[Waverunner]

My sister-in-law and her husband live in the St. Louis area and are planning to retire and move to Florida. They are likely considering two options. The Villages, because we live here, and also looking at the Winter Haven–Lake Wales area, as there are other relatives there. They are in their mid-seventies, so being closer to family is a leading priority.

We are trying to do some initial research for them. There only retirement community in the Winter Haven-Lake Wales area that we know of is Lake Ashton. Has anyone lived there? Know anyone that lives there now? Visited there recently? Have any impressions of the community? Pros – cons. Any information on Lake Ashton, (or any other 55+ community in the WH-LW) area, would be appreciated.

We know the things that make TV great but never really looked anywhere else, so any information on Lake Ashton is appreciated. Thanks!

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Waverunner

My sister-in-law and her husband live in the St. Louis area and are planning to retire and move to Florida. They are likely considering two options. The Villages, because we live here, and also looking at the Winter Haven–Lake Wales area, as there are other relatives there. They are in their mid-seventies, so being closer to family is a leading priority.

We are trying to do some initial research for them. There only retirement community in the Winter Haven-Lake Wales area that we know of is Lake Ashton. Has anyone lived there? Know anyone that lives there now? Visited there recently? Have any impressions of the community? Pros – cons. Any information on Lake Ashton, (or any other 55+ community in the WH-LW) area, would be appreciated.

We know the things that make TV great but never really looked anywhere else, so any information on Lake Ashton is appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Waverunner, A good place to start may be 55+ Communities | Active Adult Retirement Communities | 55 Places, which lists 55 and better communities all over the U.S., including ones in the Winter Haven-Lakeland area (17 communities in this area are listed).

Hope that is helpful.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by Waverunner

My sister-in-law and her husband live in the St. Louis area and are planning to retire and move to Florida. They are likely considering two options. The Villages, because we live here, and also looking at the Winter Haven–Lake Wales area, as there are other relatives there. They are in their mid-seventies, so being closer to family is a leading priority.

We are trying to do some initial research for them. There only retirement community in the Winter Haven-Lake Wales area that we know of is Lake Ashton. Has anyone lived there? Know anyone that lives there now? Visited there recently? Have any impressions of the community? Pros – cons. Any information on Lake Ashton, (or any other 55+ community in the WH-LW) area, would be appreciated.

We know the things that make TV great but never really looked anywhere else, so any information on Lake Ashton is appreciated. Thanks!

We did an overnight visit at Lake Ashton some years back when we were checking out different communties. It is a very nice community, but nothing like TV. At that time, there was one golf course and I believe one club house. It was all very nicely maintained and they had the usual activities of most other 55+ communities. The golf course was an extra expense to join if I remember correctly. The one positive was that housing was cheaper and you could modify to your heart's content. Building on a lot with a water view was quite reasonable at that time. In fact while we were there, we ran into a couple who was leaving TV to move there. They're only reason for moving though appeared to be the housing situation - they wanted to build a house to their specifications and at that time TV was not allowing any modifications. To this day, I wonder how happy they are having moved. To me, a house can grow old. The lifestyle is what would be more important to me, but to each his own.

Oh, one last thing, at that time there didn't seem to be much around that area shopping-wise. That was another drawback for me, but that may have changed since then.

[Villager Joyce]

Lakeland Ashton is a nice day trip on 27. Check out all the 55+ residential areas. Eat lunch at Culver's in Clermint (I think).

Also go on the Lake Ashton resales site to see what resales are available. Then check out the Polk County Property Appraiser site to see previous sales prices. Some are up, but plenty are way down.

As mentioned above, little or no infrastructure for shopping or medical.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Lakeland Ashton is a nice day trip on 27. Check out all the 55+ residential areas. Eat lunch at Culver's in Clermint (I think).

Also go on the Lake Ashton resales site to see what resales are available. Then check out the Polk County Property Appraiser site to see previous sales prices. Some are up, but plenty are way down.

As mentioned above, little or no infrastructure for shopping or medical.

