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This site has offered great info about coastal Carolina communities, with that in mind, does anyone know of any communities that are similar to "The Villages in Florida" By this I mean, more retirees than not, gated but with 1 level homes/cottages that offer golf cart driving to a town center type area for groceries, pharmacy, eateries, med clinic etc? Any info would be much appreciated. Seeking to retire with access to golf, beach (though not necessarily on site) & not in a high rise type of housing. Thanks in advance for all comments & suggestions.
A golf cart accessible town center is the killer. The only place I know of is Bald Head Island near Southport. Its only accessible by boat, no motor vehicles allowed except security and one full time EMS person. Town center consists of boat docks, a small grocery store that also makes sandwiches and not much else. There is a golf course and country club with a restaurant at the other end of the island.
There are plenty of gated, retirement communities with all grades of amenities but few allow you to drive golf carts on the public streets.
Sea Trail in Sunset Beach NC (near SC/NC border) has a set up pretty close to what you're describing with sidewalks that lead into the town center. Golf carts, bikes, and pedestrians use it regularly. The town center has food store, restaurants, gas stations, CVS, boutique shops and a number of new condos/townhouses to be built in the "near" future.
This site has offered great info about coastal Carolina communities, with that in mind, does anyone know of any communities that are similar to "The Villages in Florida" By this I mean, more retirees than not, gated but with 1 level homes/cottages that offer golf cart driving to a town center type area for groceries, pharmacy, eateries, med clinic etc? Any info would be much appreciated.
No, there are none exactly like The Villages in Florida. You might look at Magnolia Greens, Waterford of the Carolinas, St James Plantation, Brunswick Forest and Compass Pointe, although not all are gated. However, they all have shopping outside the developments, and you cannot safely drive a golf cart to the shopping. Magnolia Greens has probably the most convenient shopping (car-accessible) right outside the development with a Harris Teeter, restaurant and some other stores. These developments are probably more expensive than in Florida, as the lowest price houses start at $250,000, although there are cheaper condos.
You might look at the "Carolina Plantations" web site for some easy comparison of the features of various North Carolina communities.
Sea Trail in Sunset Beach NC (near SC/NC border) has a set up pretty close to what you're describing with sidewalks that lead into the town center. Golf carts, bikes, and pedestrians use it regularly. The town center has food store, restaurants, gas stations, CVS, boutique shops and a number of new condos/townhouses to be built in the "near" future.
That's good to know about Sea Trails. I only knew about the places in northern Brunswick County.
It is hard to compare anything with The Villages, because it has 90,000 peeople. All of the North Carolina Plantations are much smaller, planned for about 2000-3000 homes maximum. Our highway design is not friendly to golf carts.
The OP might want to look into St James Plantation in Southport. It is gated and has four golf courses. It has restaurants, a small marina store, and the athletic facilities where one can use a golf cart. It also has a private beach club on the ocean accesible by car. The major shopping areas are several miles away, but eventually there will be closer shopping on the west side of SJP.
There are a couple areas in South Carolina where one can use golf carts for shoppping, and I think Litchfield Plantation might be one.
No, there are none exactly like The Villages in Florida. You might look at Magnolia Greens, Waterford of the Carolinas, St James Plantation, Brunswick Forest and Compass Pointe, although not all are gated. However, they all have shopping outside the developments, and you cannot safely drive a golf cart to the shopping. Magnolia Greens has probably the most convenient shopping (car-accessible) right outside the development with a Harris Teeter, restaurant and some other stores. These developments are probably more expensive than in Florida, as the lowest price houses start at $250,000, although there are cheaper condos.
You might look at the "Carolina Plantations" web site for some easy comparison of the features of various North Carolina communities.
Magnolia Greens and Waterford of the Carolinas are RIGHT next to each other and somewhat "share" some of the shopping. The Harris Teeter is actually closer to Waterford than it is to Magnolia Greens.
Why do you want to live behind a gate? Its not necessary for any reason.
My parents moved to a gated community in Florida when they retired, something I couldn't understand at the time. But as I approach my 70's the security of a gated village is appealing, go figure.
Ron W.
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