Fort Myers is full of sunshine, recreation, and history. Ideally located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River and off the Gulf of Mexico, the area was settled by the Seminole Tribe and later used as a military fort by the United States. Today, it’s a popular relocation destination for active adults who want to enjoy golf, culture, and nature while wearing shorts in February. The Red Sox have a spring training facility in Fort Myers, and the city is close to some of the best shelling in the world on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
Here are some of the best active adult communities in Fort Myers.
High $200s - Mid $900s
With 1,100 homes spread out over two distinct neighborhoods, The Plantation is a gated community featuring new and resale single-family homes, attached villas, and carriage homes. Buyers can choose between 40 floor plans ranging from 1,557 square feet to 3,197 square feet. The neighborhoods of Bridgetown and Somerset each have their own clubhouses, activities center, fitness center, and pools. Residents also have access to the championship 18-hole golf course at The Plantation.
Amenities include shuffleboard, tennis courts, billiards, libraries, and saunas. Activities and classes meet frequently. Exercise classes like yoga, water aerobics, and Zumba are available, and residents can join the book club, fishing club, pickleball club, and others. Lots of shopping centers are nearby, including an outlet center, and The Plantation is close to Interstate 75, making it easy to visit Tampa to the north or head south to see Miami.
Low $100s - High $200s
Seven Lakes is one of the older communities in Fort Myers, but it’s full of modern updates and convenient amenities. It’s also affordable. Over 1,000 attached homes and condos in this 55+ neighborhood have one or two bedrooms, and some of the models have a third bedroom or a den. The 18-hole executive golf course is free to residents and doesn’t require a membership. There’s also a putting green and a chipping area.
Swim in one of the six heated pools around the community, enjoy the Tiki bar, and join a tennis match on one of the six courts. Other amenities include an exercise room, a woodworking shop, and an auditorium. There’s a travel agency on-site, and community transit is available when you’re ready to do some shopping or go downtown for dinner.
Low $300s - Mid $700s
One of the most interesting and desirable communities in Fort Myers is Pelican Preserve, which was recently awarded the Gold Seal of Sustainability from Audubon International’s Sustainable Development program. The golf course at this gated 55+ community was also recognized and awarded the Audubon International Gold Signature Certification. Residents looking for golf, diverse amenities, and an eco-friendly environment will enjoy any of the 2,500 new and resale homes here. Single-family models are available as well as attached villas and condos.
There’s an upgraded fitness center, a juice bar, an indoor walking track, and an indoor lap pool for fitness-minded residents. There’s also an aerobics and dance studio, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a softball field, and a sand beach. Residents have access to a fishing pier, a nature preserve, and a butterfly garden. There’s also an option to join the Pelican Preserve Golf Club, where members enjoy 27 holes of golf, a day spa, and a pro shop.
Low $200s - Mid $2Ms
When you’re looking for water access in Fort Myers, check out Gulf Harbor Yacht & Country Club. This gated waterfront community sits on the Caloosahatchee River and offers a boat launch, a lighthouse, and a marina with boat storage and boat fuel. Additional amenities include pools, tennis, and an 18-hole golf course designed by Chip Powell. There’s a playground, a full-service day spa, and plenty of walking and biking trails.
The homes range from condos that are 1,000 square feet to single-family homes as large as 5,700 square feet. The entire community includes 1,616 single-family and attached homes as well as condominiums. Properties are available on a resale basis. Active adults will enjoy date nights, holiday parties, pool parties, and fitness classes.
Low $300s - Mid $600s
Low-maintenance living among lush landscapes, natural preserves, and fish-filled lakes is why people love their homes in The Reserve at Estero. This gated community just outside of Fort Myers is also close to Naples. There are fewer than 500 resale single-family homes in this community, providing a chance for neighbors to really connect with one another. Open floor plans with between two and four bedrooms come in models sized between 1,500 and 2,545 square feet.
Residents enjoy amenities such as a fitness center and an aerobics and dance studio in the clubhouse, a resort-style pool, basketball and tennis courts, a library, and several walking and biking trails that slope through the beautiful landscape in The Reserve at Estero. The community hosts a Friday evening social hour, game nights, and a class in jewelry making and dance. There’s a book club and a poker club as well as numerous other exercise classes.
