People naturally think “Florida” when it comes to retirement plans at manufactured home communities. Rightfully so, as Florida has amazing resort communities designed for senior living.
However, there are many great manufactured home communities for retirees! As a matter of fact, senior mobile home communities are a wonderful way to live in style, at a reasonable cost, throughout the country.
Here are 11 manufactured home communities that stood out to us:
Saddlebrook Farms, Grayslake, Ill.
Saddlebrook Farms is just an hour from both Chicago and Milwaukee. As a retirement destination, Grayslake boasts natural forest preserves, inland lakes, and plenty of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There also are nearby golf courses, theaters and the Volo Auto Museum for fun day activities.
Saddlebrook Farms, among the 55+ manufactured home communities, is located on fish-stocked lakes and is surrounded by miles of gorgeous walking paths.
Test your green thumb with the gardening club. You can explore new horizons with the travel group. Pick up a new skill with the wood carvers. With all of this and more, Saddlebrook Farms in the Midwest is a great place to retire.
Tropicana Palms, Las Vegas, Nev.
When you think of Vegas you think “fun filled vacation”. However, you may be surprised to learn this high desert locale has prime manufactured home communities for resort-style retirement.
And Tropicana Palms easily captures your attention.
This community has a pool, tennis courts and a wonderful fitness center. It offers billiards and card leagues. Plus, the activities team constantly arranges fun and engaging gatherings for the senior living community, including line dancing, Zumba, water aerobics, movie nights, costume parties and more.
Love the outdoors? Well, Tropicana Palms is adjacent the Clark County Preserve and Nature Center and has a private entrance to the park. It is minutes from McCarran Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. Beautiful scenery, loads of things to do and the excitement of Las Vegas? What more could you ask?
Dolce Vita at Superstition Mountain, Apache Junction, Ariz.
Love palm trees and warm weather, but looking for both of these outside of Florida? Dolce Vita is a premier active adult community in the Phoenix area. Check out these amenities: a 33,000 square-foot clubhouse featuring a stocked library, billiards room with eight tables, a top-of-the-line workout facility, craft room with a kiln, two card rooms, movie theater with video library, community kitchen, and a 6,200 square-foot ballroom!
Because the weather is so warm, you’ll want to head outside for the 3,000 square-foot pool and two spas. Additionally, the community offers tennis, pickleball courts and a putting green! Because you’ve played so hard, you’ll want to sit back and enjoy the spectacular Superstition Mountain views. As a result, “Where to Retire” Magazine selected Dolce Vita for the Short List of 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the United States.
Furthermore, nearby Apache Junction offers perfect activities for visiting relatives, including grand kids. There are noteworthy museums, state parks, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and even a Ghost Town to visit!
The Oaks of Rockford, Rockford, Mich.
Oaks of Rockford was honored as one of America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities by retirenet.com and is currently a featured property among manufactured home communities. It is an upscale 55+ active retirement community near Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second largest city. However, this suburban neighborhood provides all the conveniences of a larger metropolitan area while retaining its small-town charm and ambiance. Neighboring the gorgeous Rogue River, Rockford is a city rich in natural beauty and recreational opportunity.
Because of this, nature enthusiasts from all around the area come to check out scenic views at the famous Rockford Dam, seek adventure in the city’s 12 public parks, including several park areas situated right on the river for some of the best Steelhead fishing in the whole state, not to mention the kayaking and tubing.
From there, navigate the 100-mile Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, featuring miles of trees, historic bridges and pathways and wildlife. Downtown Rockford is a warm, bustling community with charming boutiques, galleries, art fairs, historical museums, restaurants, festivals, and a great farmers market. Rockford also has 10 golf courses and a number of ski areas within short driving distance. If you are looking for an active retirement, this Midwestern gem is a great location.
Royal Palms, Bakersfield, Calif.
Royal Palms has carefree senior living in beautiful Bakersfield, Calif. Recently, Bakersfield was noted as a Top 100 Place to Live in the USA by U.S. News & World Report. Royal Palms offers a charming community atmosphere, friendly neighbors and affordability.
Royal Palms is a beautiful 60-acre community, perfect for outdoor activities, including a private three-hole golf course, putting green, swimming pool, spa and dog park. Residents enjoy walking and biking the private streets. There is a paved bike path only two blocks from the golf course. The social activities are a highlight for residents. Many programs are designed especially for seniors, such as card games, bingo, arts and crafts, and exercise classes. Other events include Pot Luck dinners, luncheons, morning coffee hours and social gatherings. Special social events for singles are scheduled every night.
