Gen Z ‘country club’ Society Park to bring sports and luxury to former Wyndham site
A third project has been announced for the former Wyndham Orlando Resort property at 8001 International Drive.
Society Park, a sports and entertainment complex, signed a lease with Chuck Whittall’s Orlando-based Unicorp National Developments Inc. and New York-based Flag Luxury Group this year, and is working on setting a date for groundbreaking, said Vice President of Development Nayrouz Olarte.
Society Park will develop its complex on 2.4 acres of the former Wyndham property, a fraction of the overall 42-acre site undergoing a large-scale transformation. Whittall previously told Orlando Business Journal he intended the development to be “very dense,” a description that matches what we now know about the site.
In addition to Society Park, an InterContinental hotel will be one component of Unicorp’s mixed-use redevelopment of the property on International Drive. Further, sources with knowledge of the deal said a Kimpton Resorts & Hotels outpost —another one of IHG’s luxury brands — also will be built on the site.
Olarte described Society Park as a “Gen Z country club” — a modern take on the traditional model. The complex will blend sports, dining, shopping and entertainment, with nine padel courts, one exhibition court, two children’s courts and three pickleball courts.
Padel, a fast-growing sport, has seen rapid adoption in the U.S. The number of courts here grew from 180 in 2022 to 454 in 2023 — a 152% increase, according to Austin-based Padel Dynasty.
Planned amenities include a pro shop and spa. The entire project totals 92,531 square feet.
Two restaurants are planned, one 6,000 square feet and the larger 12,000 square feet. Though the names and details of the restaurants have not been announced, Olarte said one will be a fusion dining concept brought by a well-known Orlando restaurant group.
The larger restaurant will be 8,000 square feet on bottom floor and 4,000 square feet on a rooftop mezzanine.
“We want to bring more flare to International Drive, not just franchise names,” Olarte said.
Society Park is targeting a soft opening in April 2026. Construction will be led by Orlando-based Build Ventures, headed up by CEO Kait Doulou. Orlando’s Moxie Brands, led by founder and CEO Angela Robbins, is managing brand strategy and partnerships. Olarte noted that women were selected intentionally to lead several key aspects of the project, including construction and marketing.
Finfrock Construction LLC is the design/build contractor for the broader redevelopment at 8001 International Drive.
The complex will offer exclusive memberships, luxury amenities, sponsorships and professional tournaments. Society Park also plans to collaborate with local companies on corporate events. Leveraging Orlando’s reputation as a leading sports destination, the team aims to make the city a hub for international padel tournaments, said Olarte.
Society Park’s leadership also includes CEO Giovanny Olarte and Chief Financial Officer Francisco Levine. Giovanny Olarte is known for his prior leadership at Orlando’s Icon Park as director of events and alliances.
“We’re showing the renderings at this early stage because we want people to know this project is higher end than what you might expect of padel courts, which sometimes can be just a container in the back of a parking lot.,” said Nayrouz Olarte. “We’re being very selective about the restaurants coming in because we’re supportive of the local food scene. I love what everybody’s doing and want to bring that to International Drive.”