Mark Bellissimo hasn’t always been the most popular person in Wellington, Fla. That’s the case even though he revitalized the Winter Equestrian Festival when he bought and improved its showgrounds, and established a special venue for dressage nearby.
Resident Ann Schneeberger explained on social media a year ago why some in town are bitter about him: “After years of ignoring restrictions, bending & breaking rules, lack of maintenance on his properties, accumulating fines…and dismissal of anyone who challenged him, many of us are not willing to forgive and forget.”
So when plans were revealed for removing Equestrian Village, home of the Global Dressage showgrounds, from the Equestrian Preserve and changing the zoning to allow development of The Wellington, a high-end golf community, residents expressed concern about the extent of Bellissimo’s involvement.
During hearings about the development, it was maintained more than once by Wellington Lifestyle Partners’ CEO Doug McMahon that Bellissimo was not playing a major role in the entity seeking the development. Yet many were skeptical.
Mark Bellissimo with FEI President Ingmar de Vos and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
At a session on the project in January 2024, Councilman John McGovern asked McMahon about the “10,000-pound gorilla in the room: Is this going to be a project run and operated by Mark Bellissimo?”
“No,” McMahon replied firmly. But during more than 70 hours of hearings on the project, Bellissimo’s daughter, Paige Bellissimo Nunez, was often in evidence, answering questions and supplying information.
In November 2023, after the Wellington Village Council voted to take land out of the Equestrian Preserve for the golf development, former Councilman Micheal Drahos (now a member of the Village Planning, Zoning and Adjustment board) contended with what turned out to be a startlingly inaccurate insight, “Mark Bellissimo is out of gas. To his credit, I think he has recognized that what he wishes to accomplish in this town he can’t get done.”
How far from the truth that turned out to be. Hardly out of gas, Bellissimo is operating on high-octane, accomplishing everything he set out to do.
On Tuesday, it was announced the Wellington Lifestyle Partners, branded as a real estate development and hospitality company, has expanded its partnership as its portfolio grew to include the Wellington International showgrounds and operations, and the Wellington, its new private residential club community developed by NEXUS Luxury Collection. Bellissimo, who had sold the showgrounds three years ago to Global Equestrian Group, bought it back last fall in conjunction with some of the original partners.
Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay and a shareholder in WLP with Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lourie, Roger Smith and NEXUS, has made another significant investment in the partnership. He is an active horse owner in support of Olympic-caliber riders.
Also joining WLP is Michael Smith, a former president of the Upperville, Va., Colt and Horse Show. Smith, who ran the second-largest independent rendering operation in the U.S. before retiring, is an amateur rider and owns several horses being ridden by Olympic multi-medalist McLain Ward.
“We are thrilled to have the support of our existing and new shareholders as we invest broadly in the Village, creating The Wellington club community with NEXUS and expanding the showgrounds,” Bellissimo stated in a press release.
“Ensuring Wellington is the quality standard for equestrian living is our goal.”
The Wellington, the new 400-acre luxury residential club community featuring 253 residences, along with championship golf and an array of sporting and wellness amenities, offers five types of housing, from custom estate homes and equestrian villas to four-acre equestrian farm estates.
The community’s golf course and amenities are being designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd of DMK Golf Design, known for his work at Bandon Dunes, Mammoth Dunes and Fancourt. The community’s master plan and core amenities are being designed by noted architecture and design firm Workshop/APD.
WLP will be launching a Founder’s program this month, inviting the first families interested in joining the club community and establishing a home in The Wellington, and will be staggering the release of its real estate offerings.
In addition to The Wellington, the company’s Village of Wellington portfolio includes The Wanderers Club, other land holdings and now Wellington International, the showgrounds home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and other horse shows.
“Speaking for all the shareholders, we are committed to Wellington long-term and creating assets here of the highest quality,” stated Skoll.
“The Wellington will be a world-class lifestyle community within Palm Beach County and will enhance Wellington’s position as the premier horse sport community in the world,” he contended.