Massive Two Rivers Development Taking Shape 

 Is The Two Rivers Development Expanding Both Wesley Chapel & New Tampa To East Of Morris Bridge Rd.? 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

This map of Two Rivers shows the portions that are currently under development, as well as the future plans in both Hillsborough & Pasco counties. (Two Rivers map modified by NN) 

 If you haven’t taken a ride on S.R. 56 eastbound past Morris Bridge Rd. recently, I believe you probably should do so. 

While Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents online complain about how every remaining shred of land in our communities is being developed, adding to our ever-increasing traffic at the expense of open space and a more pastoral way of life, it seems that others outside of any known boundary of Wesley Chapel (as I presented in our Oct. 3 issue) are now creating new communities that may ultimately finally move what even I call Wesley Chapel (and, to a lesser extent, New Tampa) well to the east, too. 

Before the creation of the huge 6,000-acre Two Rivers Master-Planned Unit Development (MPUD), the only community in Zephyrhills that pretty much anyone would confuse with being Wesley Chapel-like was Lake Bernadette, which has fewer than 1,000 total households with entrances on both Eiland Blvd. and S.R. 54, all in zip code 33541. 

But, it seems that you could fit all of Lake Bernadette inside Two Rivers, which is being developed by Eisenhower Property Group, due east of Morris Bridge Rd. in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties. In fact, Two Rivers is actually larger than the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch development to its west. 

And, like Lake Bernadette, the zip code for the Pasco portions of Two Rivers that began being developed in December of 2023 is 33541. That means that if I decide to start mailing the Neighborhood News there, I will be expanding our all-direct-mail distribution east of Wesley Chapel for the first time. 

More About Two Rivers 

Although I had heard of Two Rivers before now, I didn’t really take notice of it until I saw a billboard on S.R. 54 near mine and Jannah’s apartment (which has a Land O’Lakes address) that proclaimed Two Rivers as a “New Community — Wesley Chapel.” What? Did I somehow miss that Two Rivers was actually west of Morris Bridge Rd.? 

The answer is a resounding “No,” but the community is being marketed as basically an extension of Wesley Chapel — and who could blame the developer or the home builders? 

According to its promotional materials, Two Rivers is “near Wesley Chapel” and will “give residents a best-of-both-worlds living experience.” Two Rivers will feature more than 7,500 planned residential homes, townhomes, apartments and villas: “Those who make their home here will enjoy access to clubhouses, pools, parks, trails, sports courts and shared green spaces…and plans include K-12 schools, as well as retail space, future options for dining, cafĂ©s, groceries and beauty services, fitness and more.” 

One of the first two villages already selling homes in Two Rivers is Childers by Lennar Homes, with “447 total homesites, about 100 sold and 65 closed or moved into,” according to new home consultant Brooke Politano. Homes in Childers start in the mid-$300,000s. 

The other village now selling is Northwater by D.R. Horton, with 360 total homes, also starting in the mid $300s, with about 30 homes already with residents. Both subdivisions are north of S.R. 56. 

When Wayne Thomas purchased the first portion of the Two Rivers Ranch in the 1930s, he couldn’t possibly have known that his cattle ranch would expand to more that 17,000 acres stretching from northeast Hillsborough through Pasco and even reaching to Hernando counties. 

A little more than 500 acres of that property was located in Crystal Springs, sort of between Thonotosassa and Zephyrhills and which today is home to Poland Springs waters, the large company now bottling and selling Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water. 

But, the Thomas family has been good stewards of their land since before World War II, so much so that in 2014, Two Rivers Ranch was honored as one of seven regional Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) winners. The award, which is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, is presented to farmers and ranchers “who work hard to protect America’s natural resources.” 

Two Rivers Ranch began as a cow/ calf operation that has now been owned and managed by Robert Thomas’ family for more than 90 years. 

“The Hillsborough River supplies approximately 90 percent of the city of Tampa’s drinking water, so it’s very important for the city,” said Wayne Thomas, Executive Vice President, Two Rivers Ranch, and himself a fourth-generation cattle rancher. 

