renaissance Resort, an IMAX theater, shops, and restaurants are all within the Village.
HOA, CDD & Costs
The King & Bear has an HOA that maintains the gate and common areas, and golf or club membership is a separate matter with its own terms and fees. Confirm the current HOA dues, what they include, any golf or club options, and whether any CDD applies for a specific home in writing, and model them into the all-in monthly cost.
Insurance is the other cost to confirm. The inland World Golf Village location generally carries less coastal exposure than the beaches, but confirm the roof age, the flood zone, and get quotes early for any specific home.
Commute Analysis
The King & Bear sits just off I-95 in World Golf Village.
| Destination | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| Historic St. Augustine & the beaches | About 15-20 minutes |
| St. Johns Town Center | About 30 minutes |
| Downtown Jacksonville | About 35-40 minutes |
| Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) | About 40 minutes |
The off-I-95 location keeps St. Augustine and the beaches close while Jacksonville stays within reach. Test your specific commute, since I-95 carries traffic at peak hours.
Shopping & Dining
World Golf Village offers on-site dining and shops, with restaurants like Murray Bros. Caddyshack and Villagio, and historic St. Augustine's restaurants and shops a short drive. Everyday shopping is close along the I-95 corridor.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Gated, upscale golf community
- Only Palmer-and-Nicklaus co-designed course
- Resort-style World Golf Village amenities
- Golf-course, lake, and preserve homesites
- Top-rated St. Johns County schools
- Just off I-95, near St. Augustine
Cons
- Upscale, luxury price point
- HOA dues plus golf or club costs
- Custom-home pricing is individual
- Inland, not walkable to the beach
- Golf-course lots carry a premium
The King & Bear vs. Comparable Communities
| Community | How it compares to The King & Bear |
|---|---|
| World Golf Village | The broader Village of which The King & Bear is the premier gated golf enclave. |
| Palencia | A gated community with a private country club, while The King & Bear centers on its Palmer-and-Nicklaus course. |
| Markland | A newer amenity community nearby at a more attainable price, without the championship golf. |
Hidden Things Buyers Should Know
Confirm the golf arrangement
Living among the courses is not the same as a membership. Confirm the current resident, play, and membership terms before you assume access.
The homesite drives the price
Golf-course and lake frontage carry the strongest premiums. Understand what the lot and the view add versus an interior home.
Custom means individual pricing
Each home is custom or semi-custom, so comps are less uniform. An agent who knows the community will price it correctly.
Momentum Expert Insight
The King & Bear has a story no other community in Northeast Florida can tell, the only course Palmer and Nicklaus ever built together. For a golfer, that prestige plus the World Golf Village amenities is a genuine draw, and the St. Johns schools seal it.
The homesite and the golf arrangement drive everything here, so confirm the membership and play terms and understand what a course-front lot adds before you commit. A luxury golf-community agent will help you price it right.
Selling a Home in The King & Bear
If you are thinking about selling in The King & Bear, the right list price comes from the recent comparable sales in this specific community, not an automated estimate. Pricing to the homesite and the current The King & Bear inventory is what earns the strongest offer in the fewest days on market.
Across the wider Jacksonville metro, Momentum's listings have run a 97.98 percent sold-to-list ratio and 64 days on market for our agents, against a market average closer to 96.73 percent and 72 days, year to date. A The King & Bear listing specialist will give you a true home value from real comparable sales and a pricing strategy built for the current market. Start with a no-obligation home value request below.
Get a no-obligation home value for your The King & Bear home, based on real comparable sales in the community rather than an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.
Whether you are buying, selling, or just gathering information about The King & Bear, drop your details below. Every inquiry comes straight to us, and we will personally help you and connect you with the right agent. No obligation, no spam.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is The King & Bear a gated community?
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Does The King & Bear have an HOA or CDD?
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Why is the homesite important when buying in The King & Bear?
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