Discover Melrose: Putnam County’s Artsy Lakeside Haven

Welcome to Melrose — Putnam County’s beloved **Artsy Lakeside Haven**, where creativity flows as freely as the water in Santa Fe Lake and every sunset feels like a private gallery opening. This is the town that artists, musicians, writers, and free spirits have quietly called home for generations — a place where Thursday night music jams at the Melrose Center are sacred, where Gallery 26 showcases world-class talent, and where looking out your window feels like watching live Wilderness TV: herons stalking the shallows, otters playing tag, and the occasional bald eagle soaring overhead.

Melrose is built around its lakes — Santa Fe Lake, Lake Geneva, and a dozen smaller gems — offering swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and some of the clearest water you’ll find in North Florida. Add in monthly Art Walks, a thriving creative community, and a location just 20 minutes from Gainesville’s culture and 45 minutes from the coast, and you have the perfect blend of laid-back lake life and artistic energy.

At Coldwell Banker Ben Bates, we know every dock, every artist’s retreat, and every hidden lakefront gem in Melrose. Whether you’re an artist seeking inspiration, a family wanting lake access and great schools, or a retiree ready to trade the city for porch swings and dulcimer music, we’ll help you find your perfect piece of this creative lakeside paradise.

Melrose began in the 1840s as a pioneer settlement along the Bellamy Road, quickly growing into a lakefront community known for its clear waters and fertile land. By the early 1900s, it had earned a reputation as an artist and writer colony — a tradition that continues stronger than ever today. The Melrose Bay area, with its protected coves and spring-fed clarity, became a haven for musicians, painters, and free thinkers who built studios and cottages beneath the oaks.

The town’s creative soul lives on in Gallery 26, the Melrose Center’s legendary Thursday night music jams, and the dozens of working artists who call Melrose home. This is old Florida creativity at its finest — unpretentious, welcoming, and utterly inspiring.

Watch Melrose Creative Life

Santa Fe Lake & Water Adventures

Swim, kayak, paddleboard, or fish one of North Florida’s clearest lakes. Public beach at Speedville Park, private docks on many homes.

Arts & Culture

Gallery 26 art shows, Thursday night music jams at the Melrose Center, monthly Art Walks — creativity is the heartbeat of Melrose.

Rooterville Animal Sanctuary

Meet rescued pigs, cows, and goats — a favorite for families and animal lovers.

Melrose offers lakefront and lake-view homes starting in the mid-$200Ks — one of the last truly affordable artsy lake communities in North Florida. Perfect for creatives, families, retirees, and anyone who wants inspiration on their doorstep and Gainesville just 20 minutes away.

Coldwell Banker Ben Bates agents know every dock, every artist’s retreat, and every off-market gem in Melrose. Let us help you find your creative lakeside haven.

Browse Melrose Lake Homes

Frequently Asked Questions