“We have a very high profile here as a result of the importance of our natural resource,” added his father Robert Thomas, who is the CEO of Two Rivers Ranch. 

The ranch was honored with the ESAP award for its proven land management techniques to enhance their operation. “The Thomas family keeps their herd size limited so as not to negatively impact wetlands, water quality of the adjacent river bodies, native vegetation or wildlife populations,” was part of the reason the family received the award. 

Today, as explained on this issue’s front page, the Thomas family is no allowing Two Rivers to be developed as another huge Master Planned Unit Development, but which promises to have more than 3,000 acres of wooded landscapes, with lots of open space, parks, walking trails, dog parks, passive parks, court and lawn space and more. 

Two Rivers Today & Tomorrow 
The largest homes currently available in Two Rivers are the Trenton model from Lennar Homes (left) in the Childers community and (right) the Hayden model from D.R. Homes in the Northwater village. (Photos taken from Lennar.com & from DRHorton.com) 

Also expected to be part of the Pasco portion of Two Rivers is a central health, wellness and dining club for residents. This facility will include tennis, pickleball, pools, playgrounds, various interior and exterior gathering spaces and a bar and restaurant. There also is a planned regional district park as well as shopping, dining and office spaces planned. 

At Northwater village, D.R. Horton’s smallest home is the 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Allex II model, with 1,560 sq. ft. of living area, starting at around $344K. The largest is the 5-bedroom, 3-bath Hayden model with 2,605 sq. ft. of living area, starting in the $424s. 

Meanwhile, in the Childers village, Lennar’s smallest home is the 3-bedroom, 2-bath Annapolis model, with 1,448 sq. ft. of living space starting at around $329K. The largest is the Trenton model, with 6 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3,326 sq. ft. of living area, starting at around $489K. 

Now that the first two villages are well under way, here are the plans for additional villages and home builders that are planned to arrive this year: 

‱ Tamarack Village (early 2024) – This gated village will include homes by Park Square Homes and William Ryan Homes. 

‱ Ryals Field Village (mid-2024) – Gated village featuring Homes by WestBay. 

‱ Delyle Village (mid-2024) – Offering Pulte homes. 

‱ Shortgrass Village (late 2024) – Offering M/I Homes. 

‱ Additional villages and phases will feature Casa Fresca, Meritage Homes and Taylor Morrison Homes. 

But Wait, There’s More! 

As we also mentioned on pg. 1, Two Rivers also is planned to expand into Hillsborough County by sometime next year. 

The first new section to be built across Morris Bridge Rd. from New Tampa is Flatwoods, described in Two Rivers’ marketing materials as, “Our luxury section (that) will be home to Flatwoods Golf & Country Club. This community will feature a private country club with a spa, recreational amenities and an 18-hole golf course. The course, designed by renowned Scottish golf course architect David McLay-Kidd of DMK Golf Design, is estimated to be completed in 2025. DMK Golf has designed several very prestigious resort and private golf courses in the world, including The Castle Course at St. Andrews Links in Scotland, and Nanea Golf Club in Kailua Kona, HI. 

Some Transportation Info 

Although Two Rivers’ Flatwoods village will be set back quite a bit from both Morris Bridge Rd. in New Tampa and U.S. Hwy. 301 in Thonotosassa, according to plans filed with Hillsborough County, there will be another future connection from Two Rivers to Morris Bridge Rd, which will be located basically on the county line, adjacent to a TECO-owned power substation and aligned with Camerton Rd. on the west side. 

There currently are plans for three future traffic signals along S.R. 56, all of which the developer will pay for and construct (under permit) when warrants are met. The locations will be for the intersections with Two Rivers Blvd., Widewater Way, and Lodge Grass Blvd., all where the existing full median openings are currently located. A fourth signal along S.R. 56 might be considered between Lodge Grass Blvd. and U.S. 301 (also a full median opening), depending upon the amount of traffic that portion of the development, which will be commercial, might generate. 

