Gran Paradiso — The Best Address in Wellen Park
From Eric Johnston Neighbor Resident Agent Hoover Realty LLC
Welcome, neighbor
The neighborhood resource for Gran Paradiso — quick answers from Gran Paradiso’s community documents, neighbor links, and local recommendations from the agent who opened Gran Paradiso for sales and has been here since the start.
Gran Paradiso is in the West Villages District of Wellen Park, in the City of North Port with a Venice mailing address.
Lakes, preserve and a resort clubhouse, minutes from everything in Wellen Park.
25+
Miles of sidewalks
For walking, jogging and cycling behind the gate.
60%+
Preserve and lakes
More than half the neighborhood left open to water and nature.
Room to breathe
Wider homesites
More space between homes than in newer Wellen Park neighborhoods.
See the lakes, preserve, community map and home styles in Gran Paradiso Life
Neighbor resources
Everything neighbors look up, in one place
Ask Eric
Search Gran Paradiso’s HOA & WVID documents in plain English: ask about approved house colors, ARC steps and more.
Resident Portal
Gran Paradiso’s official resident website.
Community Calendar
Monthly events and social clubs in Gran Paradiso.
Things To Do
Downtown Wellen, the beaches and more nearby.
The Wellen Park location
Right in the middle of everything Wellen Park does best
Gran Paradiso sits in the West Villages District of Wellen Park, in the City of North Port with a Venice mailing address. From the gate you’re minutes from Downtown Wellen and the Grand Lake trail, a short drive to CoolToday Park, and close to US-41 for the Gulf beaches and historic downtown Venice. New to the area? Start with our guide to Living in Wellen Park.
- About 1.3 miles Downtown Wellen & the Grand Lake
- About 3 miles CoolToday Park, spring home of the Atlanta Braves
- About 7½ miles Manasota Beach on the Gulf of Mexico
- About 8½ miles Historic downtown Venice
Approximate driving distances from the main gate (Galleria Blvd at US-41) using OpenStreetMap routing; your home’s distance will vary.
New · Free for neighbors
Got a question about the rules? Ask Eric.
Ask Eric is a free, AI-powered search of Gran Paradiso’s recorded association documents — covenants, rules and regulations, budgets, amendments, meeting minutes, and West Villages Improvement District (WVID) minutes that relate to Gran Paradiso. Type a question in plain English and get an answer that points to the document it came from.
Try asking
- “Can I fence my yard?”
- “How long can I lease my home?”
- “What colors can I paint my house?”
A document search tool, not legal advice. Always confirm with the HOA or management company.
Explore the clubhouse
Take a walk through the heart of Gran Paradiso in Wellen Park
Gran Paradiso’s Tuscan-inspired clubhouse is where neighbors swim, work out, play and catch up. A full-time activity director keeps the calendar full. Follow the route, one stop at a time.
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The gate
Palms and Tuscan arches mark the entrance to Gran Paradiso in Wellen Park. Pass through the gate and the neighborhood opens up around you.
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Arrival
Drive through the gate and the clubhouse is right there, its arched tower entry rising above a circular drive. Neighbors who’ve lived here for years still feel it every time they pull in.
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Step inside
Columns, a coffered dome and walls of tall windows make the clubhouse’s grand gathering room the first thing that takes your breath away.
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The main gallery & management office
Stone floors and dark wood lead down the clubhouse’s main gallery, home to the onsite management office, the place to go for community management questions.
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Covered walkways
Tuscan-style covered walkways lead from the main gallery around the pool, with arches framing the water as you go.
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Billiards & card room
The first building along the walkway holds the billiards and card room, a classic spot for a game with neighbors. It can be reserved for private parties.
Card tables -
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Fitness center
At the end of the walkway, the fitness center’s full workout gym is open 24 hours with a resident key card.
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Aerobics room
Mirrored walls and tall arched windows give the fitness building’s separate aerobics room a bright space of its own for classes and stretching.
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Outdoor fireplace lounge
Out the back of the fitness building, a covered lounge with an outdoor fireplace, table tennis and seating opens right onto the pool deck.
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Sunning patio & spa
Through the gate, a sunning patio leads you between the resort pool and a semi-secluded spa, perfect for a warm soak.
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Resort-style pool
The heated resort-style pool, with zero-entry access, fountains and an umbrella-shaded deck, is made for long Florida afternoons.
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Tennis & pickleball
Pickleball and tennis are big in Gran Paradiso. The lighted courts sit beside the clubhouse and lake, so games go from morning into the evening.
For homeowners
Thinking of selling in Gran Paradiso?
Nobody knows these homes like the person who sold them new. Eric prices with street-by-street knowledge of Gran Paradiso and more than a decade of watching homes here compete for the same buyers — and he already knows the documents, the bond, and the estoppel process that can trip up a closing.
Why Eric
Experience you can’t look up
10+
Years of onsite sales here
Eric opened Gran Paradiso for sales and ran onsite sales for the builder/developer for over a decade.
400+
People helped to buy and build here
Eric watched every street go in and most of the ponds get dug.
25+
Years in Sarasota County new homes
12+ of them in Wellen Park — and a Gulf Coast native who grew up in Naples.
Eric & Ali Johnston
Neighbors helping neighbors
Eric and Ali Johnston live in Gran Paradiso and focus on one thing: using what they know to help their neighbors sell well. Eric opened the neighborhood for the builder and knows it street by street. Ali founded and ran West Villages Realty, a Herald-Tribune Venice Readers’ Choice first-place winner five years running, before RE/MAX acquired it; today she works alongside Eric.
Reviews
What neighbors say
“… I purchased my property through Eric and also sold that property through Eric. It was posted on July 10 and sold by July 13. Eric handled all of the details and made this transaction Very simple. He went well beyond what I expected, which was needed since the sale was conducted remotely. …”
Robert R. via Realtor.com
“We sold and bought with Eric. Extensive knowledge of Gran Paradiso and surrounding communities’. Very personable and communication was fantastic. I highly recommend Eric for any of your agent needs.”
Pete K. via Realtor.com
“We are so happy we chose Eric to be our agent selling our house. We had bought a house in North Carolina before we put our Florida home on the market. His insight into pricing and market trends was beneficial through the process. Not only was his advice on the sale of the house helpful, but he managed the sale process in our absence. …”
Karen C. via Realtor.com