Escape Tampa Bay Tiny Home Community Opens In Thonotosassa

THONOTOSASSA, FL — Hillsborough County residents who want to downsize, declutter and simplify their lives have a new alternative.

Escape Homes — a pioneer of the tiny home movement with designs that Forbes called “the world’s most beautiful” — debuted Escape Tampa Bay Village in Thonotosassa, just off Interstate 75, this month.

This community of 10 eco-efficient tiny homes features outdoor living and work-at-home space within a park-like setting.

“People are calling us every day seeking a new type of lifestyle,” said Dan Dobrowolski, founder of the Wisconsin-based Escape Homes. “They still want a beautiful home, but they want to simplify, save money and find a safe haven.”

Dobrowolski, a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa and former TV anchor on WFLA-TV in Tampa, enlisted the expertise of Frank Lloyd Wright protégé John Rattenbury and Kelly Davis, an award-winning architect, to design these alternative homes 25 years ago. All homes are hand-crafted at Escape Homes' plant in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Surrounded by tropical landscaping and featuring open floor plans, outdoor decks for each unit and a panorama of windows that draw the outdoors in, each tiny home is tucked into its own little setting within the village to offer privacy and tranquility.

Featuring indoor and outdoor community work and relaxation spaces, the homes, ranging from 260 square feet to 650 square feet, are available for purchase and can be used as full-time residences or vacation homes.

Escape Tampa Bay Village is Dobrowolski’s second tiny home community development. He opened Canoe Bay Escape Village last year in northwest Wisconsin.

Designs include the Escape One XL, featuring an exterior of native cypress, a well-equipped first-floor kitchen and dining area and a multi-purpose living room with entertainment center. A staircase leads to a second floor with over 5-foot ceilings featuring two separate sleeping, office or playroom areas connected by a skywalk. Additional features include a fireplace, laundry center, large bathroom with two-headed glass-enclosed tile shower and patio doors leading to a private deck.

The Escape Traveler XL and XLS Wide have many of the same features as the One XL models but also features a first-floor private queen-size bedroom, full-size bathroom, living area with big-screen TV and floor-to-ceiling windows. There is also a large kitchen with stone counter tops and a multi-purpose table, a laundry center and a front loft bedroom.

The Escape Boho XL features sustainably-grown pine wood walls, kitchen with maple cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, a living/dining/work area with LED lighting, solid butcher block table, fold flat couch, washer/dryer and full-size bathroom.

Most designs can sleep from two to six people and are handcrafted with high-efficiency insulation and climate control options that allow them to withstand the heat and humidity of Florida.

Escape Tampa Bay Village has been designed as a more affordable alternative to apartment living where the owners not only save money monthly but also build equity.

Home prices range from $69,000 to $164,000, and can be purchased for as low as $465 a month plus a $472 average monthly lot rental fee that includes water, sewer and garbage/recycling and designated parking. This total cost of $937 is more than 30 percent less than the average apartment rental rate in Tampa of $1,359 a month.

To learn more, email sales@escapetampabay.com or call 844-696-3722.