LIVING IN JACKSONVILLE, FL -JACKONVILLE REAL ESTATE

If you're thinking about a move to St. Johns County, Shearwater usually comes up fast. It's one of the biggest master-planned communities in the northwest part of the county, and it keeps growing. Here's what buyers should actually know before they visit a model home.

1. Where Shearwater Sits in St. Johns County

Shearwater is located off County Road 210 in northwest St. Johns County, between CR-210 and State Road 16. It sits west of Nocatee and east of the St. Johns River, close to the growing SilverLeaf community and not far from RiverTown.

The community first opened in 2016 and is still being built out today. Freehold Communities, the developer, has planned close to 2,800 homes across more than 1,500 acres of land.

Home totals and boundaries can shift as new phases get approved, so treat the 2,800-home figure as an estimate rather than a fixed number. Source: Pontevedra Recorder.

2. It's a Community Built Around Nature

A lot of new communities in St. Johns County lean on resort-style amenities. Shearwater does that too, but it also leans hard into the natural land it was built on. Over 13 miles of trails wind through preserved wetlands and woods, connecting neighborhoods to parks, playgrounds, and the amenity center.

One of the more unusual features is the community garden, where residents can rent a small plot and grow their own vegetables and herbs. There's also a kayak and canoe launch on Trout Creek, which eventually connects out to the St. Johns River.

A kayak launch on natural, tidal water means conditions change with the season and the tide. Anyone planning to paddle out to the river should check conditions first and be aware of local wildlife, including alligators.

3. The Amenities Center on the Kayak Club

Shearwater's main amenity hub is called the Kayak Club, and it includes:

• A resort-style lagoon pool and a separate multi-lane lap pool

• The Lazy Bird River, a long lazy river that's one of the largest in St. Johns County

• A three-story water slide tower nicknamed "The Perch"

• Four lighted Har-Tru clay tennis courts

• A fitness lodge with group classes and virtual workout options

• Two dog parks, one for large dogs and one for small dogs

• A Wi-Fi café and event space residents can reserve for parties

There isn't a golf course inside Shearwater itself, and dedicated pickleball courts have historically been limited within the community, so buyers who want pickleball on-site should confirm current court availability before writing an offer.

4. Several Builders Are Active in Shearwater Right Now

Shearwater isn't a one-builder community. As of this year, Lennar, Dream Finders Homes, and David Weekley Homes all have active neighborhoods within Shearwater, with homesites ranging from smaller townhome and alley-load lots up to larger 60- and 70-foot single-family lots.

Pricing has moved around a lot since the community first opened in 2016. Townhomes have started in the $300,000s, and single-family homes have ranged from the $400,000s up into the $500,000s and higher, depending on the neighborhood, lot size, and finish level.

Builder lineups and starting prices change often as phases sell out and new ones open. Always confirm current pricing and available builders directly, and never assume the builder's on-site sales rep is working in your best interest — they represent the builder, not you.

5. Trout Creek Academy Now Serves Most of Shearwater

School zoning in this part of St. Johns County has changed since Shearwater first opened. For years, Shearwater kids attended Timberlin Creek Elementary and Switzerland Point Middle, which became crowded as the community grew.

To relieve that overcrowding, the district built a new K-8 school inside Shearwater itself. It broke ground as "K-8 School NN" and was later named Trout Creek Academy, opening for the 2024-25 school year at 855 Timberwolf Trail. Today, Trout Creek Academy is the elementary and middle school for most Shearwater addresses.

High school zoning has also shifted with the opening of Beachside High School in 2022, which now serves as a listed high school for parts of Shearwater alongside the historic assignment to Bartram Trail High School.

School zones are drawn by address and can be redrawn as the district keeps adding schools. Anyone with children should confirm the exact zoned schools for a specific address with the St. Johns County School District before buying, rather than relying on this article or a builder's marketing materials.

Not sure how Shearwater compares to Nocatee, SilverLeaf, or RiverTown for your situation? That's exactly the kind of question I help buyers work through as part of my 9/90/180-day plan — whether you're 9 days, 90 days, or 180 days from making a move.

6. CR-210 Is Busy, but Relief Is Coming

Shearwater sits right on the CR-210 corridor, which has seen heavy growth from several master-planned communities in the same stretch of northwest St. Johns County. That growth has brought traffic, and county officials have been working on infrastructure projects meant to ease it, including work on a State Road 9B connector to St. Johns Parkway and an extension of CR-2209.

Road and infrastructure timelines can slip. Anyone weighing a purchase based on future traffic relief should check current project status with St. Johns County before assuming a timeline. Source: Pontevedra Recorder.

7. Who Shearwater Tends to Fit Best

Shearwater tends to work well for buyers who want a golf cart-friendly, amenity-rich lifestyle without paying Nocatee-level prices, and who don't mind still being a bit of a drive from the coast. It's also a strong fit for families who like the idea of nature trails and a kayak launch as part of everyday life, not just a weekend trip.

It may be less of a fit for buyers who want an established, fully built-out neighborhood rather than one still under active construction, or for anyone who wants a golf course as part of their daily routine.

Local Spotlight: A New Park and Library Are Coming to Shearwater

St. Johns County is currently building the Shearwater Community Park and Library on Timberwolf Trail, right near Trout Creek Academy. It's part of the county's larger regional park plan and is expected to include a community center with a library hub, pickleball and basketball courts, a splash pad, a skatepark, and open green space.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Thinking About Buying in Shearwater?

Whether you're comparing a Lennar townhome, a David Weekley single-family lot, or you're weighing Shearwater against Nocatee or SilverLeaf, it helps to have someone in your corner who isn't paid by the builder.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR NEXT MOVE

Call/Text: (904) 599-2125

Email: greg@livinginjacksonvillefl.com

Website: https://www.livinginjacksonvillefl.com/

Want more real estate insight like this? Follow and Subscribe to the Living in Jacksonville FL Team on YouTube (@LIVINGINJACKSONVILLEFL) for neighborhood tours, market updates, and buyer tips you won't find anywhere else.

About Greg DeTullio, Broker/Owner, Living in Jacksonville FL Team

Greg DeTullio is a Florida-licensed Real Estate Broker and the founder of the Living in Jacksonville FL Team. With a decade of industry expertise, he has successfully managed over 200 closed transactions and earned five-star Google reviews. Greg specializes in Jacksonville relocation services and new construction within St. Johns County, proudly serving Nocatee, SilverLeaf, RiverTown, St. Johns, EverRange, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the surrounding Northeast Florida communities.

Living in Jacksonville FL Team | Phone: (904) 599-2125

Equal Housing Opportunity. Greg DeTullio, FL Real Estate Broker License #BK3332620, is a member of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR). This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your specific costs, tax obligations, and transaction details with your attorney, tax advisor, lender, or closing officer.

Tags

• Shearwater St. Johns County (1)
• Shearwater builders (1)
• Trout Creek Academy (1)
• Shearwater Kayak Club (1)
• Shearwater new construction (1)
• Shearwater amenities (1)
• St. Johns County master planned communities (1)
• Beachside High School zoning (1)
• Shearwater St. Augustine homes (1)
• CR-210 new homes (1)