5 unique Georgia retirement communities

These days, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all when it comes to how and where a person should retire. Some are looking for a close-knit neighborhood, while others prefer the space, peace and solitude of a more remote, natural locale.

Georgia offers a wide variety of out-of-the-box communities to consider when it’s time to retire — whether you’re looking to go off-the-grid or prefer staying connected to others in a smaller community.

If you’re in the market for a unique retirement experience, consider these five Georgia retirement communities:

Dutch Island, Savannah

If you’re looking to live a Low Country kind of retirement life, consider the small community of Dutch Island, named Niche’s top place to retire in Georgia in 2021.

Tucked amid the intercoastal waterways and ecological beauty of Savannah’s wet lowlands, Dutch Island is private, gated community that includes approximately 480 single-family homes. Residents have access to nearly 9 miles of paved roads, a deep-water community dock, swimming pool, tennis courts, lagoons and ponds, beach access and more.

Dutch Island offers active adults a slower, more peaceful pace of living, one with that unique, specific kind of Southern coastal charm.

Crossing Creek RV Resort, Blairsville

Mountain living more your speed? Not interested in too much home or lawn maintenance? Consider an upscale RV community for your retirement.

Crossing Creek RV Resort, for example, offers its residents five-star amenities — including golf courses, access to the Appalachian trail, a clubhouse and activity center, pool, saunas and more — and resort-style living on premium creekside lots. Crossing Creek also has cabins for sale, across a wide variety of floorplans, all designed with high-end finishes, and the ability to customize according to your aesthetic preferences. They even offer an in-house interior designer to help you create a cabin unique to you.

Residents here feel at home in nature, while still feeling connected to their neighbors.

River Ridge Escapes, various locations nationwide

Maybe you’ve thought about tiny house living for your retirement.

Tiny houses are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to downsize when it comes time to retire. There are several local tiny house builders in the metro Atlanta area that can create your dream tiny home from the ground up. There are also places like River Ridge, that offer pre-built tiny homes for sale, in addition to lots ready for development, inside one of their many mountain communities.

In Georgia, there’s River Ridge’s Little River Escape Tiny Home Community in Menlo — a 50-acre, gated tiny home community located on Lookout Mountain that provides residents access to common areas including the pool house and gym, and offers amenities such as river access, paddle boats, dog trails, hiking trails and more. There’s also Cloudland Escape, a community that offers rock crop lots for sale to those interested in siting their tiny home or stick-built mountain home on Lookout Mountain Parkway.

Del Webb at Chateau Elan, Braselton

Not many retirement communities can boast of their proximity to an established, landmark winery and vineyard as a selling point, but Del Webb at Chateau Elan can.

This active adult community offers low-maintenance, ranch-style homes near the acclaimed Chateau Elan golf course and winery in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains. The approximately 385-acre enclave comes complete with resort-style amenities including pool, clubhouse, fitness center with space for group classes, grill area, bocce ball courts, tennis courts, indoor pool and spa, and more.

Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills

Self-described as a “wellness community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta,” Serenbe is a kind of unique collection of “hamlets” tucked amidst preserved Atlanta forests, one that prides itself on a commitment to organic living, sustainability and the holistic well-being of its visitors and residents.

Serenbe is not specifically for active adults, but it’s worth consideration if you’re looking for a self-contained, close-knit community that boasts features such as a 25-acre organic farm with a thriving farmer’s market and CSA program, full calendar of cultural events, shops and boutiques, gyms, a yoga center, restaurants, lodging and more.

In terms of real estate, Serenbe is offers townhomes, cottages and estate homes, many slated for completion in 2022. They also offer lots for purchase if you’re interested in building, as well as properties for lease.

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