Mission Resort + Club

The roots of the resort stretch back to 1916 when William J. Howey embarked on an ambitious endeavor. He acquired 60,000 acres of prime Central Florida real estate to establish the world's largest horticultural empire with a grand vision. Capitalizing on the region's favorable climate and fertile soil, Howey planned to entice investors to buy land from him. They then engaged his company to clear the land, cultivate citrus orchards, oversee the harvest, and manage fruit shipments. Profits would be distributed back to the landowners.
Howey constructed a golf course to complement his inn to make his venture even more attractive and encourage growth. In 1917, he enlisted the services of George O'Neil from Chicago to design the course; thus, the Florida Chain-o-Lakes Country Club was born. This remarkable course featured exceptional tee-to-green elevations, soaring forests, and pristine spring-fed lakes, earning accolades as Florida's premier golfing destination.
In the mid-1920s, further enhancements were made to the course. However, the stock market crash, the subsequent Great Depression, and a devastating freeze in Florida in the late 1920s combined to thwart Howey's dream of a citrus empire.

In 1936, Illinois native Nick Beucher began his sales career with the Morton Salt Company in Chicago's western suburbs. He achieved top salesman status for four consecutive years. However, a leg injury during a local rodeo briefly interrupted his career. After recovering, Beucher decided to pursue a lifelong dream: a 1,400-mile horseback journey across Mexico, which he embarked on in 1939 at the age of 21.
Twenty-five years later, Beucher, now a husband, father, and successful cattle by-products trader, came across an ad in the Wall Street Journal that led him to purchase the neglected Floridan Country Club in Howey-in-the-Hills in 1964. Both the golf course and clubhouse were in dire need of repair.
In 1969, Beucher, inspired by the Spanish Colonial architecture he had admired during his time in Mexico, set out to transform the property into a resort. Over the years, the resort expanded to include a second golf course, freshwater fishing, a full-service spa, three restaurants, and 30,000 square feet of event space for meetings, weddings, and special events.

In January 2023, Mississippi-based MMI Hospitality Group, a family-owned company specializing in Southeastern hospitality ventures, acquired Mission Inn Resort & Club, a renowned Florida meeting and golf destination in Howey-in-the-Hills, Lake County, just 35 minutes from Orlando. This acquisition adds to MMI's extensive portfolio of hotels, resorts, and dining facilities across the Southeast.
Mission Resort + Club spans over 500 acres, featuring 176 hotel rooms, two award-winning golf courses, three restaurants, a spa, and 30,000+ sq. ft. of event space. The Beucher family had owned and managed the resort since 1964, overseeing multiple expansions and renovations. MMI plans phased property enhancements beginning in early 2023, respecting the resort's legacy and long-term growth potential.