In addition, there also will be a connection to U.S. 301 in Hillsborough, which also will be signalized by full build-out. Two more signals for U.S. 301, at Lodge Grass Blvd., and Morris Bridge Rd. at Colston Ave., also are planned. The right-of-way along Morris Bridge Rd. is now 80’ but the MPUD conditions for Two Rivers requires the family to convey a 44’ wide strip of its property over to the county. 

The River Landing development on S.R. 56 west of Morris Bridge Rd. also was required to provide a similar strip, which will allow for the potential widening of Morris Bridge Rd. to four lanes in the future. 

In addition to the signals, the county also will require Two Rivers to construct left and right turn lanes along Morris Bridge Rd. at Colston Ave. The only other entrance/exit along Morris Bridge Rd. for Two Rivers will be a gated emergency-only access near the southern part of the development. 

This will bring the grand total of traffic signals for Two Rivers to potentially eight: four on S.R. 56, two on Morris Bridge Rd. and two on U.S. 301, subject to meeting warrants and final approval by the transportation departments of the local and state governments. 

Winners Grabbing “Big Game Squares” Prizes!

Since the Kansas City Chiefs won the “Big Game,” four of the six winners in our “Big Game Squares” contest have already claimed their prizes, including both of our $100 gift card winners — Carrie Frump of Easton Park, who grabbed a gift card to the historic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, and Meadow Pointe resident Jim Headley (photo), who took a PopStroke gift card. 

Also already claiming their prizes are $75 winner John Sousa of Lake Jovita (who also teaches at Cypress Creek High), who is getting a $75 gift card to Bonefish Grill, and Maggie Rich of West Meadows, who is getting a $25 gift certificate to Taste of New York Pizza.

Still to claim their prizes are $75 gift card winner Pamela Smith of Meadow Pointe & $25 gift card winner Daniela Quintana of Heritage Isles. 

Thanks to all 195 people who submitted a valid entry form! Better luck next year to those who didn’t win a prize!

Business Briefs — Starbucks, Avis, King Of The Coop, Paradise Grills & More 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

With so many bigger construction projects still on the horizon, here’s the latest on a number of new businesses now open or getting ready to open in the Wesley Chapel area: 

Starbucks & Avis 

These new buildings — Avis Car Rental (635 sq. ft.) and Starbucks (2,568 sq. ft; photo, above) — are located a few lots from each other, set in from Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54 (immediately adjacent to the southbound I-75 off ramp) at The Grove. Avis, which currently is only a wood frame, is located between the Cracker Barrel and the strip plaza that includes Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (BWB); Starbucks is next to the Marathon gas station. 

Construction of the Avis has been moving quickly, as it was just permitted in October, and is expected to be done this spring. Avis has more than a dozen locations across Tampa Bay, but currently the closest one to us is on N. Florida Ave., south of E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa. 

We first told you about this Starbucks in May of 2022 and many locals have wondered when the project will be done. The plans were initially filed in 2022, but then withdrawn and resubmitted in the summer of 2023, hence the reason for the delay. 

This large Starbucks will be unique and offer something not seen at any of the other stores in our area — double menu board ordering lanes (something you might normally see at a newer McDonald’s) and should make the drive-through more efficient. 

The final touches are being put on the building’s exterior now, as the permits for the store’s illuminated signs were just approved at the end of December. A banner with the Starbucks logo that says “Coming Soon” is hanging on the front railing as a placeholder and a Starbucks spokesperson says the new location should be open by sometime in February. 

Flying The Coop 

In a Facebook post shortly before we went to press with this issue, the owners of King of the Coop, the Nashville hot chicken place that started in Seminole Heights, had closed its location at 27835 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (next to BWB) in front of The Grove as of Jan. 1. 

King of the Coop also relocated its original Florida Ave. location to just south of the Front Porch restaurant on Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights, but that location also has closed. 

The Facebook post blamed the closing of the Wesley Chapel restaurant on economic conditions across the Tampa Bay area that has indeed caused many businesses to be shuttered, but both several other new local fried chicken competition (Chick’n Fun, Slim Chickens, The Chicken Boss, etc.) and a difficult-to-read sign (at least from the road) may have contributed to its closing, too. 

