There are many good reasons to live near the beach, but it’s not for everybody. Some active adults prefer serene settings with lakes or ponds, where they can relax by the water, feel the gentle breezes, and catch a fish or two. It might be easier than you’d think to find active adult communities with lakes or ponds on their properties, and some even allow boats. We looked at Pennsylvania and came up with four neighborhoods that fall into this category.
Pennsylvania is a retirement-friendly state, with 190 age-restricted and age-targeted communities. The popular state is also home to the Appalachian Mountains as well as big cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. Retirees can take advantage of excellent healthcare and tax breaks.
Amblebrook – Straban Township, PA
Mid $300s – Low $700s
Located in the Gettysburg area, Amblebrook is a newer retirement community, slated for 2,000 single-family homes built by Elevate Homes, Caruso Homes, and Henley Corbelis. There are a variety of floor plans ranging from about 1,440 to 3,796 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. You can expect to find features like dens, sunrooms, luxury owner suites, porches, and Craftsman-style exteriors in these homes. There’s also an active homeowners’ association (HOA) and the monthly fees cover snow removal, lawn care, and common area maintenance.
Homeowners can explore the community’s natural landscape through AmbleWay, a trail system that winds throughout the property. There are ponds with piers, butterfly gardens, a dog park, a putting green, and a vineyard. The private Rock Creek Club has multipurpose space, a lounge and bar, a ballroom, and a media center. There’s also a sports and wellness campus with fitness facilities, classes, an indoor walking track, pickleball, an indoor pool, and an aquatics center. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also a massage center, a juice bar, a coffee bar, and an outdoor pool.
Members of the community enjoy a wide selection of clubs and activities. The surrounding area also has much to explore, like Gettysburg Park and Mountain View Golf Club. Nearby conveniences include Weis Markets, Walmart, CVS, and GIANT Food Stores.
Request more information about Amblebrook.
Alden Place – Lebanon, PA
Mid $200s – High $500s
Builder Alden Homes broke ground at Alden Place in 2009, with plans for 505 new and resale attached and single-family homes. This 55+ community’s 270-acre property features mature trees, rolling hills, a lake for fishing and canoeing, and direct access to the Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail.
There are over 20 floor plans ranging from 1,449 to 2,505 square feet. The attached homes have one to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. The single-family homes have two or three bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Some of these exclusive homes have covered porches, breakfast nooks, tray ceilings, and covered terraces. The monthly HOA fee pays for community services.
The Alden Club offers homeowners a beauty salon, a catering kitchen, a ballroom, a cafe, an exercise room, and an indoor pool. Lebanon is in Central Pennsylvania, about 45 minutes west of Harrisburg. Nearby landmarks include Hershey Chocolate World, Royal Oaks Golf Club, and Mt. Gretna.
Request more information about Alden Place.
Fox Hill Farm – Glen Mills, PA
Mid $300s – Mid $400s
Moving towards Philadelphia, we come to Fox Hill Farm, a must-see 55+ community completed in 1993 by McKee builders. Fox Hill has 491 resale attached and single-family homes for sale on an especially picturesque property, with walking trails, lakes, and ponds.
Fox Hill Farm offers attached and single-family models ranging from 1,373 to 2,109 square feet with two bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and one-car garages. Options include basements, second levels, patios, and decks. Some homes have upgrades like gas fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, and soaking tubs. A monthly HOA fee covers community services.
The 14,000-square-foot clubhouse is where residents go to exercise, swim at the indoor pool, relax in the sauna, and enjoy the crafts studio, game room, and library. There’s also a ballroom, where some of the community groups meet and special events take place.
Request more information about Fox Hill Farm.
Arbor Gate – Myerstown, PA
Mid $200s – High $500s
Our final community on this list has a three-acre lake, and it’s fully stocked and primed for a big catch. There’s also a lakeside gazebo, a nice place to observe nature any time of day. Arbor Gate is an established active adult neighborhood with 378 resale single-family, land-lease homes for sale and an HOA that provides for trash pickup, sewer, and common area maintenance.
The ten home models range from 1,234 to 2,058 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached one- or two-car garages. Spacious models have second levels and options may include decks, fireplaces, covered patios, and vaulted ceilings.
Arbor Gate’s Lakeview Center has an exercise room, activity rooms, a ballroom, and a library. There’s also a beauty salon and a coffee shop. Downtown Lebanon is about six miles away, and when driving there, you’ll pass a Walmart Supercenter, a GIANT Food Store, banks, restaurants, and other services.