To me, little or no infrastructure for shopping or medical would be a deal breaker. Just my two cents.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

To me, little or no infrastructure for shopping or medical would be a deal breaker. Just my two cents.

Yes, when I visited there I felt very isolated. It was a very nice place - some different amenities, well kept facilities, ability to build a home to one's specs, and paying extra for golf would not have been an issue for us as we're not golfers - but not having much in the way of shopping or medical was, as you say, a deal breaker for us.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

To me, little or no infrastructure for shopping or medical would be a deal breaker. Just my two cents.

THAT is why we are in the Villages. I wanted Lake Ashton. My husband wanted the Villages. Don't tell him I said this, but....he was right!

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I do not know about adult communities but can suggest something cool to do in the area. Check out "Spook Hill" --where cars roll uphill. We went and were amazed. Check it out

Spook Hill, Lake Wales, Florida

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by LI SNOWBIRD

I do not know about adult communities but can suggest something cool to do in the area. Check out "Spook Hill" --where cars roll uphill. We went and were amazed. Check it out

Spook Hill, Lake Wales, Florida

Yes. Yes. Yes.

[John_W]

When on Hwy 27 headed south, the red light before you reach the Lake Ashton turn off is Rt 540. I had gone there in 2013 and bought a new car at Red Hoagland Hyundai on 540. The dealer is about 5 miles west of 27, and there were 3 other dealers. There seemed like a lot of businesses when I was there in that area. There was a Walmart on the corner of 27 and 540, because my salesman took me there to fill up the tank in my new car.



That reminds me, in 1956 when I was 6 years old my parents were on vacation and we were staying in Winter Haven. We were going to Cypress Gardens, which had those huge water shows, it is now Legoland and is just a couple of miles past the dealer. The motel we were staying was in a downtown area and on TV they said that Democratic Presidential Candidate Adlai Stevenson campaign bus was stopping in Winter Haven that morning. I don't think my parents were a fan of him, but as it turns out, the bus stop was across the street. We walked over to the location and after a while a bus showed up and when the door opened it was Adlai Stevenson stepping off. I don't think there was more than 5 people there, including my father and myself. I shook his hand and then after a couple of minutes, he got back onboard and they left. Somehow that stayed with me all these years, more than the water show at Cypress Gardens.




Lake Ashton Country Club

[Goldwingnut]

We lived just down the road from Lake Ashton in Haines City for 7 years before moving to TV. Very nice community, nice houses, beautiful grounds and landscaping, we visited it several times when we are deciding on where to retire. It, like may other 55+ developments, is a stand alone community and you will have to go into the local community for anything you need, not that that is bad, just less convenient and nothing outside the development is golf cart accessible. As we had visited several times one of the things that we noticed was that the rec center, pool, and golf course was always empty no matter when we visited, unlike the high activity levels we had here. The monthly fees there were $300+, but to be fair I believe that it included basic lawn care and basic cable. Taxes and insurance in Polk County are also higher than here in TV. Utilities are also much higher in Polk county.

Winter Haven and Lake Wales have a lot of choices for shopping and places to eat and has grown considerably in the last 11 years, the entire area has. US27 went from 2 lanes to 6 while we lived in the area and traffic can be quite busy, especially truck traffic as there are few direct routes from south Florida going north US 27 being one of them. The mall just down the road from LA was dying when we moved to TV in 2014. Crime in Polk county is much higher than here in TV. County services are scattered throughout the local area so when you move there don't plan on one stop to get your property taxes, drives license, license plates, dog registered, and voter registration done all at once like you can here.

After looking at more than a dozen 55+ communities in Florida when we decided to move, LA made the first cut on our short list, it was cut on the second round of discussions because of the monthly fees, lack of activities, and the lack of convenience to supporting services. It's very hard to beat a 5 min golf cart ride to the bank, Dr.'s office, grocery store, and library, all in one trip.

Yes the price there is more attractive and you can build what you want (basically), but as one poster put it the house does grow old, it's the activities and lifestyle you're buying here and so far, well worth the money.