Spot X Hotel Renovations 

The small (78-room) hotel that has had several other names at 5703 Oakley Blvd. is now the second privately-owned location of Spot X Hotel (the other is in Orlando). 

Officially known as “Spot X Hotel Tampa Bay by the Red (Roof Inn) Collection,” the hotel is open and is expected to undergo a $1.2-million renovation that was originally supposed to begin in December but is now scheduled to start sometime next month. 

For more information, call (813) 973- 1665 or visit RedRoof.com. 

Paradise Grills Is Open; AutoNation May Be, Too 

Here are updates on two new businesses we have been telling you about for a while in these pages: 

The new Paradise Grills (photo, left) opened at 2705 Creek Grass Way (on the south side of S.R. 56 east of Rock & Brews) on Dec. 21 and it is an awesome showroom that anyone who owns a house with a back yard should definitely check out. 

Paradise Grills specializes in not just grills, but full-on outdoor kitchens that will be delivered and installed for one price. If you want a built-in bar, large-screen TVs, a fire pit, tiki hut and/or unique patio furniture, Paradise Grills — which has 45 showrooms in six U.S. states (including 29 in Florida) — is your one-stop shop. 

For more info, call (813) 328-2545 or visit ParadiseGrillsDirect.com. 

Meanwhile, the AutoNation USA used car lot located at 2807 Creek Grass Way (just south of Cigars International, next to the Tampa Premium Outlets), wasn’t quite open at our press time, but appeared to be very close to opening, so it actually may be open by the time you receive this issue. 

The huge lot already had a large collection of vehicles ready to be sold as we went to press and the big service department was buzzing with activity in anticipation of the opening. 

For more info, call (813) 776-2811 or visit AutoNationUSA.com.

Cypress Creek High Students Engineer A Life-Changing Gift For “Pily” 

(l.-r.) Cypress Creek High students Liam Dzanan, Liz Velisse Bermudez-Ortiz (aka “Pily”) and Gabriel Linck show off the new wheelchair tray Liam and Gabriel engineered for Pily. (Photos were provided to the Neighborhood News) 

“Pily” has some really strong arms. 

They’ve gotten that way because the 20-year-old has always used them to push her manual wheelchair wherever she needed to go. 

But one thing those arms can’t do is be useful for a separate task while she’s pushing the wheelchair. 

Pily is a student in Cypress Creek High’s on-the-job training (OJT) program for students with disabilities who have deferred their high school diploma and not yet graduated, although they are between 18 and 21 years old. They are learning skills and tasks that will prepare them for opportunities in the workforce when they turn 22 and public school is no longer an option. 

John Sousa is the OJT educator who teaches Pily, whose real name is Liz Velisse Bermudez-Ortiz. 

John says OJT, “is a transition program where we help to answer the question for parents, ‘What am I going to do with my child when there is no longer free public school for them?’” 

The 12 students currently in his class work in the cafeterias at Cypress Creek High and Middle School, and some of them travel to Publix. Without a tray, and while pushing her wheelchair with her arms, Pily was unable to participate in the work that the other students were doing. 

“I looked at this problem I have,” says John, “and I realized that I have engineering students next door. So I walked in and said, ‘Mr. Baker, can you give me two hotshots who are really into figuring out solutions to problems?’” 

“Oh, I’ve got lots of those,” John says Nathan Baker, the engineering instructor, told him. John says he gladly accepted help from seniors Liam Dzanan and Gabriel Linck. They are part of Cypress Creek High’s “pack leader” program and, in the engineering department, which means they have the opportunity to work on special projects. 

“I have a refrigerator with snacks,” John says he told them. “And you guys could give this young lady arms. You could give her the ability to pick things up and hold things.” 

John says they took the task to heart. 

Liam and Gabriel set out to fabricate a tray that would fit on Pily’s wheelchair, allowing her to carry trays in the cafeteria, boxes and other items, helping her to contribute to the work she and her peers are assigned to do. 

They came up with a thick acrylic tray and the idea to trim it with a lip, so things wouldn’t roll off it. They also had to take precautions so it wouldn’t crack during fabrication or while Pily is using it. 

