Lake Lucy.
Lake Lucy is the largest of the Groveland Chain lakes — roughly 426 acres of open water surrounded by scenic sandy hills with the Palatlakaha River flowing through. Lucy is in the same Palatlakaha watershed as the Clermont Chain, but a water-level control dam between Hunt Lake and Cherry Lake separates the two systems by boat. From Lucy, the chain you reach is the Groveland Chain — Lake Emma, Hunt, and Stewart — not the Clermont Chain proper.
The character of Lucy is different from the Clermont Chain. The sandy-hill surroundings give the lake an almost upland feel — higher elevation, drier shoreline, less swamp than the southern Clermont Chain lakes. The Palatlakaha River runs through, connecting Lucy to Lake Emma to the south and ultimately to the dam at Hunt that closes the system off from Cherry Lake.
Real estate on Lake Lucy trades at a meaningful discount per frontage foot to comparable Clermont Chain lakes — partly because of the smaller buyer pool, partly because of the geographic separation from Clermont’s recreation infrastructure (Waterfront Park, the South Lake Trail, the National Training Center). Buyers who choose Lucy almost always considered the Clermont Chain first, then decided that the sandy-hill setting and lower price point fit their priorities better than chain-anchor proximity.
Lucy’s buyer profile is generally an outdoor-oriented one — anglers, paddlers, retirees who want larger acreage at a lower per-foot frontage cost than the Clermont Chain. The lake itself is plenty large for boating, fishing, and casual recreation. What it does not offer is connection to the Clermont Chain’s larger water; what it does offer is a quieter, sandier, more upland lakefront character that the Clermont Chain does not have.
Quick Facts
- Surface Area
- Approximately 426 acres. The largest of the Groveland Chain lakes.
- Setting
- Sandy-hill surroundings — drier shoreline character than the southern Clermont Chain.
- Chain Position
- Northern Groveland Chain. Palatlakaha River flows through, connecting south to Lake Emma and ultimately to the Hunt-Cherry dam.
- Public Access
- Local boat ramp facilities; verify current public access status with Lake County before purchase.
- Fishing
- Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie. Generally lower fishing pressure than Clermont Chain peers.
- Important
- NOT part of the Clermont Chain. Separated from Cherry Lake by a water-level control dam.
What I tell my buyers about Lake Lucy
If you want a 426-acre Lake County lake at a discount to Clermont Chain pricing, Lucy is the largest Groveland Chain option and offers more frontage flexibility than the smaller peers (Emma, Hunt, Stewart).
If you specifically want Clermont Chain access — boats moving from your dock to Lake Minneola, Waterfront Park, the South Lake Trail crowd — Lucy will not deliver that. The dam separates the systems.
For buyers who value the sandy-upland character over chain-anchor proximity, Lucy is one of Lake County’s most distinctive lakefront opportunities at its price tier.
Lake Profile
Lake Lucy — the deep read
The Villa City naming story, the King family legacy, and how a 1880s citrus settlement destroyed by the 1894–95 freezes left its mark on the chain forever.
Lake basics
Lake Lucy covers approximately 426 acres in Groveland (WBID 2839E), with an average depth around 10 feet. It is the largest lake in the northern Groveland chain — the upper segment of the broader Clermont Chain along the Palatlakaha River. Tannin-stained, spring-fed, and surrounded by sandy hills with rural homes; private rather than public-recreation-focused.
Villa City — the naming story (1884–1885)
In 1884–1885, George Thomas King (from Baltimore) founded the Villa City community in this area. Standing on the highest hill with a surveyor, he named the surrounding lakes after family members: Lake Lucy — the largest in front of him — after his sister-in-law Lucy Sears Parlow, who had recently passed away.
King also named Lake Emma after his wife Emma Parlow King, and other lakes after his daughter (Desire) and sons (Morgan, Arthur). The King estate was a showplace with a large home; the community had a post office by 1895 with Emma’s brother Franklin Parlow as the first postmaster.
Villa City was a citrus-focused settlement — and was largely destroyed by the 1894–1895 freezes. The naming endures today on Lake Lucy + Lake Emma.
Parks & recreation
- Arnold Brothers Boat Ramp
- The northernmost public access to the Palatlakaha River and the entire northern chain. Single paved ramp, fishing pier, parking. Provides chain navigation southward to Cherry Lake and the full Clermont Chain.
- Lake David Park
- Nearby Groveland hub: boat ramps, playground, splash pad, sports courts, picnic areas. A short drive from Lake Lucy.
- River system — northbound
- Beyond Heart Lake, the Palatlakaha River continues northward to Lake Harris — a real-estate adjacency rarely advertised for chain buyers seeking optionality.
Waterfront restaurants
None directly on Lake Lucy. Nearest casual dining: Groveland local options, or chain trip south to Lake Minneola Tiki Bar & Grill / Salt Shack on the Lake.
Waterfront communities
- Cypress Bluff
- Large, newer master-planned community with single-family homes, lake access/views, community amenities, and conservation areas. Modern rural waterfront living with easy chain connections.
- Other rural pockets
- Individual waterfront homes, oversized lots, low-density subdivisions with sandy hill settings and Palatlakaha River access.
Sources: Lake County Water Atlas, Wikipedia Clermont Chain, Groveland official history, verified historical accounts.
Common questions about Lake Lucy
Is Lake Lucy part of the Clermont Chain of Lakes?
No. Lake Lucy is part of the Groveland Chain. A water-level control dam between Hunt Lake and Cherry Lake blocks boat access to the Clermont Chain. Both chains share the Palatlakaha River watershed academically, but operationally they are separate.
Can I boat from Lake Lucy to Lake Minneola?
No. The dam between Hunt Lake (Groveland Chain) and Cherry Lake (Clermont Chain) prevents boats from crossing between the two systems. Lucy connects only to the other Groveland Chain lakes (Emma, Hunt, Stewart).
How does Lake Lucy pricing compare to Clermont Chain lakes?
Lucy frontage typically trades at a meaningful discount per foot to comparable Clermont Chain lakes. The lower price reflects the smaller buyer pool, the geographic separation from Clermont’s recreation infrastructure, and the different character of the sandy-hill setting. For a current per-lake comparison, request the Clermont Chain of Lakes Waterfront Brief.
Get the 2026 Chain Brief — with my candid read on Lake Lucy.
Eight pages of verified market data on the Clermont Chain. Plus a personal note from me on what I’m seeing on Lake Lucy specifically — pricing, inventory, what AVMs miss. Delivered to your inbox in minutes.