Driving from PA to TV on Mon. 9/19. Should we cancel?

[I Tango]

We plan to arrive on Mon. for a 10 day stay in a villa near Lake Deaton. Our main purpose of our visit is to tour open houses for possible purchase next yr. Plus we like to attend the ballroom dance classes and dances.

Does anyone know if the open houses are happening as usual or if the activities are running at the rec centers? It appears two of the squares are back up and running but what about most of the stores and restaurants around TV?

Our main concern is the gas availability around TV and also for the drive down from PA.

We have to decide by tonight or early tomorrow if we want to cancel for our travel insurance to cover the cost of our rental.

We would normally just delay our trip a couple weeks but we have a mother on hospice care, but she is currently stable. However she will most likely go down hill in the weeks ahead, making delaying the trip a few weeks difficult.

Opinions. Thanks.

[spring_chicken]

The power is supposed to be fully restored by Sunday. Open houses have been going on, and there are plenty of activities.
I think you'll be ok on gas as they have opened up the ports for delivery.

[villagetinker]

Come on down, there is plenty to do. There were open houses the day after the storm. We are in the process of cleaning up, but most of that should be done by the time you get down here. A few facilities (golf courses, rec centers, pools) are still closed, but I expect these will be opening very soon. The historic section (north of 441) was hit very hard and may still be experiencing power outages, our area, south of 466a experienced very little damage, no or very short power outages.
We came from PA also.

[dewilson58]

Agree.................COME ON DOWN!!

[photo1902]

We plan to arrive on Mon. for a 10 day stay in a villa near Lake Deaton. Our main purpose of our visit is to tour open houses for possible purchase next yr. Plus we like to attend the ballroom dance classes and dances.

Does anyone know if the open houses are happening as usual or if the activities are running at the rec centers? It appears two of the squares are back up and running but what about most of the stores and restaurants around TV?

Our main concern is the gas availability around TV and also for the drive down from PA.

We have to decide by tonight or early tomorrow if we want to cancel for our travel insurance to cover the cost of our rental.

We would normally just delay our trip a couple weeks but we have a mother on hospice care, but she is currently stable. However she will most likely go down hill in the weeks ahead, making delaying the trip a few weeks difficult.

Opinions. Thanks.

Plenty to do, as long as golf isn't one of them.

[slipcovers]

If my mother was in hospice I would cancell. Spend her last few days with her. JMO

[I Tango]

If my mother was in hospice I would cancell. Spend her last few days with her. JMO

Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like we're being insensitive to our mother. Not the case at all. We've been caring for our elderly parents for over 20 yrs and there is more to the story than I mentioned. Trust me, we're not neglecting our mother. But I totally understand your comment.

[I Tango]

Thanks everyone for the comments so far. Our rental property just gave us an extension to Sunday for us to cancel. So we'll have a couple more days to see how everything is going before we have to make a decision.

[villagerjack]

The Villages has a remarkable way of recovering. We had our Lifestyle visit and bought a home during the visit ten years ago a day or two after the big tornado hit. Don't miss out on your opportunity.

[John_W]

It was in the Daily Sun yesterday that the TV hired an outside contractor to come and pick up all the debris. In our CYV community just about everybody has a brown yard waste bag at the curb and some have several, and yesterday was our normal pickup day. Nobody came and these bags are all sitting around. I guess the contractor will be doing the neighborhoods as well. The paper made it sound like they were going to hit the main roads. It mentioned putting all yard waste at the curb for pickup.

That's the only thing I would say to a visitor is the tons of spanish moss and palm tree debris laying everywhere and that's not normally the case. So if you come Monday and everything is still a mess, it's getting taken care of. With a 10 day stay, everything will probably be back to normal by the end of next week for sure.

[SFSkol]

Just talked to my family returning from Savanna to The Villages. 95 usual traffic both ways, gas fill-ups not a problem. Most businesses open on 301. Clear sailing.

[I Tango]

Just talked to my family returning from Savanna to The Villages. 95 usual traffic both ways, gas fill-ups not a problem. Most businesses open on 301. Clear sailing.

Thanks SFSkol. That's good to know since a major concern of ours is how the gas supply would be on 95 once we hit Georiga. We usually stop at a hotel overnight right off 95 in Pooler, GA, which is right outside of Savannah.

[kcrazorbackfan]

You might check with Florida Dept. of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol before your journey; I just read where I-75 north of Gainesville may be closed due to rising floodwaters and traffic may have to be re-routed through Jacksonville on I-10.

[Villager Dude]

I would not delay.

There will be plenty to do when you get here.

Golf will be hit and miss while you are here.

If you can make it to Brunswick, GA exit 38 on I 95, I would do so. There is a great restaurant Millhouse Steakhouse and a Holiday Inn next to it. I try to plan my trips there to eat. They open at 4PM. I was there last week and they had a buffet that I did not want so I would check to see if they are back on their regular menu. Buffett was for all the displaced travelers.

[JoMar]

Get gas buddy app.....will help you plan the stops on the way.

[karostay]

The fuel situation..From the Carolinas to the Villages is my concern
Thinking about coming down late next week

[Lottoguy]

Come on down!! We're almost back to normal here.

[hvacgolfer]

Just to add a bit to what the previous posters said.... I just left Virginia on Thursday and got here today. Probably half to two thirds of the cars on I-95 had Fla tags and there were lots of cars on the road. Had no problems getting gas except when I got to Ocala. Some power issues remain there and when I found an open station there were probably over a dozen cars waiting. The convenience store had lines of people and a remotely located ice shack had a line. But, these things are outside The Villages. Power is on here, but golf courses are closed. Lots of debris remains, but it will get picked up and we will be back to usual within a week or two.

[karostay]

Come on down!! We're almost back to normal here.
Normal as in saved seats at town squares that no one uses and
fake service dogs at restaurants :a20:

[TheScoodlepoops]

We just arrived in The Villages this afternoon, driving from Greenville, SC. We encountered no traffic issues on I-26, I-95, I-10 or 301 and only minor congestion on I-75 from Ocala to the Wildwood exit. No issues with gas, although we did see a few stations on 301 that still had no electricity/gas with bags on the pumps. A really good ride!

[borjo]

Absolutely come down. Today we just came back from Virginia. Make your hotel reservation ahead of time just in case. No problems with gas or traffic but we did not use the interstate although my "Inrix" app showed 95 to be normal.

[MisterEd1945]

We're arriving 10/1 from PA for a 2-month rental. Have the same concerns as the original poster. Getting updates and pics from the Daily Sun, looks like there is still a lot of flooding and damage to the golf courses.

[asianthree]

We're arriving 10/1 from PA for a 2-month rental. Have the same concerns as the original poster. Getting updates and pics from the Daily Sun, looks like there is still a lot of flooding and damage to the golf courses.

Yes the courses have flooding, at this time it is week by week as to when courses are going to be ready. If golf is the only activity you plan on there should be some open while you are here. We do have a wide range of things to do other than golf.

The villages is not going to stop until every golf course is completely cleaned up that is a guarantee. When that will be accomplished is a? For everyone. I think only you can answer whether you should come down or not. You'll be amazed at what this place is like and how quickly things will return to normal.

What if you get down here and you can't play any golf will that ruin your time of your vacation. It is a thought that I would consider after spending the amount of money for staying for two months