Many longtime residents of Southwest Florida have never heard of Ave Maria, a quaint town situated between Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge on the edge of the Everglades National Park. In fact, it is a delightful community that is growing by leaps and bounds.
Ave Maria’s Town Center
This planned college town was founded in 2005 around the spectacular Ave Maria Oratory Church, which gave the town its name. Ave Maria opened its doors in 2007 and features a central city center, the Town Center, hosting free concerts and events throughout the year. The Town Center includes over 40 shops, restaurants, and services.
Photo courtesy Ave Maria
Photo credit Debi Pittman Wilkey
On the façade of the Ave Maria Oratory Church building is a 30-foot high Annunciation sculpture depicting the Archangel Gabriel greeting Mary with the words “Ave Marie”. This modern Roman Catholic Church has a steel structure and features many gold statues. It was funded by philanthropist Tom Monaghan, founder of the Domino’s Pizza chain.
Around the plaza, pristine streets are lined with small shops in the town center along with a Publix supermarket. Radiating out from this nucleus to the west you will find the Ave Maria University, a lively catholic university offering a classical liberal arts curriculum.
Photo courtesy Ave Maria University
The Rhodora J. Donahue K-12 Academy, Lake Park, and North Park are located to the north of the town. The Water Park is within biking distance to the town center as well. The south extends to include Hampton Village homes, an 80-acre park of commerce, Del Webb Naples and the championship Panther Run Golf Club. Pulte Homes and CC Homes both offer several new home designs in the Avalon Park and Maple Ridge neighborhoods. And in 2021 Lennar’s new community, The National Golf & Country Club.
Dining Out in Ave Maria
Scattered around the central Annunciation Circle in Ave Maria Town Center you will find a number of restaurants, and cafes including the Pub & Grill of Ave Maria, Avecado’s, Meltz Ice Cream, OASIS The Kitchen Lounge, Tropical Smoothie, Oil Well Craft Beer, and Lozano’s Mexican Restaurant.
Photo credit Debi Pittman Wilkey
The Bean of Ave Maria is popular with both residents and students from the university.
For a healthy lunch, order the smoothie/sandwich combo at the Tropical Smoothie Café. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, try The Pub and Grille at Ave Maria, which has a friendly atmosphere, excellent ratings and is open 7 days a week.