Bugs, Ice, Tornadoes in Fairfield Glade? (Knoxville, Cookeville: real estate, house, condo)

[normie]

We are looking at various retirement communities around the U.S. and Fairfield Glade was recommended enthusiastically. I would love to hear some comments, especially from anyone who lives there (or in the nearby area).

Here are some things we'd like to know:

Are tornadoes a problem there?

What is the likelihood of buying a resale (house or townhouse) right on a lake? We are kayakers and would love to start off our days paddling around.

What are the winters like? Are ice storms a problem? Do they have a snowplow, or are people expected to stay home until the sun reappears?

What do you think of the local hospitals? (i.e. would you feel comfortable having a serious illness and living there). We want to find a place to stay for the rest of our lives, and that means good medical care.

Do people tend to socialize with each other, or do they tend to spend most of their time with their own families? Is it easy to join clubs, find activities and make friends?

Are residents allowed to do the resort activities (such as hang out at the beach on weekends, or take the day trips).

What is it like living in a town with so many vacationers at the timeshares and resort? And, I hear that many of the timeshares have become shabby. Does that affect the rest of the town?

What are insects like? Do you have chiggers? Are roaches everywere, or just a problem if you are a slob? Are mosquitoes a mild problem or a serious infestation that forces people to remain inside all summer?

Any other thoughts you have about the realities of living there would be appreciated.

[Sparkman]

Originally Posted by normie

We are looking at various retirement communities around the U.S. and Fairfield Glade was recommended enthusiastically. I would love to hear some comments, especially from anyone who lives there (or in the nearby area).

I'd definately recommend spending some time in FFG, best way to get these answers. I've owned a condo (not a timeshare) there since 2001 & spend time there every year, so I'll give you an outside owners view and try to answer your ?'s

Here are some things we'd like to know:

Are tornadoes a problem there?
Some have hit the plateau since we've owned here, but none in FFG

What is the likelihood of buying a resale (house or townhouse) right on a lake? We are kayakers and would love to start off our days paddling around.
Lots of properties for sale on the lakes there all the time

What are the winters like? Are ice storms a problem? Do they have a snowplow, or are people expected to stay home until the sun reappears?
I haven't spent much winter time there, but peoples definatley don't stay home. FFG golf courses open all year, I don'tbelieve there are snowplows, other than pickups, etc, but not much snow, just a few inches/yr. Ice storms can happen.

What do you think of the local hospitals? (i.e. would you feel comfortable having a serious illness and living there). We want to find a place to stay for the rest of our lives, and that means good medical care.
Both Crossville & Cookeville have good to excellent hospitals. Knoxville, just over an hour away, has UT and it's ecellent medical system.
Do people tend to socialize with each other, or do they tend to spend most of their time with their own families? Is it easy to join clubs, find activities and make friends?
Yes, many things going on, always easy to join in.

Are residents allowed to do the resort activities (such as hang out at the beach on weekends, or take the day trips).
Yes, very definately. You are a member of the Community Cloub and allowed to participate in all activities.

What is it like living in a town with so many vacationers at the timeshares and resort? And, I hear that many of the timeshares have become shabby. Does that affect the rest of the town?
Quite honestly, you really don't notice the vacationers. Golf is by far the primary activity there and you will find most peple there at the golf courses. In the summer, there are more families and the lakes and pools are busier, but FFG is never what you would conssider busy or crowded.
What are insects like? Do you have chiggers? Are roaches everywere, or just a problem if you are a slob? Are mosquitoes a mild problem or a serious infestation that forces people to remain inside all summer?
There are bugs, but I have never seen a mosquito there in 10 years of going there! Ants have been bad at our condo, lots of gnats, etc, but nothing that would chase me away.
Any other thoughts you have about the realities of living there would be appreciated.

If you want to live in an active retirement area, with a mild 4 season climate, low taxes, and convienient location, FFG is a place to look into. There are some FFG websites you should probably look at:

Home - Fairfield Glade Community Club
Welcome to The Crossville - Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce
CrossvilleOnline - Crossville, Tennessee - Your internet guide to Cumberland Co.

Good luck in your search.

