ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A space dedicated to all things golf? Or a mixed-use development comprised of living facilities, retail stores and restaurants?
Those are the proposals on the table for a possible revamp of World Golf Village in St. Johns County, which were advanced by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday.
The proposals, which the county says were submitted on July 31, include a golf-centric development, titled “Golftopia,” and “The Fountains at World Golf Village,” which is described as a mixed-use development.
Jacksonville Today writes that the two companies behind the proposals are several companies affiliated with South Florida real estate developer Mario Caprini (Golftopia) and Cross Regions Real Estate, which is run by local businessman David Ergisi.
Golftopia
In the proposal for Golftopia, the development is described as a “family-friendly, golf-inspired entertainment and lifestyle district.”
Developers provided St. Johns County officials with what they hope to achieve with the project, which includes:
Enhancing public access and walkability
Maintaining the area’s park-like character and heritage
Supporting economic resilience through job creation and tourism
Meeting community needs for recreational, educational, and cultural experiences
Respecting the site’s architectural integrity and environmental footprint
The project also intends to include services like quick-play Par 3 courses, foot golf, disc golf, virtual golf, multiple mini-golf courses, a driving range, and more.
Rendering of “Golftopia” in proposal delivered to St. Johns County commissioners on Tuesday. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
The project’s proposal states that, if approved, construction on “Golftopia” would begin in July 2028 and wrap up by November 2029.
The Fountains at World Golf Village
Cross Regions Real Estate is the developer behind the “Fountains at World Golf Village,” which seeks to become the second major project completed by Ergisi’s company. The first was the Fountains at St. Johns, located near Durbin Park and Nocatee.
The proposal states the Cross Regions plans to include a surgical center, independent living community, retail stores, restaurants, and a commercial space “leveraging on the name recognition and existing layout of the World Golf Village design.”
“This will serve the public’s interest by providing the second upscale dining, shopping, healthcare, and living campus created by Cross Regions in St. Johns County,” the proposal reads. “Providing desirable retail opportunities, destination specialty medical providers, fresh dining options, and an integrated health and wellness platform based on the Tyme Institute, with an emphasis on preventive care and individualized treatment.”
Rendering of the “Fountains at World Golf Village.” (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
If approved, Cross Regions said it plans to have full operations up and running by October 2027.
Jacksonville Today writes that both proposals for World Golf Village include plans for the portion of the property that St. Johns County already owns and leases to private entities, as well as the 36-acre chunk of the property — including the lake at its center — that still belongs to the World Golf Foundation.
Each proposal presented on Tuesday was the first phase of a two-pronged process that St. Johns County requires for public-private partnerships.
Those who were present for the meeting agreed to move both Golftopia and Fountains at World Golf Village to the next step, where the developers will return to the County Commission with more in-depth plans.
Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
