There’s some major development news for the area east of Golden Gate Estates in Collier County — county planners have given the green light for a large new rural village community in the region: Horse Trials Village.

Instead of random housing popping up all over rural land, this project is designed to be a planned community with its own mix of housing, services, and amenities. The idea is to build a self-contained place with homes, shops, schools, parks, and more, all clustered in one spot. 

The village site sits east of Golden Gate Estates, stretching out into the more rural parts of Collier County. It’s in the area set aside for development under the county’s Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) rules — which aim to concentrate growth in certain hubs while leaving large open areas untouched. 

What’s Planned?

Planners say the project will include:

• Thousands of homes — roughly 3,200+ residences ranging from traditional single-family homes to villas and some multifamily units. 

• Space for shops, offices, and services — nearly 170,000 square feet for retail and offices, plus plenty of support space for indoor storage and other businesses. 

• Community staples — a school for kids (K–8), a fire station, parks, open space, and paths for walking and biking. 

There’s also a focus on green areas and wildlife habitat, with a significant portion of the land set aside as protected open space. 

Why This Matters

This development marks one of the biggest rural community builds in Collier County in years. Instead of housing sprawl scattered around farms and woods, the plan tries to pull homes and services into a compact village that can support itself and offer everyday needs close to home. 

For Golden Gate Estates residents, this means the area east of the rural neighborhoods is finally starting to change — moving from mostly undeveloped land to a place with real infrastructure, schools, businesses, and growth. 

To stay up to date on Horse Trials Village, subscribe to our e-newsletter below!