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Saddle Up for World-Class Luxury and Equine Culture in North Florida

Roland Micu quickly reaches for a Richebourg 2017 Pinot Noir. He has been asked what item in his collection he most admires and this is the one: A bottle from the famed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti estate that sells for $4,000 USD. It is displayed among the elite labels Micu has helped to accrue for Stirrups, the flagship restaurant at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) — a resplendent place that is as full of quirks as it is touches of finery and splendor.

A master sommelier, Micu secured the bottle in Miami at a horizontal tasting of Burgundy’s favorite varietal. Purchased in February, the pinot noir sits waiting for its final resting chalice. It is among the many special gems that those who arrive at the WEC can admire, if not sample, even though fine dining may not be what most people think about when they first learn of the place. The WEC is first and foremost a celebration of equine culture. It’s raw and regal, a mix of dirt and diamonds that provides a guest experience studded with delights.

Launched in 2020 by the entrepreneurial Roberts family, who built a trucking empire that allowed their children to deepen their interest in pricey pursuits, the WEC is the rare destination that retains the charms and personality of a small business while lavishing its guests in grandeur. Located 90 minutes north of Disney World, it feels like a magic kingdom in its own way.

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Master sommelier Roland Micu shows his favorite bottle in the World Equestrian Center collection: a 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. At top, the Equestrian Hotel’s amenities include an attractive pool where guests can relax before or after taking in equine showcases. (Adrian Brijbassi photos for VacayNetwork.com)

The love of show jumping propelled the creation of the WEC in Ocala, a small city in North Florida that dubs itself as the “Horse Capital of the World”, while the appreciation of exquisite things allows Micu to bring pearls like his coveted pinot to the guests who may spend the days in dust, denim, and leather but slide on gold and jewels for the culinary pleasures at the property’s Equestrian Hotel.

“The vision is so admirable,” Micu says of the WEC’s ownership. “To be so ambitious to build it and to believe in it and to have only the highest standard is very unique. And I feel fortunate to have guests who have the ability to buy wines like these.”

More than 400 horses call the 10,000-square-foot property home and that number can easily quadruple on any given weekend when national and world competitions in dressage, paso fino, and show jumping are held in big outdoor arenas covered with a cream-colored sand created by the WEC or in one of the indoor venues where spectators can sit elbow to thigh with passing horses who compete in a ring fenced with white plywood and stakes. More than likely, some of the competitors will make it to Paris in 2024 for the Olympic Games. The spectators are ranchers and farmhands, trainers and passionate followers who venture from near and far to see the best of the four-legged athletes and the humans who guide them by the rein.

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The rear of the Equestrian Hotel faces onto a large outdoor arena where competitions and concerts are held. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for VacayNetwork.com)

What the WEC offers them is the Kentucky Derby for equestrian lovers. (There is no horse racing on the property, though polo grounds are among the many projects in the works.) The four-star, 390-room Riding Academy Hotel is scheduled to debut in 2024, preceding a planned 180,000-square-foot event center and 80,000-square-foot retail space in 2025. In the meantime, there is much to enjoy at the Equestrian Hotel and the shops and restaurants either inside of it or within a few minutes’ walk. Along with Stirrups, they include: the Yellow Pony featuring a circular bar with some saddles for seats; luxury shops like Lugano Diamonds; an adorable toy store with life-size stuffed baby giraffes and a tall grizzly singing “The Bear Necessities”; and an ice cream and sweet treats shop that will persuade the most diet conscious. Except for the Lugano outlet, the retailers are unique to the WEC, adding to the family feeling of the resort. The décor is replete with equine fashion, designs, and motifs, as well as plenty of canine inspirations — an homage to the other four-legged animals beloved by the Roberts clan.

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At the Equestrian Hotel, horse portraits are among the whimsical items that will surely catch your eye. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for VacayNetwork.com)

The rooms are what you would expect: elegant, comfortable, meticulously decorated. In several rooms, windows allow guests to peer onto one of the competition arenas and the gleaming white terraces facing it. Events such as the Ocala Food and Wine Festival (November 3-5) attract large crowds and national and international culinary stars.

