With a growing population of more than 130,000 residents The Villages is a self-sustaining community considered the fastest-growing micropolitan area in the country. The Villages has consistently retained its top spot for new home sales for almost a decade and is an outstanding retirement and lifestyle destination for those over 55. Part of this massive active adult community are the Villages of Rio Ponderosa, De La Vista and Mission Hills.
Like the other Villages neighborhoods, The Villages of Rio Ponderosa, De La Vista and Mission Hills offer a range of different single family home series. The Cottage, Designer, and Premier homes have their own floor plans ranging from 1,100-square feet to more than 3,500-square feet, priced from approximately $200,000 to more than $1,000,000.
Residents of the Villages of Rio Ponderosa, De La Vista and Mission Hills can often be found enjoying the Square at Lake Sumter Landing with its seaside town theme. Within the Square are 19 restaurants and various other businesses. At the center of the Square is the old movie theater and just across from it Villagers can watch live music every night. There’s also a boardwalk along the lake with several waterfront restaurants where golf home owners can enjoy the idyllic surroundings over lunch or dinner.
Roundabouts are prevalent in al The Villages, including Rio Ponderosa, De La Vista and Mission Hills. These are circular intersections that are used to keep the traffic flowing, and while some may get confused initially, near the roundabout entrance they will find a road sign displaying a map of their exits. The Villages also has its own GPS App to help residents new and old navigate the many town squares, golf courses, and recreation centers.
Residents can visit any of The Villages’ recreation centers, including the one at De La Vista, and can join the indoor and outdoor activities provided. These indoor activities include everything from table shuffleboard, Samba, cards and board games, to French language studies. Some of the scheduled outdoor activities include bocce, tennis, and shuffleboard.
The Tierra del Sol Recreation Center adds tennis, horseshoes, bocce and shuffleboard. There is also a beautiful swimming pool for relaxing in the sun or enjoying a refreshing dip. The Rio Grande Recreation Center is also just around the corner and features an outdoor range where air gun and archery enthusiasts can sharpen their skills. There's also real lawn bowling and a family pool for the kids and grandkids to enjoy when they visit.
One of the main reasons why retirees choose to live in The Villages is because of the lifestyle it offers and its perfect location. With more than 3,000 clubs, organized groups, restaurants, golf car accessible, bars, supermarkets, shopping centers, and healthcare, this self-sustaining golf community makes every resident not want to leave. Its uniqueness, size, and the amount of things given to residents upon purchase really makes it stand out for golf home buyers.
Golfers have a lot to choose from at The Villages, but the nearest golf course to The Villages of Rio Ponderosa, De La Vista and Mission Hills is the Clifton, Ezell and Clifton designed Tierra Del Sol Golf and Country Club. The 18-hole championship course plays to over 6,800-yards and is one of the more famous layouts at The Villages having hosted the LPGA Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf and the $1 million LPGA Charity Championship.
Image(s) courtesy of: The Weekly Source, The Villages, Villages News, Voyage, Florida Backroads Travel
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