[yarddawg]

I'm not in FFG, about 15 miles away as the crow flies, but I can give you a perspective on the weather. Although, given the semi-random nature of Tennessee weather it's a little hard to answer without either sounding alarmist or giving you a false sense of security.

Originally Posted by normie

Are tornadoes a problem there?

Depends on what you mean by a problem. We do have tornadoes associated with nasty spring storms. The odds of someone somewhere on the Plateau having their house severely damaged or destroyed by a tornado next spring is about 100% and more damage is usually caused by "straight line winds" than tornadoes every year. For a specific house in FFG, risk is very low. If you don't have a basement or storm shelter know somewhere solid you can go if the weather gets wild. It won't impact you more than a handful of days a year.

Originally Posted by normie

What are the winters like? Are ice storms a problem? Do they have a snowplow, or are people expected to stay home until the sun reappears?

Winters are very variable. There is usually a little freezing rain every winter, not much of a problem unless it's associated with wind in which case a few tree limbs and power lines will come down. But it can be bad. In '96 there was a severe ice storm which brought down a number of mature trees, blocked roads and cut power for extended periods. I personally lost power for five days. There will also usually be enough snow to cover the ground for a couple of days two or three times in a winter. But again, variable. We have had winters without snow. We have had winters when the ground was white for five or six weeks (late '70s, can't remember the exact year). We have had snow with drifts 3' deep. (Early '90s, '93 maybe?) We have also had winters with weeks of 38 degree rain and widespread flooding. And now and then a winter with 70 degree temps in January. Or a stretch of a week or more when the temp doesn't rise above 10 and the lows hit double digit negatives. Or possibly both, when we get unusually warm weather in the winter it's usually followed by unusually cold weather.

[knoxgarden]

You can probably find new and used on the lakes. There are several lakes.
Glade Realty is the Real Estate Broker in Fairfield Glade
I've been bothered less by mosquitoes in East Tennessee I have in other parts of the country. And I'm a mosquito magnet. Roaches aren't as prevalent as they are in the South.
You should be able to find good medical care there. If not in Crossville, then in Cookville. For serious problems, Knoxville is only a 40 minute drive.
If you get tired of the lakes, there are some wonderful wilderness rivers near Fairfield Glade that draw kayakers. The Obed is on the top of the list.
Obed Wild & Scenic River - Obed Wild & Scenic River (U.S. National Park Service)
There's also Big South Fork
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area - Whtiewater Paddling (U.S. National Park Service)
Tennesseans are social folks. Fairfield Glade is basically a suburb of Crossville and there's things going on there. I get over there to an auction quite frequently and people there are friendly. You need to take a trip there and talk to the residents. That's the best way.

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by normie

We are looking at various retirement communities around the U.S. and Fairfield Glade was recommended enthusiastically. I would love to hear some comments, especially from anyone who lives there (or in the nearby area).

Here are some things we'd like to know:

Are tornadoes a problem there?

What is the likelihood of buying a resale (house or townhouse) right on a lake? We are kayakers and would love to start off our days paddling around.

What are the winters like? Are ice storms a problem? Do they have a snowplow, or are people expected to stay home until the sun reappears?

What do you think of the local hospitals? (i.e. would you feel comfortable having a serious illness and living there). We want to find a place to stay for the rest of our lives, and that means good medical care.

Do people tend to socialize with each other, or do they tend to spend most of their time with their own families? Is it easy to join clubs, find activities and make friends?

Are residents allowed to do the resort activities (such as hang out at the beach on weekends, or take the day trips).

What is it like living in a town with so many vacationers at the timeshares and resort? And, I hear that many of the timeshares have become shabby. Does that affect the rest of the town?

What are insects like? Do you have chiggers? Are roaches everywere, or just a problem if you are a slob? Are mosquitoes a mild problem or a serious infestation that forces people to remain inside all summer?

Any other thoughts you have about the realities of living there would be appreciated.

If you are interested in Fairfield Glade as a retirement community, you might be interested in reading the article at the link below. It provides a lot of information.

Tennessee Retirement Communities - Real Estate - Fairfield Glade - Homes for Sale - Golf - Community Life