Solving puzzles and playing games are among the most popular hobbies for active adults, and many 55+ communities include a game night or puzzle club in their social calendars. Residents can enjoy a vibrant lifestyle by finding opportunities to get together and play cards or complete a jigsaw.
In addition to being a fun pastime, puzzles and games come with healthy perks for active adults, according to AARP. These activities encourage social connections with friends and neighbors, support short-term memory and cognitive health, and provide relaxation to active adults looking for a hobby.
Active adults planning a move may find there are more reasons to appreciate 55+ communities than weekly bunco meet-ups. There are pros and cons to age-restricted communities, but they often include amenities and a low-maintenance lifestyle. To help guide puzzle-obsessed homebuyers, we’ve put together a list of some of the best 55+ communities for puzzle lovers and game enthusiasts.
BUY
Colorado
Valencia Condominiums – Wheat Ridge, CO
Consisting of 61 affordable condominium homes, Valencia Condominiums is a tight-knit community. Homeowners enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle thanks to a helpful homeowners’ association, giving them more time to enjoy exciting game nights with neighbors and onsite amenities like a fitness center and outdoor pool.
Valencia Condominiums is located in a Denver suburb, just a few miles from downtown. The convenient location puts residents within easy reach of dining, entertainment, shopping, hospitals, and grocery stores. Expansive parks in the Rocky Mountains, such as Golden Gate Canyon State Park, are only 25 miles away, offering active adults the opportunity to explore mountain trails when not at home putting puzzles together.
Florida
Spruce Creek North – Ocala, FL
Spruce Creek North is an age-restricted community in Ocala, Florida, developed by reputable 55+ community builder Del Webb. Ocala is one of the most desirable retirement destinations in Central Florida and provides homeowners with access to shopping, golf courses, and outdoor recreation. The community includes 400 single-family homes ranging from 800 to 1,800 square feet, with two or three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms.
At Spruce Creek North, the active lifestyle takes center stage with a busy calendar of clubs and events. A game and puzzle lover interested in the community can find regular meet-ups for activities like:
- bingo
- bridge
- poker
- ping pong
- mahjongg
- euchre
- bunco
- puzzles
The community’s resort-style amenity centers provide ample opportunities for games and activities. They feature game rooms and billiards in the clubhouse, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, and shuffleboard courts.
Town Shores of Gulfport – Gulfport, FL
Homebuyers searching for a community with a jigsaw puzzle club will find one at Town Shores of Gulfport. Residents of the 1,327 condominium homes regularly gather for engaging pastimes and games, including:
- euchre
- pinochle
- bingo
- bunco
- billiards
- shuffleboard
- bridge club
- bocce club
- jigsaw puzzle club
Town Shores of Gulfport is located five miles west of St. Petersburg and five miles east of the Gulf Coast, providing easy access to beaches like Upham Beach Park, St. Pete Beach, and Sunset Beach. Closer to home, residents enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle and a wide range of resort-style amenities. These include a hobby and game room, a fitness center, and a private boat launch into Boca Ciega Bay.
Illinois
Grand Haven – Romeoville, IL
Grand Haven is a well-established 55+ community located 35 miles southwest of Chicago in Romeoville, Illinois. The 677 single-family and attached homes were developed by Del Webb and Lakewood Homes, providing a range of home types. The community’s proximity to Chicago provides world-class dining, entertainment, and shopping to homeowners looking for fun in the city.
The community features athletic courts, fishing ponds, and a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center and multipurpose gathering spaces. The vibrant lifestyle offered at Grand Haven includes a busy event calendar curated by a full-time activities director. Residents can choose from dozens of clubs and gatherings, including activities for puzzle and game lovers, such as:
- euchre
- canasta
- bunco
- poker
- mahjong
New Jersey
RiverWinds – West Deptford, NJ
With 355 single-family and condominium homes, RiverWinds offers the 55+ lifestyle that interested homebuyers want. The heart of the community lies in the 112,000-square-foot community center, which features a state-of-the-art fitness center, a restaurant, a hobby and game room, and two auditoriums. Outside, residents enjoy an outdoor resort-style pool, gardening plots, and walking paths along the Delaware River.
Residents wanting to hang out with like-minded neighbors can find a variety of game- and craft-related activities offered at RiverWinds, including:
- puzzle club
- card games
- jewelry making
- ceramics workshops
The community is located on the western border of New Jersey in West Deptford, putting residents within 15 miles of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 20 miles of Philadelphia International Airport.
