Relocate, Stauton, Lexington? (Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville: 2009, low crime, house)

[Copperhead1861]

[SIZE=2]Greetings all,
Although our timetable is still a couple of years out, we’re searching for some independent input. We are WBTS (Civil War) reenactors looking for a retirement location. A rural setting with a little land is desired near antiques and historical areas. We will both be retired cops, so a friendly and low crime community rates high for us. In addition, we both are very familiar with Southern culture, which is the major reason for the anticipated move, along with lower taxes. We’ve been looking at Staunton, Lexington or maybe the Bristol areas thus far.
Any of your thoughts would be appreciated.
Mike
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[delusianne]

Lexington and Rockbridge County are gorgeous. Lexington is a college town, exceptionally well off by Virginia country-town standards. I lived there for many years and wish I'd never left. Prices are shooting up since the place has been discovered (my old house has increased in value by more than three times what I paid for it in 1996), but you can still find reasonable prices in town, and in Buena Vista and "out in the county," plus developers are buying up land and turning it into "Foxe Crossing"s and "Hunt Manor" subdivisions faster than you can turn around. Better buy before the place turns into the next Charlottesville!

PS, Staunton and Augusta County are nice - more like the upper Shenandoah Valley than like Lexington and down towards Roanoke, the biggest city in the Lex area. the Lynchburg area might interest you also.

Have you been in touch with other reenactors?

[lexvegas]

Woohoo! Lexington was just named one of the top 10 cool small towns in American by Budget Travel magazine! America's Coolest Small Towns: Lexington - Budget Travel

[Cowgal]

The Culpeper-Orange area may also interest you. There was a fight recently (may still be going on) about putting a Wal-Mart in Orange on some Civil War battlefields. There are reenactments all over Virginia. For the beauty, however, you can't beat the Shenandoah Valley. Someone else mentioned Staunton - Take a drive from Staunton up Route 11 and go into Dayton and a little further. You may want to settle down there. And I'm sure you are aware of the Battle of New Market. Big reenactment there every year. Sounds like Virginia is definitely the place for you. Virginia is for History Lovers!