Bluegreen Corporation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBluegreen Corporation is an American vacation-ownership company operating resorts, points-based timeshare programs, and related vacation services.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Bluegreen Corporation is an American vacation-ownership business whose principal activity is the marketing, sale, and servicing of vacation-ownership interests through the Bluegreen Vacation Club. Customers generally acquire points connected to an ownership interest in a resort trust rather than purchasing a fixed week at one property. Those points can be used at participating Bluegreen resorts and, through exchange and partner arrangements, at a wider range of resorts, hotels, cruises, and other vacation experiences. The company began in 1966 as Patten Realty Corporation, a Massachusetts land-sales business founded by Harry Patten. Its early model involved acquiring large tracts of undeveloped or lightly developed land, subdividing them, and selling recreational or potential home sites to consumers. The business expanded from New England into other parts of the United States, went public in 1985, and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange the following year as Patten Corporation. During the late 1980s it experienced rapid growth, but it also faced investigations and adverse publicity concerning allegedly deceptive land-sale practices. In 1989, it reached settlements with several northeastern states that included a refund process for consumers able to demonstrate deception. After losses in 1989 and 1990, the company relocated its headquarters from Vermont to Boca Raton, Florida, in 1991 and restructured its operations. A strategic shift toward vacation ownership began under George F. Donovan, who became president and chief operating officer in 1993 and later succeeded Patten as chief executive. In 1994, the company organized separate land, timeshare, and home-sale activities and established the Bluegreen Resorts and Bluegreen Communities divisions. It adopted the Bluegreen Corporation name in 1996. The transition into timeshare accelerated through the development of MountainLoft in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a resort near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, followed by an oceanfront resort in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In 1997, Bluegreen acquired RDI Group, a vacation-ownership developer and operator. The transaction brought additional resorts and management contracts and contributed to the creation of the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a points-based program that became central to the business. Bluegreen also developed golf-course communities and opened daily-fee courses, combining resort operations with residential land development until the communities division was sold in 2012. During the 2000s, Bluegreen broadened its distribution and resort relationships. It formed a marketing relationship with Bass Pro Shops and promoted the Bluegreen Wilderness Club through Bass Pro's Big Cedar operation. It also allied with Boyne USA Resorts, expanded its resort footprint into markets including Montana, Michigan, Aruba, and Las Vegas, and acquired TakeMeOnVacation in 2002 to strengthen lead generation and direct marketing. From 2009 onward, the company increasingly offered development, management, sales, marketing, title, mortgage, and financial-services capabilities to other resort operators on a fee-for-service basis. In 2012, Bluegreen sold its Bluegreen Communities division to SouthStar Development Partners. The sale removed the residential-development business and left the company focused on vacation ownership. A proposed acquisition by Diamond Resorts was rejected that year. In 2013, Bluegreen entered an alliance with Choice Hotels International and merged with Woodbridge Holdings, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of BFC Financial Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation. The company later became part of Hilton Grand Vacations and is currently described as a wholly owned Hilton Grand Vacations subsidiary. Bluegreen's current operating structure has been described as having three principal activities: Bluegreen Resorts, which oversees the resort network and vacation-ownership program; Bluegreen Vacations, which manages the Bluegreen Vacation Club points system; and Outdoor Traveler, which markets Bluegreen programs through Bass Pro stores. The company operates or manages approximately 50 resorts according to the cited reference material, while also offering access to partner and exchange inventory. Its customer proposition is flexibility across destinations rather than exclusive use of a single resort, supported by resort ownership, exchange relationships, partner marketing, and fee-based services for other operators.
