Pine Ridge is a distinctive unincorporated community in central Citrus County, Florida, known as one of the region’s premier equestrian residential communities. Unlike the golf-focused retirement communities that define much of Citrus County’s master-planned residential market, Pine Ridge is built around large lots — a minimum of one acre per parcel — horse trails winding through the community, and a lifestyle orientation toward horses, country living, and outdoor recreation on large private properties.
Pine Ridge is not a resort. It is a genuine rural-residential community where residents keep horses, maintain large lawns and gardens, and value the privacy and space that the one-acre minimum lot requirement provides. For buyers who have always wanted land-oriented Florida living — without HOA restrictions on outbuildings, horses, or property use — Pine Ridge is one of the few true equestrian communities on the Gulf Coast corridor.
The Equestrian Lifestyle in Pine Ridge
The equestrian character of Pine Ridge is established by both the community’s physical layout and its deed restrictions: minimum one-acre lot sizes, community horse trails connecting properties through the neighborhood, and the Pine Ridge Equestrian Center at the community’s core. The equestrian center provides boarding, riding arenas, and facilities for residents with horses — a centralized equestrian infrastructure that supports the property owners who keep horses on their own acreage and those who board at the center.
The trail system through Pine Ridge allows residents to ride horses directly from their property through the community trail network — an unusual amenity in Florida, where horse-friendly residential communities with connected trail infrastructure are rare. For buyers relocating from equestrian communities in the Northeast or Midwest, Pine Ridge represents a Gulf Coast equivalent at a fraction of the cost.
The community’s orientation toward horses and large-lot living creates a character distinct from the golf and country club communities to the north. Buyers choose Pine Ridge specifically because of the equestrian lifestyle, the privacy of an acre-plus lot, and the freedom to use their property in ways that deed-restricted subdivisions and HOA-managed communities typically prohibit.
Pine Ridge Real Estate
Pine Ridge real estate is primarily single-family homes on one-acre-plus lots — the minimum lot size is preserved by the community’s deed restrictions, which gives the community its distinctive low-density character. Home sizes range from modest to substantial, reflecting the wide price range of properties in an unincorporated community without the homebuilder uniformity of a master-planned resort development.
Prices in Pine Ridge generally fall within the Citrus County range — approximately $270,000 to $400,000 for the majority of homes, with higher prices for larger properties, enhanced equestrian improvements (barns, arenas, paddocks on the property itself), and superior lot positions. The value relative to comparable equestrian-oriented communities in the Tampa Bay area or the Ocala/Marion County equestrian market is significant — Citrus County property values run well below those markets for comparable land and home quality.
Buyers evaluating Pine Ridge should factor in the private well and septic systems typical in this low-density rural-residential community, the cost of maintaining larger lots, and the condition and capacity of any equestrian improvements on specific properties being considered. The extended days on market that characterize Citrus County apply in Pine Ridge — a specialized buyer pool means longer marketing times, which benefits buyers who have time to evaluate options carefully.
Location and Access
Pine Ridge sits in the central Citrus County area, with access via the county road network connecting to US 19 and SR 44. The community is positioned roughly between Beverly Hills and Inverness, with Crystal River’s Gulf Coast waterfront approximately 15 to 20 miles to the west.
The Nature Coast outdoor recreation that defines Citrus County — manatee swimming at Kings Bay, scalloping in the Gulf, inshore fishing from Homosassa and Crystal River, the Withlacoochee State Trail, and the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes — is all within reasonable driving distance from Pine Ridge. The community’s central position makes it an accessible base for exploring the full range of Citrus County’s outdoor amenities.
Tampa is approximately 75 to 90 minutes via the Suncoast Parkway (SR 589), with the Phase 2 extension completed in August 2025 improving the drive from the central Citrus County area. Pine Ridge is not a commuter community — residents here are primarily working remotely, retired, or employed in the local economy.
Schools in Pine Ridge / Citrus County
Pine Ridge is served by the Citrus County School District (B grade from the state). The district’s schools serving the central Citrus County area include Lecanto High School — ranked #330 in Florida, the district’s top-performing high school. The district’s B-grade performance reflects solid achievement relative to comparable rural-to-suburban Florida counties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Ridge FL
Is Pine Ridge FL an equestrian community?
Yes — Pine Ridge is one of the few established equestrian residential communities on Florida’s Gulf Coast corridor. The community features minimum one-acre lot sizes, a community horse trail network, and the Pine Ridge Equestrian Center providing boarding and riding facilities. Residents can keep horses on their own property and access the trail system directly from their lots.
What is the minimum lot size in Pine Ridge FL?
One acre is the minimum lot size in Pine Ridge — preserved by the community’s deed restrictions. This minimum lot requirement is what creates the community’s distinctive low-density character and makes it viable for horses and large-property rural living within Citrus County.
How far is Pine Ridge FL from Crystal River?
Approximately 15 to 20 miles east of Crystal River — about a 20 to 25 minute drive to the Kings Bay waterfront, Three Sisters Springs, and Crystal River’s commercial area. The Nature Coast’s outdoor recreation is fully accessible from a Pine Ridge address.
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