The Villages® - The Villages, FL

About The Villages®

The Villages® community in Florida is one of the largest age-restricted active adult communities in the state. What started as a small neighborhood in 1978 became a sprawling community that will eventually be home to an estimated 70,000 households of 55+ residents. The Villages® Florida spans three counties, three zip codes, and over 30,000 acres. The entire community is connected by over 100 miles of golf-cart-legal streets and trails.The Villages® is an entirely self-sustaining town complete with retail establishments, restaurants, banks, post offices, healthcare centers, and countless recreational amenities.

Residents of The Villages®, known as Villagers, have flocked to the community from multiple states and several countries. The community has drawn retirees from around the world with the lure of warm weather, quality ranch homes, and ample opportunities for golf. The Villages® Florida has appealed to homebuyers because it offers an active lifestyle. There is also a newsletter and activity guide published in The Villages® each week, which highlights all of the various clubs, activities, and events available.

Buyers looking for homes for sale in The Villages®, Florida will love everything this active adult community has to offer. 

The Villages®  Amenities

The Villages® is known for being home to a vast selection amenities. With over 35 community centers, over 100 outdoor pools, and 41 executive golf courses, The Villages®  Florida has a lot to offer members of the community. This active adult community is designed around the notion that every resident should have simple and convenient access to various amenities. To accommodate this, there is a combination of town squares, retail plazas, golf courses, and recreation centers spread throughout the development.

The Villages®  features three town squares that provide residents with numerous amenities and recreation options. The community also features multiple places to gather with friends and socialize with neighbors. Spanish Springs Town Square, Lake Sumter Landing Market Square and Brownwood Paddock Square offer free nightly entertainment 365 days a year. The assortment of retail shops, restaurants, movie theaters, and cafes provides residents of The Villages® Florida with ample entertainment opportunities.

Spanish Springs Town Square

Spanish Springs Town Square is reminiscent of a historic southwest setting with storefront shops and fountains decorated in a southwestern style. Spanish Springs Town Square has several attractions including a hotel, more than a dozen restaurants, and over 30 retail establishments. The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center is also located in the Spanish Springs Town Square.

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square

Lake Sumter Landing Market Square is a small-town themed square on the shores of Lake Sumter. This square features several dozen retail shops and restaurants that overlook the square. The lighthouse is also a local landmark that signals entertainment and great food in The Villages® . Residents can take a scenic boat tour of Lake Sumter and hear about the lake’s history. Lake Sumter Landing Market Square is also home to the Old Mill Playhouse movie theater. The square features live acts and nightly entertainment every night throughout the year.

Brownwood Paddock Square

Brownwood Paddock Square resembles a cattle town and offers a variety of opportunities. This town square features the City Fire restaurant, an athletic club, and a barber and beauty salon. The log cabin on Paddock Square features free nightly entertainment throughout the year.

Recreation Centers in The Villages®

There are amenity centers spread throughout The Villages®  Florida that currently include eight regional recreation centers, 17 village recreation centers, and 35 neighborhood recreation centers. The regional recreation centers host the largest array of amenities and generally include a fitness center, hobby and craft studios, meeting rooms, and ballrooms. The regional recreation center also offers a variety of swimming pools known as sports pools where lap swimming, water aerobics, and water volleyball are held. There are also sports courts such as tennis, bocce ball, shuffleboard, pickleball, and basketball.

The 17 village recreation centers throughout The Villages®  typically include a small clubhouse with meeting rooms, billiards, catering kitchens, bocce, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and family-friendly pools. The 25 neighborhood recreation centers are conveniently located in most neighborhoods and include adult-only pools plus bocce ball courts, shuffleboard courts, and horseshoe pits. The mix of recreation centers spread throughout the neighborhood ensures that residents of The Villages®  always have simple and convenient access to the master-planned community's amenities.

In addition to the recreation centers, there are also countless other desirable amenities within The Villages®  including tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and basketball courts. There are several catch-and-release fishing lakes and nine softball fields that play host to over 200 softball teams. A polo field with grandstand seating is another favorite for many residents.

Additional amenities throughout The Villages®  Florida include two bowling alleys, a library, woodworking shop, numerous hobby and craft studios, and RV parking. The Savannah Center is a spacious southern-themed auditorium with stadium-style seating. It hosts many performances, touring shows, guest speakers, orchestras, comedy acts, and local talent. There are also several places of worship throughout the community.

