Esplanade at Rivergrass Construction Update: New Naples Golf Community Taking Shape

The transformation of Esplanade at Rivergrass in Naples, Florida is officially underway.

What was once largely agricultural land along Oil Well Road is gradually being reshaped into a new Taylor Morrison golf and resort-style community featuring an 18-hole golf course, condominiums, single-family homes and an extensive collection of planned amenities.

For buyers following Esplanade at Rivergrass construction, one of the most exciting developments is that this is no longer simply a future community shown on maps and preliminary plans.

The golf course is physically taking shape, grass is beginning to establish on portions of the course, and Taylor Morrison continues to anticipate an early 2027 opening.

Here is what we know about the progress so far.

Construction Is Underway at Esplanade at Rivergrass

Taylor Morrison officially celebrated the groundbreaking of Esplanade at Rivergrass in 2026 as work moved forward on the new golf-oriented residential community.

The project is being developed along Oil Well Road in eastern Collier County, within the Rivergrass area of the larger Town of Big Cypress.

Developing a community of this scale involves much more than constructing individual homes.

Before buyers ever move into their residences, crews must shape the land, create lakes and drainage systems, build roads and utilities, prepare homesites, establish landscaping and construct the golf course and supporting amenities.

That work is now well underway at Rivergrass.

The Golf Course Is Becoming a Major Part of the Landscape

The planned 18-hole championship-level golf course is expected to become one of the defining features of Esplanade at Rivergrass.

The course is being designed by golf-course architect Christopher Wilczynski of C.W. Golf Architecture.

Rivergrass represents another collaboration between Wilczynski and Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade brand.

Unlike renovating an existing golf course, Rivergrass started largely as open agricultural land.

That gave the design and development team an opportunity to shape the course essentially from the ground up.

More than three million cubic yards of soil are expected to be moved during the grading process to create elevation changes, golf features, water areas and the overall landscape.

For Southwest Florida, where naturally dramatic elevation changes are limited, that amount of earthwork can dramatically change the appearance of a property.

Golf Holes Are Already Taking Shape

Construction updates during 2026 have provided an increasingly clear picture of what the course may eventually look like.

Earlier progress reports highlighted work on holes 10, 11 and 12.

Those holes are being designed with a combination of water, bunkering and strategic choices intended to give golfers different ways to approach each hole.

More recent updates have shown additional progress elsewhere on the course.

By the summer of 2026, grass was already growing on portions of holes 9 and 18, providing one of the clearest signs yet that the project is moving beyond heavy earthwork and into the stages where the finished golf environment begins to become visible.

How Far Along Is the Rivergrass Golf Course?

One of the most encouraging construction updates came in August 2026.

Golf-course architect Christopher Wilczynski indicated that at that time there were approximately seven holes remaining to build, while much of the remaining course was getting significantly closer to completion.

He also discussed the possibility of limited preview play for prospective homebuyers later in the year.

That does not mean the golf course is fully finished or open to the public yet.

Golf-course construction still involves substantial finishing work after the primary shapes are created.

Greens, tees and fairways need to mature, irrigation systems must be completed, landscaping must establish, and the course must be prepared for consistent play.

Still, the progress provides a useful indication of how much has changed since the project first broke ground.

Why Building the Golf Course Early Matters

For buyers considering a golf community, there is an advantage to seeing the golf course taking shape before purchasing.

Rather than buying solely from conceptual plans, buyers may eventually be able to understand how specific homesites relate to fairways, lakes, greens and other golf features.

That can influence the desirability and value of individual lots.

A homesite overlooking a green may provide a very different experience from one positioned alongside a fairway or overlooking one of Rivergrass’s water features.

As homesites begin to be released, buyers interested in golf views should pay close attention to the evolving golf-course layout.

Water Will Be an Important Part of the Rivergrass Design

Water appears likely to play an important role in the overall character of Esplanade at Rivergrass.

The golf-course design incorporates water features alongside strategic golf elements, creating both visual interest and challenges for players.

This also fits naturally with the broader Town of Big Cypress concept.

Rivergrass is being developed in an area where lakes, conservation land and open spaces are intended to remain prominent features of the landscape.

For future residents, this may mean many properties ultimately have views of water, golf, landscaping or preserved open space rather than simply facing another row of houses.

Actual views will, of course, depend on the specific homesite.

Esplanade at Rivergrass Is Part of a Much Larger Development

Rivergrass is not being developed in isolation.

