There were plenty of doubletakes Tuesday evening when Mitt Romney made a low-key, unannounced appearance at Lake Sumter Landing.
The 2012 GOP presidential candidate was spotted at the Waterfront Inn and walking to the Sales Center at about 5 p.m.
Romney was in The Villages with his son, Tagg.
The father and son were spotted later that evening coming out of The Angler’s Club, developer Gary Morse’s private club in Lake Sumter Landing.
Tagg said business — not a Romney political resurgence — was the topic of discussion.
Tagg added that his father would be departing The Villages in the morning.
Last month, Mitt Romney surprised filmgoers when he attended the Salt Lake City premiere of “MITT,” the documentary that tracks his run for the presidency.
The film which debuted on Netflix on Jan. 24 has fueled fresh speculation about Mitt Romney’s presidential ambitions. Tagg Romney has been reported to have been influential in allowing the filmmaker’s access for the documentary.
Mitt Romney’s last public appearance in The Villages was Jan. 30, 2012 on the eve of the Florida presidential primary. Romney won the primary the next day, fending off rival Newt Gingrich who had appeared in The Villages one day ahead of Romney.
Romney has long been a familiar face in The Villages.
He was here Oct. 1, 2010 to help bolster the candidacies of gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott and Pam Bondi, who was running for state attorney general. Both won.
He was here on March 26, 2010, to sign copies of his book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness,” at Lake Miona Recreation Center.
He first visited The Villages in 2007 leading up to the 2008 presidential contest.