Liam and Gabriel previously had plenty of opportunities to learn engineering skills in the classroom, but this project was the first time that their work was not just hypothetical. 

A previous project, for example, was to create a boot that would help someone with cerebral palsy to walk. The students came up with a great solution, but it didn’t actually help a real person. 

The fact that Pily would be counting on them to solve her problem made this project exceptionally different. 

“We felt like we couldn’t mess this up,” Liam said. “And like all of our prior practice and hypotheticals all led up to this. Only a real engineer could finish the project to help Pily.” 

Gabriel agrees. 

“It’s kind of intimidating because if we make mistakes, they’re expensive,” he says. “We only had one chance to make it. If we messed it up, we would have to buy another sheet for $150, so it’s a lot of pressure.” 

So they sketched and re-sketched on paper until they were sure they had the right design, then made cardboard models to try it out in real life. 

They learned how important it is to look at things from Pily’s perspective, instead of from theirs. 

This led them to learn to countersink screws to make them perfectly flush so they couldn’t scratch, for example. They did a lot of sanding. They even make changes after they thought they were finally done, adding neoprene to make points of contact more comfortable. 

It was all worth it when they got to present the new tray to Pily. 

“She was ecstatic when we gave it to her,” said Liam. 

John says he is so proud of Liam and Gabriel. “They were able to put that tray on her chair, and even added Velcro straps so it can slide into a new chair if she gets one,” John explains. 

Not only does the new tray allow Pily to complete work tasks she couldn’t do before, it’s also essential to helping her feel included as a part of the OJT group. 

“Independence is a huge thing in life for everyone,” he says. “Here’s a 20-year-old girl who can now carry things from point A to point B, be included in the group, and perform simple job tasks because of the help she got from these kids.” 

John thinks this is just the beginning of many more projects to come. In fact, he said, engineering students also have come up with a 3D-printed tool that helps his students who lack the dexterity to open a soda can get the leverage they need. 

“The engineering students at this school are amazing,” he says. “It’s amazing what kids are doing to help other kids.”

“WC Bills Mafia” Unhappy After Loss To The Chiefs

Members of the Wesley Chapel Bills Mafia, the local support group for fans of the Buffalo Bills, were sent home heartbroken (again) from TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant at The Grove on Sunday, when their beloved Bills lost 27-24 to the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs to end their Cinderella season.

A little less than 200 Bills fans, most of them wearing the team’s signature royal blue jerseys, attended Sunday’s WC Bills Mafia Watch Party, which was sponsored by Rapid Access Wellness, LLC, and which featured some outstanding raffle prizes, as well as a sumptuous buffet provided by TrebleMakers.

The restaurant’s co-owner Jamie Hess, who is from the Buffalo area, has hosted many of these watch parties, but hopes were higher than ever this year that his beloved Bills would win the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl as the team was getting to host (for the first time) Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The team had to win its final five games of the regular season and a Wild Card Playoff Game over the Pittsburgh Steeler just to advance to face the Chiefs in the rematch of a 20-17 Buffalo win on Dec. 10.

But, it wasn’t meant to be. Despite holding the lead four times, QB Josh Allen and his Bills fell behind to stay when Chiefs’ RB Isiah Pacheco scored with 14:20 left in the 4th quarter. 

“What are they doing?,” shouted one fan sitting next to me as the Bills were unsuccessful on a second half fake punt in their own territory, which ended up not costing the Bills any additional points because Kansas City fumbled the ball into and out of the Buffalo end zone a few plays after the failed fake punt, resulting in a touchback and the Bills getting the ball back. “How about just going for it on 4th and 3 instead?

The Watch Party also included some great raffle prizes — a jersey and a football signed by current star Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a mini-helmet and jersey signed by Hall of Fame former Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas and a 50-50 drawing for half of nearly $700 in cash.

“It was a great turnout and a great event,” Hess said after the Bills faithful left with broken hearts
again. “But, if the Bills could have pulled it out and kept winning, we could have had even bigger crowds for the AFC Championship and Super Bowl games. Oh well, maybe next year.”

Spoken like a true Bills fan, Jamie.