Serene country living on 9.41 gorgeous, wooded acres can now be yours! Nestled deep in the heart of Manatee County's most popular equestrian community, Panther Ridge, a custom Mark Cahill 3-bedroom 2 bath, plus den home is ready and waiting for you. The popular Great Room floor plan includes vaulted ceilings, skylight, brick fireplace, custom kitchen with wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances (double convection oven), granite countertops, vinyl plank flooring, a heated pool and spa, lots of storage PLUS an extra deep 20' x 28' side load garage. This charming home is surrounded by towering pine, oak, and huge mango trees. Take a dip in the heated poly pebble pool (gas AND solar,), with a travertine pavered deck and tongue-in-groove wood ceiling lanai, then enjoy a meal on the composite deck overlooking the spring-fed pond. For a relaxing afternoon, anchor your boat in the middle of the pond, bring a pole and enjoy some fishing! The Owner's Suite has sliders leading to the pool, a large walk-in closet, and a lovely Spa Bathroom with a soaking tub and Roman walk-in shower. The home also includes a formal dining room and a roomy breakfast nook with large picture windows. The 2 guest bedrooms share a bathroom, and one of the guest bedrooms includes a walk-in closet. There is also a good size laundry room. A new roof was put on in 2018, a pad for a barn/workshop is in place, and the filter & pool pump was replaced in 2021. The HOA allows 3 buildings, so if you need a barn/workshop you can add it. Panther Ridge offers charming country living with estate-property distinction. Its natural setting evokes 'old Florida' and is vast enough for residents to enjoy horseback riding, elaborate gardens, and complete privacy. There are four equestrian communities on the north side of ST RD 70 totaling approximately 1600 acres and there is a park featuring a horse-riding area, basketball court, baseball area, and park equipment plus a covered area for picnicking. On the South side of St Rd 70 there are 3,000 +/- acres with 3 neighborhoods. Hiking and riding trails cover approximately 15 miles of gorgeous land such as oak filled hammocks, bridges over meandering creeks, and wide-open spaces highlighted by towering pine. Panther Ridge is contiguous to Lakewood Ranch, which means you are just minutes away from an amazing master-planned community that is really the size of a town. At 50 square miles, it is filled with shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, nature, recreational facilities, golf courses and top-notch schools. Lakewood Ranch has been designed to include eight designated shopping districts, rich with local boutiques, retail outlets and restaurants. Free concerts, wine festivals, celebrity golf tournaments and performing arts displays are just a few of the local events. The community offers top-tier public schools, many of which have earned A-ratings. Charter and private options are also available, as well as numerous colleges and universities. Schools, shopping, medical facilities, restaurants...That is all very important to Panther Ridge residents, but the reason people want to live here is simple- there is nothing that can compare to living on a 9+ acre homesite, sitting on the front porch and soaking in the peace and quiet. It is a rare commodity in a very busy world, where space and the privacy it affords is very hard to come by. Living large on a big and very private piece of land? Now THAT’S living!