[4] Originally a land-sale company founded as Patten Realty Corporation in 1966, Bluegreen also developed land into residential and golf course communities until 2012.

[10] Bluegreen's philanthropic efforts include support of organizations such as the American Red Cross and JDRF.

Patten Realty would purchase large tracts of undeveloped or lightly developed land, usually with token down payments, from farmers unable to market it themselves.

Then, they paid to have the land subdivided, and would resell the resulting 5- to 20-acre parcels[14] to city dwellers as recreational or potential property.

[12] With branches in fifteen states by early 1986,[12] by the end of 1986, Patten Corp. remained the third fastest-growing company on the exchange.

[13] While denying any wrongdoing, in 1989, Patten settled with New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire by agreeing to refund consumers "who could prove they were deceived" on issues such as lease details.

[13] That year the company relocated its headquarters to Boca Raton, Florida, with a number of staff remaining in Vermont.

[17] George F. Donovan was named president and chief operating officer in 1993, and later that year he took on Patten's role as CEO.

[15] Bluegreen opened its first daily fee golf course in 1997, designed by Fred Couples and located in North Carolina.

[15] Bluegreen subsequently formed an alliance with Boyne USA Resorts in 2002, also opening two more golf courses that year, one designed by Curtis Strange and one by Davis Love III.

"[29] Originally a land-sale company focused on reselling rural plots of around 200 acres or more,[17] Bluegreen until 2012 developed the land it purchased into residential and golf course communities, marketing home sites within the tracts directly to consumers.

[4] Later branching into resorts and timeshares, the company is also known as an industry pioneer in the practice of offering fee-based services.

However, they are still considered "owners" on a legal basis because they purchase an interest in a company resort held in their trust.

Under the system, customers can plan stays at various timeshare resorts operated by Bluegreen or its corporate partners in North America, particularly along the Gulf Coast.