New Update May 9, 2007
The Schaller's have a neighbor!
Hi, from sunny Hudson, Florida! I've got some new photos for you showing the raising of our newest Villa on Lot 27. Our newest villa, owned by the Grahams, is right next door to Lot 24 where our first full-time residents, the Schallers, have been living for the last several months. The Schallers moved to Hudson Springs from Georgia and during the time they have been living in the park we have constructed two other villas, but neither was near their waterfront lot. I think they're looking forward to having neighbors nearby! As soon as we complete the Grahams Villa on lot 27 the couple will be using it as a weekend house when they travel from their primary residence located in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.
Soon after lift-off! A larger crane was used for this home because the surrounding trees and utilities required us to lift this home higher than normal for clearance. The power lines seen in the picture will soon be gone as we complete the changeover to underground power and eliminate the overhead wires - it will be a great aesthetic improvement to the park.
The view from across the Spring is changing! The completed Villa to the right is lot 24, and is owned by the Schallers.
Once the home is airborne it's just a matter of minutes until the final placement.
Finally, the home is in place and the crane rigging can be removed.
This is the view from inside the Graham's villa. Not bad! Hudson creek originates right in front of their home and you can see in the middle and far distance (center of photo) that the creeks meanders on its course toward the Gulf of Mexico just a short distance away. The creek provides excellent boating access to the Gulf, and being a natural waterway is very scenic throughout its course.
The view from inside is spectacular! The Hudson Springs community dock can be seen outside the windows (at the left of the photo). You may also notice that outside the sliding door to the right is nothing but thin air! The deck has yet to be installed and the sliding doors will open onto it. To maximize the water view, the Grahams had us install three Sliding doors in their villa - many options are available and you can choose how your villa's layout will best suit you.
This slider is on the west end of the Villa and will face the sunset. On most evenings the sunset is incredible and has led writer's to describe Florida's mountains as being in the sky. Obviously the land is beautiful, too, and there is nothing quite as peaceful as a tropical sunset with swaying palms silhouetted against "the reds, oranges and yellows, shades of purple, pearly rippling white tinged faint pink where the dying rays touched the highest clouds." - (quote from "The Key", by S.D. Ritt, describing a sunset on the Hudson coast).
The view of the Spring looking southeast from the bedroom (the deck will extend past this slider as well). The grounds are still a mess from construction but once this villa is completed, this corner of the waterfront will be sodded and the landscaping finished. Our next villas will be going up directly across the Spring, as soon as we receive the building permits from the county, which will be any day now.
I'll post some new pics as we complete this villa and break ground on the next ones. No new fishing photos this update (we've been too busy at the park to get away!) but I'll post pics of any interesting catches as they happen. I did see several nice Snook in the Spring this week, the largest probably a 15 to 20 pounder!
See you soon,
Sean