[Yorio]

When you first visited TV, what impressed you. Having driven 301 and 27/441, I was impressed how the scenery changed as I started driving on Buena Vista Blvd. I thought we came to another country with all the greens, palm trees and the flowers. The roads were clean and orderly. Golf cart caravans were something to behold and really surprised to see the golf cart trails all over.

[angiefox10]

I will NEVER forget it. We drove into Spanish Springs. I remember seeing a couple of ladies jogging and some people playing pickle ball (only then I didn't know what it was). All the golf carts (I thought maybe they were Amish) People walking hand in hand going through the shops and sitting in the outdoor café's eating lunch with their friends. I thought I had just entered the Griswold Christmas only it was July! I wanted to sign up to drink the Kool aid right then and there! *sigh*

Then they took us on a bus ride! It was soooo perfect!!!! We had been looking in Florida for our retirement community for several years and thought we had found the fountain of youth!

[Pturner]

Hi Yorio,
My first impression was quite similar to yours. As a golfer, I also was impressed with the layout of golf courses everywhere. First stops were the town squares and I loved (still do) their charm and the nightly dancing and entertainment offered. Next I discovered to my amazement all of the beautiful rec. centers. A short time later, discovered the Polo grounds.

Although it was several years later before we bought in TV, that first trip we knew. We still find all of it amazing and wonderful. The golf cart caravans never cease to thrill!

[RichieLion]

Ha ha!; I had the same experience as you, Yorio. In 2008 I got off the Florida Turnpike, per my instructions, and turned right on Main St. (301N). I was immediately apprehensive. It looked a bit depressed and run down and I turned to my wife and said "I don't know about this" (Main St. has since received many upgrades and improvements)

We drove down the road looking a shabby storefronts, empty stores, and such, and got a little down hearted. Then we turned right on 466A and in a little while the scenery changed as dramatically as if we were Dorothy waking up in Oz. All of a sudden we were driving into a beautiful picture postcard.

Pristine and gorgeous landscaping, no trash anywhere, people driving all over in cool golf carts, lovely looking well kept homes. All our cares went out the window and we knew we would come here to live at that moment. We've never been sorry.

[renielarson]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I will NEVER forget it. We drove into Spanish Springs. I remember seeing a couple of ladies jogging and some people playing pickle ball (only then I didn't know what it was). All the golf carts (I thought maybe they were Amish) People walking hand in hand going through the shops and sitting in the outdoor café's eating lunch with their friends. I thought I had just entered the Griswold Christmas only it was July! I wanted to sign up to drink the Kool aid right then and there! *sigh*

Then they took us on a bus ride! It was soooo perfect!!!! We had been looking in Florida for our retirement community for several years and thought we had found the fountain of youth!

I'm so sorry to be laughing...but Amish driving golf carts...I can't help but find that funny.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

We were immediately impressed by how neat, clean, and well thought out TV was on our first trip to look around. The bus ride as well as some additional show-and-tell from a sales rep started giving us some more insight regarding how mind boggling the place really is!

Bill

[jebartle]

The "ole boy" was at the wheel going about 55 mph down 441/27 and said "well there is The Villages" and kept drivfing, heading to Orlando....Yipsters! BUT BUT BUT on our return trip back to NC, I got him to stop down Main Street, and both of our mouths dropped in Ahhhh! We were hooked from that moment on....FLOWERS EVERY WHERE (Hmm!, I've heard that b4)...No really, TV was beautiful, and STILL IS....I knew we were going to be Happy Homeowners when we were introduced to ALL the golf courses, for a couple of avid golfers, it was our "Candy store"..

[bonrich]

We did the life-style stay for 3 or 4 nights, can't recall exactly. Our patio villa was adjacent to the Nancy Lopez golf course which was under construction at the time. Mastering the round-abouts, what a hoot! Enjoying Spanish Springs every night, then heading back to the Villa after dark, and all of them looking the same. Used the garage door opener on the first night to find out which one was ours!
Took us about 3 years and we finally bought in Pennecamp last year. Great place to look forward coming back to each winter season, as our stays become longer.

[2BNTV]

Driving in from the airport, I remember being on 301 and was not having good thoughts. I remember then making a right on 466 and I said to myself, "self", this place is big. I found Lake Sumter and when in the Sales office, I thought this place is luxurious.

Then I was taken to my rental and I thought, these homes are really beautiful. Took the trolley tour and was impressed. When I saw how beautiful the landscaping, flowers etc, I thought, " this place is really well maintained. When I saw the buffalo preserve, I was blown away.

Spending a couple of nights in Spanish Springs partying and meeting wonderful friendly people, I knew I found heaven on earth.

BTW - I haven't been on a golf course yet!!!!!

[cappyjon431]

My perspective is a little bit different, as I first saw TV about 25 years ago while driving from Gainesville to Miami. Viewed from 441/27 it looked really interesting, so I made a quick detour through the Spanish Springs area and thought, how cool, disneyworld for retirees. Being a young whippersnapper at the time I never even considered that I might be living here in the future. Fast forward 25 years and now we are happily living in TV.

[rubicon]

"This must be heaven", no its The Villages

[Turtlediver]

Our experience was much like RichieLions.... we drove and began to wonder and then we also felt that we had just step into Oz after . Town of Lake Sumter was picture perfect and every where we drove was immaculate. Not to hard to guess that we bought a lovely home in Tamarind Grove and hope to be there soon........

[collie1228]

I'm from Upstate New York where, if you take away the five months of winter, it's a beautiful green place. I always thought Florida paled in comparison, except for the sunshine, the beaches and the theme parks. Then I drove into The Villages in 2008 and it was like the lights went on or something; hard to explain. Gracie said it best in a recent post, and I can't improve on it: When you come into TV, "It is just like when the color came on in the Wizard of Oz."

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by bonrich

Used the garage door opener on the first night to find out which one was ours!

[Mikeod]

Seems like a lot of us had the same experience. We were visiting my son in Sarasota and I asked my wife if we could look at TV since we were looking for a place to retire. We came up 301 from Wildwood and it was nothing special. We turned on 466 and went past the place where Walmart is, then the high school. OK a little bit better. Then went past Palmer on the right, then the big sign. Hmmm, getting interesting. Then we saw Lake Sumter, the bridge, and then the sales office. Wow! My wife's attitude changed completely since she thought it would be just another golf course with homes.

We went back to Sarasota, and she told me she wanted to take another look, so we came back, talked to our agent, told him what we wanted and a few months later we got a call and bought our home, sight unseen. My colleagues could not believe I bought a house online! Best move I ever made.