Willow Lake Estates, Elgin, Ill.
Retirees looking for small town charm near a bustling big city will want to take a look at Willow Lake Estates. Located in the Fox River Valley, Willow Lake Estates is a beautifully landscaped community featuring mature willow, oak and maple trees in a country setting. Residents enjoy a private stocked lake and boat dock, a heated community swimming pool, and a fully outfitted fitness center. Proximity to major highways, O’Hare International Airport and Chicago metro area means that you will never be far from modern conveniences. In fact, local area shopping and dining opportunities abound all within a six-mile radius of Willow Estates.
Sedona Shadows, Sedona, Ariz.
Sedona Shadows is a pet-friendly and thriving 55+ retirement mobile home community. Located in the beautiful red rock country of Sedona, Ariz., Sedona Shadows offers its residents a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle surrounded by the beauties of nature. When USA Weekend compiled their Most Beautiful Places in America list, Sedona claimed the top spot.
The community features ample amenities including on-site library, Whirlpool-spa-hot tub, spacious club house and scenic picnic area. This community sets an easygoing tone for its residents even as the well-equipped fitness center, huge community swimming pool, and nice billiard facilities keep them active. For the traveling senior, Sedona Shadows also has RV storage for your home away from home.
Royal Villas, Tigard, Ore.
Oregon might not be your first thought for a retirement destination, but Tigard is a desirable and affordable community in the Portland metro area. The city has a lot to offer in the way of natural beauty, with access to more than 16 miles of paved trails and nearly 550 acres of parks and open spaces.
Royal Villas is contemporary and distinctive among manufactured home communities for the active adult in Tigard. Additionally, homeowners enjoy beautifully manicured grounds, lighted walking paths, fitness centers, a swimming pool with luxurious cabanas, shuffleboard courts and a putting green. The community center offers a library, relaxing fireside room, and a billiard and card room.
Royal Villas also is only minutes away from two challenging golf courses, many fine restaurants, shopping and healthcare facilities. For the theatre lover, there is the nearby Broadway Rose Theater at Tigard High School, featuring professional 0ff Broadway musicals and comedies.
Westbrook Senior Village, Toledo, Ohio
Residents at Westbrook Senior Village have the best of both worlds – peaceful, small town living matched with a fabulous urban location. This ideal location provides residents the opportunity to enjoy numerous urban attractions and activities. Toledo boasts a wonderful museum of art and a stunning botanical garden. More so, you can bring along the grand kids and check out the Imagination Station Science Museum or the famous Toledo Zoo. Of course, there also is shopping, restaurants and cultural venues.
Finally, Westbrook Senior Village has a heated pool, spa, shuffleboard courts and a community center – everything you need to relax near the big city.
Oak Ranch, Austin, Texas
Oak Ranch is wonderfully located just 15 minutes from downtown Austin. Austin is the fourth largest city in Texas and well known for its vibrant music scene. However, there is plenty to do there in all arenas – great food, walking and biking tours, swimming at Barton Springs, shopping, museums and many historic sites. Oak Ranch is a gated community with peaceful, tree-lined streets. In addition, the community offers amenities like an activity and fitness center, a beach entry pool and even a playground for the kids when they come to visit. Importantly, Oak Ranch is one of the pet-friendly manufactured home communities, and has on-site management and homes offering two-car off street parking and private driveways.
We have been focusing on communities that have age qualifications. However, just because you are over 55 doesn’t mean you have to live in a Senior Community. Rather, some all ages communities can offer quiet resort-like settings.
Sky Harbor, Cheektowaga, N.Y. All Ages Community
As a result, were were particularly taken by Sky Harbor, located only two miles from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. This beautiful development offers a blend of a quiet neighborhood with easy access to all that Cheektowaga, Buffalo and Erie County have to offer. In addition, residents are within 35 miles of world-famous Niagara Falls and just ten miles from the Canadian border. Especially relevant is the nearby the Walden Galleria Mall, boutiques, cafés, antique shops, galleries and restaurants. Cheektowaga also offers incredible wildlife, vast beautiful parks, and numerous recreational activities.
This closely-knit neighborhood provides residents a relaxed lifestyle with many exciting amenities including a community center, a meeting hall with fully equipped kitchen and 4 open park spaces. Sky Harbor is pet-friendly and has on-site management.
Curious about learning more about these manufactured home communities? Check out our article on How to Contact Communities.