History
Bluegreen Corporation traces its origins to Patten Realty Corporation, established in 1966 by Harry Patten in Massachusetts. Patten had experience selling vacation-home sites and initially built the company around the acquisition and subdivision of rural land. The business marketed parcels to urban buyers seeking recreational property or future homes. It expanded beyond New England during the early 1980s, opened a Portland, Maine office in 1982, and experienced a sharp increase in sales. Patten Realty went public in November 1985 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1986 as Patten Corporation. Rapid expansion was accompanied by increased debt used to finance land purchases. By the late 1980s the company had become a substantial land-sales enterprise, but its sales practices drew scrutiny. Several New England states investigated allegations that consumers had been misled about matters including lease terms. In 1989, the company settled with New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire without admitting the allegations, agreeing to a process through which qualifying consumers could seek refunds. The company suffered major losses in 1989 and 1990 and was profiled by the television program 60 Minutes in 1991. It moved its headquarters to Boca Raton, Florida, while retaining some personnel in Vermont, and undertook restructuring intended to improve cash flow and reduce debt. The business subsequently sold or reduced some northeastern holdings and concentrated more heavily on the Midwest and Southeast. George F. Donovan became president and chief operating officer in 1993 and later succeeded Patten as chief executive. Under Donovan, the company reorganized into land, timeshare, and home-sales operations. Bluegreen Resorts and Bluegreen Communities were formed in 1994. The company entered vacation ownership with the MountainLoft development in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, followed by a resort near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and an oceanfront property in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In February 1996, Patten Corporation changed its name to Bluegreen Corporation. The 1997 acquisition of RDI Group was a central turning point. RDI brought resorts in Florida and Wisconsin and management contracts in the Southeast, while its points-based vacation club experience supported the creation of the Bluegreen Vacation Club. Bluegreen also expanded into golf-course development and communities, including a course designed by Fred Couples in North Carolina. The company later added operations or resorts in Aruba, urban timeshare markets, Montana, Michigan, and Las Vegas. During the 2000s, Bluegreen supplemented owned and managed resorts with partnerships and distribution channels. Its relationship with Bass Pro Shops included promotion of the Bluegreen Wilderness Club through Big Cedar. It also allied with Boyne USA Resorts and Choice Hotels International, acquired TakeMeOnVacation to develop direct-marketing capabilities, and expanded services offered to other resort operators. These services included development, management, sales and marketing, title, mortgage, and financial functions on a fee-for-service basis. In May 2012, Bluegreen sold Bluegreen Communities to SouthStar Development Partners. This made the company a dedicated vacation-ownership business rather than a combined real-estate and timeshare developer. After rejecting a Diamond Resorts acquisition approach, Bluegreen merged with Woodbridge Holdings in April 2013 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of BFC Financial Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation. The company is now identified in the reference material as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Grand Vacations. Its contemporary model centers on vacation-ownership interests, resort operations, a points-based club, exchanges, and additional hotel, cruise, and partner inventory.
- 2013
Woodbridge Holdings merger
[1]Bluegreen merges with Woodbridge Holdings and becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of BFC Financial Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation.
- 2012
Communities division is sold
[1]SouthStar Development Partners acquires Bluegreen Communities and related residential neighborhoods, leaving Bluegreen focused on vacation ownership.
- 2009
Fee-for-service platform expands
[1]Bluegreen makes development, management, sales, marketing, title, mortgage, and financial services available to other resort operators for fees.
- 2006
Las Vegas resort opens
[1]Bluegreen opens its first resort in Las Vegas; George Donovan retires as president and chief executive later that year.
- 2002
TakeMeOnVacation acquisition
[1]The acquisition adds lead-generation capabilities and supports the Bluegreen Direct marketing unit.
- 2000
Bass Pro marketing relationship begins
[1]Bluegreen establishes a cross-industry marketing agreement with Bass Pro and its Big Cedar operation.
- 1997
RDI Group acquisition and Vacation Club formation
[1]Bluegreen acquires RDI Group and develops the Bluegreen Vacation Club points-based offering.
- 1996
Company becomes Bluegreen Corporation
[1]Patten Corporation adopts the Bluegreen Corporation name.
- 1994
Timeshare and resort divisions are organized
[1]The company creates Bluegreen Resorts and Bluegreen Communities and acquires land for its first timeshare development.
- 1991
Headquarters move to Florida
[1]The company relocates its headquarters to Boca Raton and begins restructuring after substantial losses.
Products and positioning
A flexible, points-based vacation-ownership platform combining managed resorts with exchange, hotel, cruise, and partner vacation options.