It is located within the Town of Big Cypress, a major long-term development planned for eastern Collier County.

The northern Rivergrass Village includes both Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade at Rivergrass and a separate Lennar Rivergrass community.

More than 4,000 acres of protected conservation land are located around this part of the larger development.

That combination of residential development and preserved land is one reason this area may look very different as construction progresses over the coming years.

What Will Be Built Besides the Golf Course?

Esplanade at Rivergrass is planned as much more than a golf course surrounded by homes.

Taylor Morrison currently plans amenities that include:

• Resort-style swimming pool
• Bahama Bar
• Culinary Center
• Wellness Center
• Fitness center
• Toasted Café
• Pickleball courts
• Tennis courts
• Bocce courts
• Bark Park
• Golf pro shop
• Golf practice facilities
• Community trails
• Lifestyle programming and resident events

These amenities are part of Taylor Morrison’s broader Esplanade resort-lifestyle concept.

Not every amenity will necessarily be completed at the same time as the first homes, so buyers should confirm the expected construction and opening schedule for specific facilities before purchasing.

New Homes Are Coming Alongside the Golf Lifestyle

Esplanade at Rivergrass is expected to offer both single-family homes and condominiums.

Current preliminary information indicates single-family homes ranging from approximately 1,580 to 4,591 square feet, with homes offering roughly two to six bedrooms depending on the floor plan.

Condominiums are expected to provide approximately 1,616 to 1,632 square feet, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Preliminary pricing across the community is expected to begin in the $400s, with larger single-family residences extending beyond $1 million.

Because sales have not fully launched, pricing, homesites, upgrades and availability can change before and after the community officially opens.

When Will Esplanade at Rivergrass Open?

Taylor Morrison currently anticipates opening Esplanade at Rivergrass in early 2027.

That date remains an anticipated opening rather than a guarantee.

Large new communities can experience changes in construction schedules because of weather, permitting, materials, infrastructure work and other factors.

However, the amount of visible golf-course progress during 2026 provides a much clearer indication that Rivergrass is moving toward that target.

Why Buyers May Want to Follow Construction Now

The period before a new community officially opens can be especially interesting for prospective buyers.

As development progresses, Taylor Morrison is expected to release additional information concerning:

• Final floor plans
• Model-home openings
• Homesite maps
• Pricing
• HOA fees
• Golf fees and membership structure
• Design options
• Builder incentives
• Inventory homes
• Estimated completion dates

Buyers who understand the community before these releases occur may be better prepared to compare the first available homesites and floor plans.

That doesn’t necessarily mean buying during the first release is always the best financial decision.

Later releases can sometimes produce different pricing or incentives.

The advantage is simply being informed enough to recognize an opportunity when one appears.

What Should Golf Buyers Watch Closely?

One of the biggest unanswered questions for many prospective buyers will be the final golf membership and fee structure.

Golf communities in Southwest Florida can operate very differently from one another.

Some include golf through bundled membership arrangements, while others use separate memberships, initiation fees or optional programs.

Those details can have a major effect on the true monthly and annual cost of owning a home.

Before purchasing, buyers should verify exactly what golf privileges accompany the particular property they are considering.

Esplanade at Rivergrass Construction Updates

Because Rivergrass is still actively developing, this will not be our last construction update.

At EsplanadeFLRiverGrass.com, we plan to follow the project as it moves from construction toward its anticipated opening.

Future updates will cover:

• Golf-course construction
• Model-home construction
• Community entrance progress
• Amenity construction
• Homesite releases
• New floor plans
• Condo construction
• Single-family home construction
• Pricing
• Builder incentives
• Golf membership information
• HOA and community fees
• Grand-opening announcements

Interested in Esplanade at Rivergrass?

If you’re considering buying in Esplanade at Rivergrass, it’s worth beginning your research before the community officially opens.

New-construction buyers should also speak with their real estate professional before registering with or visiting the builder for the first time, because builder policies regarding buyer-agent registration can vary.

Team Mastra can help you compare Rivergrass with other new-construction and golf communities throughout Southwest Florida.

Gerard Mastrapasqua
Team Mastra
Realty ONE Group MVP
Serving Southwest Florida
(239) 329-0918

EsplanadeFLRiverGrass.com is an independent real estate information website and is not the official website of Taylor Morrison, Esplanade or the Town of Big Cypress. Construction schedules, floor plans, pricing, golf information, amenities, opening dates, association fees and builder incentives are subject to change. Buyers should independently verify current information before purchasing.