First-Ever Residential/Golf Resort Planned for Belize

BELIZE CITY, Belize, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Smugglers Run Plantation, a 1,000-acre master-planned community, is being introduced here this week as the English-speaking country's first-ever destination resort with a championship golf course.

"Belize has long been known for its exquisite beauty, world-class diving and fishing," said J. Trevor Miles, president and CEO. "With our new resort, it also will soon be known for affordable luxury living and championship golf, all with a strong Belizean flavor."

Smugglers Run Plantation will include 600 town homes and duplex villas, 339 private estate lots, 26 equestrian estate lots, 22 executive estate lots, 540 deluxe condominiums, 200 themed condominiums, a 200-room all suite hotel, a 77-room themed all-suites hotel, spa and a town center with retail shopping and cinema. A separate five-acre parcel also will include 100 luxury sea-view condominiums, waterfront access featuring a marina with 240 slips (60 wet/180 dry) and a beach club component.

Current real estate opportunities range in price from $59,000 to more than $1 million. Owners will have the option to buy a golf membership for approximately $20,000.

Construction on the 18-hole golf course -- designed by Arthur Hills of Toledo, Ohio-based Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates -- is set to begin in January 2008. Due to open in early 2009, the 7,223-yard, par 72 layout will be the first golf course to be designed by an internationally renowned architect in the country's history, and will be complemented by a 34,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Formerly known by British Honduras, Belize is located on the Caribbean Sea, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala, and is growing in popularity as a retirement destination for those seeking a lower cost of living, particularly for residents of the U.S. and Canada. The country's Retired Person's Incentive Program allows qualifying individuals to live free of Belize taxes.

Another major plus is Belize's subtropical climate with an annual mean temperature of 79 degrees. The humidity is seldom oppressive and nicely tempered by cooling sea breezes.

The resort is an easy 20-minute drive to the Belize International Airport (BZE), close to city businesses, hotels, and restaurants, and to the Belize Tourism Village where the cruise ships arrive daily. It is approximately two hours from five major U.S. gateways: Dallas, Miami, Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.

For more information, call toll-free (800) 813-7734, visit http://www.smugglersrunplantation.com/ or e-mail info@smugglersrunplantation.com.
Website: http://www.smugglersrunplantation.com/

I thought Caye Chapel was the first residential/golf resort in Belize.

Caye Chapel has no residential units...except for the employees. They have rental units.