Points-based vacation ownership · 1997
Bluegreen Vacation Club
Bluegreen Vacation Club is the company's central vacation-ownership program. Members acquire vacation points linked to a legal ownership interest held through a resort trust. The points can be applied to stays at participating Bluegreen resorts and may be exchanged or supplemented through affiliated resorts, hotels, cruises, and other vacation inventory. The model emphasizes destination and scheduling flexibility rather than ownership of a single fixed accommodation.
Resort and timeshare operations · 1994
Bluegreen Resorts
Bluegreen Resorts oversees the company's owned and managed resort network and supports the delivery of vacation-ownership stays. Its properties have included destinations in the southeastern United States, Florida, Wisconsin, the Gulf Coast, Las Vegas, and other domestic and international markets. The division operates within a broader network that can include partner and exchange resorts.
Vacation club and resort program · 2000
Bluegreen Wilderness Club
Bluegreen Wilderness Club is a vacation program associated with Bluegreen's relationship with Bass Pro Shops and the Big Cedar operation. It extends the company's vacation-ownership proposition into an outdoor and nature-oriented resort context and has been marketed through Bass Pro channels.
Vacation marketing channel
Outdoor Traveler
Outdoor Traveler markets Bluegreen programs through Bass Pro stores. It provides a distribution and customer-acquisition channel connecting Bluegreen's vacation offerings with Bass Pro's outdoor-recreation audience.
Residential and golf-community development · 1994
Bluegreen Communities
Bluegreen Communities was the company's residential-development division. It developed and marketed home sites and housing opportunities in upscale communities, including projects associated with golf courses. The division was sold to SouthStar Development Partners in 2012 and is no longer part of Bluegreen's core operating structure.
Controversies
1989
Investigations into alleged deceptive land-sale practices
Several northeastern states investigated Patten Corporation's marketing and land-sales practices, including allegations involving the presentation of lease details. The company denied wrongdoing but settled with New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. The settlements provided refunds for consumers who could demonstrate that they had been deceived.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Bass Pro and Big Cedar marketing partnership
United States
Bluegreen established a cross-industry marketing relationship with Bass Pro Shops and promoted its Wilderness Club through the Big Cedar subsidiary.
Outcome. The partnership created a continuing retail and outdoor-recreation distribution channel for Bluegreen vacation programs.
Brand decisions
2013
Merger with Woodbridge HoldingsM&ABackground
Ownership of Bluegreen was being consolidated through BFC Financial Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation.
Action taken
Bluegreen merged with Woodbridge Holdings and became a wholly owned subsidiary of BFC Financial Corporation and BBX Capital Corporation.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Bluegreen's status as a separately controlled public company and reinforced its focus on vacation ownership.
2012
Divestiture of Bluegreen CommunitiesStrategyBackground
Bluegreen had operated both residential-development and vacation-ownership businesses, but management chose to concentrate on the latter.
Action taken
The company sold Bluegreen Communities and several residential neighborhoods to SouthStar Development Partners.
Aftermath
Bluegreen became a pure-play vacation-ownership company for the first time since 1994.
Sale consideration. $29 million (May 2012)
2012
Rejection of Diamond Resorts acquisition proposalM&ABackground
Diamond Resorts sought to acquire Bluegreen as the latter focused more narrowly on vacation ownership.
Action taken
Bluegreen rejected Diamond Resorts' proposed acquisition.
Aftermath
Bluegreen remained independent until its subsequent merger with Woodbridge Holdings.
1997
Acquisition of RDI GroupM&ABackground
Bluegreen sought to expand from resort development into vacation ownership and points-based club operations.
Action taken
Bluegreen acquired RDI Group, obtaining resorts and resort-management contracts.
Aftermath
The transaction contributed directly to the formation and expansion of the Bluegreen Vacation Club.
Acquisition consideration. $7.5 million (1997)
1996
Rebrand from Patten Corporation to Bluegreen CorporationStrategyBackground
The company was shifting from its original land-sales identity toward resorts, timeshare ownership, and related development.
Action taken
Patten Corporation changed its corporate name to Bluegreen Corporation.
Aftermath
The Bluegreen identity became associated with the company's resort, vacation-club, and later vacation-services businesses.
Sources1 sources
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