Chaine du Lac
Windermere's quietest gate on the Butler Chain.
Live the MaxLife.
$7.5M
Median Price
$4.5M – $15.5M
40
Homes
$633–$633
Monthly HOA
1994
Established
Windermere Elementary
School Zone
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Background
A brief history
Chaine du Lac platted in 1994 on a finger of land between Lake Down and Lake Butler, accessed from Park Avenue in the historic Windermere town core. The community was small by design — roughly 40 estate homesites — and was marketed quietly to a generation of Butler Chain buyers who wanted a guarded entry without the scale of Isleworth or Keene's Pointe. The early homes were Mediterranean and Traditional builds in the 5,000–9,000-square-foot range; the community has since seen a steady trickle of tear-down and rebuild activity, with newer homes pushing 13,000+ square feet on the premier lakefront parcels.
The feel
What it's like to live here
Chaine du Lac is probably the most low-profile luxury address in Windermere. There is no clubhouse, no golf course, no social calendar — just a gate at the end of Park Avenue and a short, tree-canopied street lined with estates. Almost every home has Butler Chain lake frontage or deeded lake access via a shared community dock. Residents tend to be private — executives, discreet ultra-high-net-worth families, and occasionally high-profile figures who want Windermere without the Isleworth visibility. The chain access is what matters here: homes sit on Lake Down, which connects directly to Lake Butler, Lake Tibet, and the rest of the 13-lake Butler Chain.
The details
What to expect
Architecture & Lots
Original builds 1995–2005 are Mediterranean, Tuscan, and Traditional in the 5,000–9,000-square-foot range. Recent rebuilds are Transitional and Modern-Mediterranean at 10,000–13,500 square feet. Lots run 1 to 5 acres with 100 to 240 feet of Butler Chain lake frontage. Most homes have private covered boat lifts and boathouses.
Lifestyle & Amenities
No clubhouse or golf — the community is deliberately minimal. The amenity is the Butler Chain itself: residents boat directly out to Lake Down and from there to any of the 13 connected lakes. Walking distance to historic downtown Windermere (Park Avenue coffee shops, Saturday farmers market). Isleworth and Keene's Pointe club memberships are available to residents who want golf.
HOA Rules & Fees
HOA $1,900/quarter (~$633/month), confirmed via 12488 Park Avenue listing (Apr 2026). Covers gate and street maintenance, common area taxes. No clubhouse, pool, or events — the fee is minimal relative to what you're buying. Deed restrictions govern architectural review. Short-term rentals prohibited.
Access & Commute
Park Avenue entry off Main Street in downtown Windermere — 5 minutes to the town core, 15 minutes to Isleworth, 20 minutes to Dr. Phillips and Restaurant Row, 30 minutes to Orlando International Airport. The location is the most walkable of any Butler Chain luxury community.
Community
Amenities
- Butler Chain of Lakes frontage (13 connected lakes)
- Private boat lifts and boathouses on most homes
- Walking distance to historic downtown Windermere
- Deeded community dock access for non-waterfront parcels
- Tree-canopied private street
- 24-hour gated entry (no guard, electronic)
Know Before You Buy
HOA rules worth knowing
- HOA $1,900/quarter (~$633/month) — confirmed via 12488 Park Avenue listing, Apr 2026
- Covers gate, street maintenance, common area taxes; no amenity package
- Architectural review board for exterior changes
- Short-term rentals prohibited
- No golf cart access to downtown (private street only)
Education
School assignments
- Windermere Elementary
- Gotha Middle School
- Olympia High School
- Private: Windermere Prep, The First Academy
School zone assignments change. Verify with Orange County Public Schools before purchase.
Market Commentary
What the market is doing
Current inventory sits in the $4.5M to $15.5M range, with a median around $7–8M. Price-per-square-foot runs $600 on older Mediterranean builds up to $1,150+ on recent trophy builds. The spread here is driven almost entirely by lake frontage and lot width — a 135-foot frontage trades meaningfully below a 240-foot frontage on the same street. New-construction tear-downs have pushed the top end above $15M, and the community has one of the tightest resale velocities on the Butler Chain because so little inventory exists to begin with.
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Also Worth Seeing
Related communities
Windermere
Reserve at Lake Butler Sound
Windermere's intimate lakefront enclave on Lake Butler.
$2M – $15M · 150 homes
Explore Reserve at Lake Butler Sound →
Windermere
Isleworth
Arnold Palmer's Windermere legacy — Florida's most private address.
$2M – $40M · 660 homes
Explore Isleworth →
Windermere
Keene's Pointe
Windermere's guard-gated Jack Nicklaus community on the Butler Chain.
$900K – $5M · 1,100 homes
Explore Keene's Pointe →
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Information on this page is compiled from public records, MLS data, community associations, and broker observation. Price ranges, HOA fees, school assignments, and community amenities change — verify all details with MaxLife Realty and the relevant community association before making a purchase decision. Ryan Solberg, Broker, License #BK3354351. MaxLife Realty, 321.373.3536.