Virginia
Spring Hill – Lorton, VA
Spring Hill is a 55+ community with a puzzle club, consisting of 282 single-family, attached, and condominium homes. Neighbors regularly meet up for game nights featuring: mahjong, bunco, and poker, as well as other activities such as an arts and crafts club, line dancing, and group outings. The clubhouse, with a fitness center, an indoor pool, a ballroom, and multipurpose gathering rooms, serves as the social hub of Spring Hill. The amenities continue outside with athletic courts and walking trails throughout the community.
The variety of home types and floor plans at Spring Hill offers options for homebuyers seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle and desirable amenities. The condominium homes range from 890 to 1,621 square feet, ideal for those looking to downsize. The single-family and attached homes range from 1,975 to 2,500 square feet with ample space for entertaining and storage. The surrounding area of Spring Hill in Lorton, Virginia, puts residents 15 miles from Alexandria and 20 miles from Washington D.C. and its historic landmarks.
RENT
North Carolina
Inspire Brunswick Forest – Leland, NC
Located just 10 miles west of Wilmington, North Carolina, Inspire Brunswick Forest provides residents with quick access to pristine Atlantic beaches like Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Freeman Park Beach. The 55+ community consists of 174 total homes for rent, including 23 attached cottages and 151 apartments designed for the active adult lifestyle. Residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle thanks to a property management company that handles all interior, exterior, and common-area maintenance.
Along with activities like fitness classes and movie nights, residents will find game nights, card games, and puzzles on Inspire Brunswick Forest’s busy social calendar. Residents can also access a desirable mix of amenities, including an outdoor resort-style pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a sizable billiards room.
Inspire Royal Park – Mathews, NC
Active adults seeking a 55+ rental community with game-enthusiast neighbors should consider Inspire Royal Park in Mathews, North Carolina. Residents enjoy a vibrant social atmosphere with an event calendar full of activities like:
- poker
- puzzles
- mahjong
- bananagrams
- spades
Also, thanks to the maintenance-free lifestyle at Inspire Royal Park, active adults can spend more time playing games, solving puzzles, and exploring new hobbies.
The resort-style amenities include a spacious clubhouse with a fitness center, spa, movie theater, billiards room, and an arts and crafts studio. Outside, residents enjoy a resort-style pool, a putting green, and a community garden. Inspire Royal Park and its 204 rental homes are located about 10 miles southeast of Charlotte.
South Carolina
Inspire Sandhill – Columbia, SC
Inspire Sandhill in Columbia, South Carolina, is a 55+ community consisting of 187 apartment homes. The community is 15 miles northeast of downtown, a convenient location for dining, cultural attractions, and health care. Closer to home, residents enjoy amenities like a hobby and game room, an indoor pool, and a fitness center.
The apartments range from 570 to 1,395 square feet with two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. A maintenance-free lifestyle at Inspire Sandhill means active adults don’t need to worry about interior maintenance, exterior maintenance, or common area maintenance. Instead, residents can connect the pieces with their neighbors during regular game nights featuring:
- puzzles
- card games
- trivia
- spades
Texas
Soléa Copperfield – Houston, TX
Puzzle lovers and game enthusiasts will appreciate the activity-filled social calendar at Soléa Copperfield in Houston, Texas. Neighbors gather routinely for puzzle groups, poker clubs, board games, bingo, and card games, providing flexibility for residents looking to get their game on. Games and other activities are hosted at the community’s clubhouse, which also features amenities such as a fitness center, an arts and crafts studio, and access to the outdoor resort-style pool.
The maintenance-free lifestyle offered by Soléa Copperfield’s management offers active adults the opportunity to spend more time enjoying the community’s amenities or exploring Downtown Houston, which is located 25 miles southeast. The apartment homes offer an ideal opportunity for active adults to downsize, with floor plans ranging from 653 to 1,294 square feet, featuring one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms.
Games, Puzzles, and Finding the Community
Playing games and putting puzzles together encourages a social lifestyle, builds mental acuity, and promotes a healthy routine for active adults. Those who pride themselves on being lifelong learners will find there is always a new game to learn, new strategies to develop, and new connections to be made with fellow game enthusiasts.
For active adults who feel like a piece in a homebuying puzzle, speaking with a 55places real estate expert may be the solution. We will work with you to answer questions, walk you through buying and renting options, and find the right 55+ community for your specific needs. Contact us today!
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