The Grass is Greener at The Meadows in Tarpon Springs

The grass is greener at The Meadows, a 55+ manufactured home community, in central Florida. It’s not about the location, the cost of living, or even the proverbial grass. The quality difference in retirement living really comes down to amenities, activities, and most importantly the people. Or in the case of The Meadows, the community created by all three.

“As far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat The Meadows.”

Tricia Baylis

You’ll have to trust Tricia on this one. 

She’s seen other 55+ communities in Florida. In fact, she left The Meadows in Tarpon Springs looking for something more only to return months later with a better understanding of what makes The Meadows so special. 

What she discovered was that the term “resort community” doesn’t always deliver a community feel. It takes more than cute homes and amenities to make a manufactured house feel like a home. 

Manufactured Homes vs. Manufactured Home Communities

“The house was gorgeous. The community was terrible. No activities, not friendly, not The Meadows.”

That’s what Tricia discovered only months after moving out of The Meadows. A Florida transplant, Tricia lived at The Meadows in a manufactured home for two years. She was then lured away by real estate with waterfront views in a nearby mobile home park. 

“It was a beautiful house. The whole living room was wall-to-wall windows facing the water. It was gorgeous,” explains Tricia. 

However, seven months later she sold her home with the water views and made a beeline back to The Meadows. She’s now settled back into her Cove Communities neighborhood where she credits the resort-style amenities, activities, and people for creating a 55+ community lifestyle that can’t be beat. 

“Everybody helps everybody. It’s just a wonderful community and the amount of activities that we have. We’re so lucky.”

The people and activities are the difference between living in a manufactured house versus living in a manufactured home community. 

Benefits of 55+ Community Activities

The Meadows community offers a full activity calendar with live entertainment, clubs, and sports leagues. Residents within the land lease community also enjoy resort amenities with a pool, hot tub, clubhouse, and fitness center.

“We have yoga. We have water aerobics. I mean, you just can’t beat The Meadows. It’s a wonderful place to live,” explains Tricia who credits the community lifestyle manager with making The Meadows feel so lively.

“We have a coffee hour once every Wednesday, which is wonderful. I mean, people look so forward to a coffee hour because we get to see everybody and we get an update on what’s going on at The Meadows.”

Community Activities Sets The Meadows Apart

Tricia credits all the social events with bonding the senior community. She didn’t find the same social setting at the other Tarpon Springs park where social hours only happened once a month. In that age-restricted community, the homeowner association organized the events.

At The Meadows, it’s the lifestyle team that keeps the social scene buzzing with the help of community volunteers who often help host classes. Tricia splits her time between crafting classes, playing mahjong and dominos at the clubhouse, and helping her neighbors. 

The retired social worker puts her professional skills to use within the community she loves. 

“If there’s a neighbor who needs some kind of resources, I’ll try to connect them with what they need like Meals on Wheels.”

Weighing the Benefits of 55+ Community Living 

Fixed incomes are the biggest challenge of living in any manufactured home community, admits Tricia who says that lot rent can be expensive for some families. That’s why Tricia encourages people interested in moving into active adult communities to weigh the benefits of buying a manufactured home and what they’re truly getting for their money. 

“Look at what activities they have,” suggests Tricia who went from a hopping social scene at The Meadows to nothing when she moved. 

Lot rent varies in land lease communities depending on where you live and when you bought a home. However, lot rent at The Meadows gives every resident access to amenities, social activities, basic cable and internet, trash, and lawn service. 

Besides the obvious amenities, land lease communities do have benefits. The average price for a new manufactured home was $87 per square foot in 2023. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD, that’s roughly half the cost of a new site-built home, excluding the cost of land.
A home sales specialist can answer specific questions about lot rent, energy efficiency, and available homes within The Meadows. You can even sign up for a community tour to discover why residents like Tricia choose to call The Meadows “home.”

Moving to Tarpon Springs, Florida

“Once I saw it, I fell in love with it. It’s a beautiful community.”

The beauty extends beyond The Meadows’ housing options to charming Tarpon Springs. The Gulf Coast town combines historic Florida with Greek culture. You’ll find Greek restaurants, bakeries, and shops that give the area a Mediterranean feel. The charming downtown is also filled with art galleries, antique shops, and the world-famous sponge docks. Plus, its proximity to Tampa, Florida makes it an easy draw for neighboring communities. 

Find your escape in Tarpon Springs by touring The Meadows and discover 55+ community living at its finest with Cove Communities.