The Villages® Regional Medical Center and other healthcare centers offer medical testing, diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Golf in The Villages®

Golf enthusiasts will find ample course options in The Villages®, Florida. Residents enjoy free golf at any of the 41 executive courses as well as 12 country club courses. The Villages® also offers a state-of-the-art golf academy. Golfers of all levels can take group or private lessons so they can improve their game with golf instruction or learn the basics.

Residents of The Villages®  can also play at any of the 12 championship golf courses including the famous Palmer Legends, designed by Arnold Palmer, or the Nancy Lopez Legacy Country Club, for a fee. Most of the executive golf courses are 9-hole courses with manageable par 3 holes with the occasional par 4 or par 5. They have three sets of tees that can cater to both experienced golfers and beginners alike. Membership to the championship courses at The Villages®  provides discounted golf fees and preferred tee times.

The Villages®  Homes & Real Estate

The Villages® features a wide selection of home styles in 70,000 homes across the expansive community. Buyers looking for homes for sale in The Villages® , Florida can pick from attached and single-family homes. Since the community started construction in 1978, approximately 100 different floor plans have been offered. The floor plans are divided up into seven different categories including patio villas, courtyard villas, cottage-ranch homes, designer homes, and premier homes. Each series offers a unique set of included features and available upgrades.

There are both new construction and pre-owned resale homes in The Villages® community. Many of the resale homes are highly desirable for their reasonable prices and included upgrades such as landscaping, window treatments, and screened lanais. Single-family homes in The Villages®  typically range from 1,157 to 4,705 square feet and offer two to four bedrooms, two to two-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half garages.

The Villages®  Lifestyle

The Villages® hosts an estimated 3,000 or more different clubs and groups that represent a variety of interests or activities. A new recreation, activity, and event newsletter is delivered to residents each week. This 50-plus-page document highlights everything the community has to offer.

Artists in The Villages®  can partake in activities such as ceramics, painting, quilting, and woodworking. Dancers can take their pick of tap, jazz, line dancing, square dancing, ballroom dancing, ballet, and more. Health enthusiasts have an assortment of fitness classes, aerobics, yoga, power walking, and weight training to choose from. Residents of The Villages®  who are interested are in music and theater might consider joining a choir group, band, or theatrical group.

The Villages®  Florida also has an assortment of social clubs that represent many interests. These clubs have resident groups from all 50 states and several countries. The Villages®  also has special interest clubs for things like clowning, bird watching, collecting, astronomy, photography, genealogy, and scuba diving. For sports enthusiasts, there are countless sports teams, leagues, and tournaments in everything from tennis, pickleball, and golf to softball, biking, and bowling.

The Villages®  also hosts annual Camp Villages, an eight-week summer program filled with activities for residents and their grandchildren to do together. The program consists of kayaking, soccer, full swing clinics, line dancing, putting clinics, kite making, water sports, cooking demos, and more.

The Villages®, FL Area

The Villages® community is located in the heart of Central Florida. This ideal location places the community within 90 minutes of some of the most desirable attractions in Florida including Tampa, Orlando, the Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic coast beaches.

Residents of The Villages®  are never far from what they may need. Grocery stores such as The Fresh Market, ALDI, and Publix are within a few miles. Pharmacy needs can be met at CVS and Walgreens, both of which are a short drive away from The Villages® .

The Villages®  is also close to several health care providers, including Munroe Regional Medical Center, The Villages VA Clinic, and Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.

When homeowners are looking for dining and entertainment options, there are plenty of options within The Villages® . Thoroughfares such as Cleveland Avenue and East County Road 466 are home to several restaurants, retailers, and cafes. Additional attractions in the area include Leesburg Historical Museum, ICON Park, and the Presidents Hall of Fame.

Nature lovers looking to explore the outdoors surrounding The Villages®  have plenty of options close to home. Parks and greenspaces such as Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area and Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area are close by. Golfers can tee off at courses such as Havana Golf & Country Club, Oakleigh Executive Golf Course, and Saddlebrook Executive Golf Course.

There are also many popular destinations surrounding The Villages®  including the quaint lakefront towns of Leesburg and Mount Dora, each of which is under an hour's drive from this active adult community. The Ocala National Forest is 20 minutes to the northeast and offers activities like canoeing, boating, fishing, hiking, and biking.

Residents of The Villages®  who want to visit metropolitan areas are in luck, as Orlando can be reached in about an hour. Attractions like the Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios are accessible in less than 90 minutes. When it comes to long-distance travel, Orlando International Airport is about an hour away as well.