The WEC is the number one reason someone should visit Ocala — it’s a remarkable destination hotel that has ambitions for an even more massive tourism footprint — and it is also benefitting other businesses as more horse aficionados and luxury travelers arrive. The city’s downtown is 20 minutes by car away. It has a notable history — many of its first business owners from the mid-1800s were freed Black slaves — and an exciting present.

Kaitlyn Butler from Brick City Food Tours guides her clients through downtown Ocala’s top dining spots while explaining how construction projects and large-scale renovations have attracted a number of newcomers to the town, and sparked a noteworthy dining scene.

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Albert Bartlett brings his style, personality, and pedigree for culinary excellence to Stella’s Modern Pantry in downtown Ocala. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for VacayNetwork.com)

At the top of the list is Stella’s Modern Pantry, an affable eatery and shop that specializes in carefully curated artisanal food and cooking items. Jamaican-born co-owner Albert Bartlett, a former traveling pastry chef for the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain and a member of the culinary team at two Olympic Games, describes Stella’s as a place with global flavors and a touch of Caribbean flair. Bartlett’s personality resonates in his establishment that was named for a departed friend who encouraged him to embrace small-business ownership. What he has created is a high-quality, no-pretense experience that will resonate with any foodie.

It blends in with the rest of the city’s downtown, which is laid-back and community-oriented. Ocala is also in the midst of a rejuvenation. New hotels and other fresh infrastructure are attracting an increasingly diverse group of people, and that dynamic has helped to build an interesting restaurant scene, Butler notes. Those projects are also spurring art and culture in the area, making Ocala a good choice for a respite from the commercialization and crowds that saturate the Orlando theme parks.

For those seeking a touch of Florida that is rich with farms and nature, and isn’t yet under the pressure of mass tourism, Ocala is a destination to consider. You may come ready to saddle up and explore the WEC but it’s likely you’ll feel gratified as you expand your journey in one of the Sunshine State’s more lightly trodden locales.

MORE ABOUT VISITING OCALA

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A mural of a black bear is one of the notable cultural additions to downtown Ocala. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for VacayNetwork.com)

Where to Dine: Other than the WEC and Stella’s, notable dining spots include Sayulita Taqueria, specializing in Mexican street food, and Ivy on the Square. Both are family-owned businesses that are adored by residents.

What to Do: Kayaking on Rainbow River at KP Hole Park is extremely pleasant. The waters are calm and there’s a small estuary where you can slip through, passing mangroves and cypress trees. It’s an easy-to-love outdoor activity that will only take a couple of hours to complete.

Dubbed Florida’s fastest, best, and safest zipline experience, the Big Cliffs Canyon Zipline lives up to its reputation. The nine-zipline circuit includes a crossing over a wide lake that will steal your attention for as many seconds as you allow. The best part of the three-hour experience may be the exceptional safety precautions. There are redundancies galore as safety checks are conducted and communicated among the guides and with the guests. It demonstrates a level of professionalism you’d expect in an airline cockpit or airport communications tower.

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Paddleboarders ply the waters at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for VacayNetwork.com)

For a more touristy, and much shorter, outing, take the 30-minute glass-bottom boat tour at Silver Springs State Park. The trip reveals fascinating and beautiful waters formed from aquifers, and explains the importance of Silver Springs to the Indigenous Seminole people. Notably, the waters are so clear that the area was once a hot spot for movie-making — largely because filming beneath the surface is reliable. ABC Productions once owned the area until shifting operations to a lot in California. Films shot at Silver Springs include the 1930s-era Tarzan movies and two James Bond blockbusters.

MORE ABOUT THE EQUESTRIAN HOTEL

Location: 8510 NW 17th Lane, Ocala, Florida (see map below)
Room Rates: A weekend night in December starts at $331 USD, according to a recent search on the hotel’s website.

Adrian is the founder of VacayNetwork.com and Vacay.ca, and the co-founder of the travel-trivia app, Trippzy. A former editor at the Toronto Star and New York Newsday, Adrian has won numerous awards for his travel writing and fiction. He has worked with leading destination marketing organizations, developing digital and social media strategies, and providing them with content marketing solutions. He has visited more than 40 countries and spearheaded the Vacay.ca 20 Best Places to Visit in Canada annual list that debuted in 2012.