Aug 24, 2026
Clay Hill Planned as 550-Acre Luxury Wellness Resort in Pasco and Hernando Counties
Clay Hill is planned for 550 acres in Pasco and Hernando counties, featuring a 130-key luxury resort, wellness spa, equestrian center, and estate-style homes, with construction possibly starting in.
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- Clay Hill is being planned across roughly 550 acres near Clay Hill Road and the I-75/Blanton Road interchange in Pasco and Hernando counties.
- The proposed destination would include a 130-key luxury resort, wellness amenities (yoga, meditation, sauna, cold plunge), restaurants, a chapel, an equestrian center and roughly 50 estate-style homes on 1- to 2-acre homesites.
- About 80% of the property is expected to remain preserved, with plans focused on agriculture, open space, wellness and outdoor experiences.
- Tampa hospitality leaders Blake Casper and Allison Casper Adams are leading the early planning, with construction potentially beginning in 2028 and the first guests potentially arriving in 2030 if approvals move forward.
Clay Hill is being envisioned as a large-scale luxury wellness and hospitality destination spread across roughly 550 acres of rolling countryside straddling Pasco and Hernando counties, near Clay Hill Road and the I-75/Blanton Road interchange northeast of Dade City. The project would center around a 130-key resort surrounded by preserved landscape and amenities focused on wellness, food, outdoor recreation and a slower-paced experience. Planned components include wellness offerings (yoga, meditation, sauna and cold plunge), multiple restaurants, a chapel and an equestrian center. The residential component would feature roughly 50 estate-style homes on lots of about 1 to 2 acres, creating a low-density setting rather than a conventional residential subdivision.
What The Property Will Preserve
A major part of the Clay Hill concept is keeping much of the property undeveloped. Roughly 80% of the 550-acre site is expected to remain preserved, allowing the countryside to remain central to the guest experience. The land is currently controlled by the Evans family, a prominent Florida citrus and cattle-ranching family, and the development team plans to incorporate the property's agricultural history into the project, including a working farm supplying fresh food for the resort's kitchens.
What The Equestrian Experience Could Include
Horses are expected to be an important part of Clay Hill rather than simply a visual feature. Guests could potentially bring their own horses or ride on the property, with trail riding incorporated into the resort experience. Recreation plans also include biking, fishing, pickleball and padel.
What Inspired The Clay Hill Concept
The development team is looking to destination properties such as Blackberry Mountain in Tennessee and Soho Farmhouse in the English countryside for inspiration. Those destinations put as much emphasis on the surrounding landscape, food, wellness and outdoor activities as they do on accommodations. Clay Hill is being planned around a similar idea, with the countryside itself becoming part of the experience.
What The Development Timeline Looks Like
Clay Hill has not yet entered the formal approval process, and the Caspers Company has not yet closed on the land. The team has submitted a rezoning request in Pasco County and plans to follow with Hernando County. If the necessary approvals move forward, construction could begin in 2028, with the first guests potentially arriving in 2030. The project still has a significant approval process ahead, particularly because it would involve a large tract spanning two counties and combine hospitality, residential, agricultural and equestrian uses.