Arkansas’ natural appeal lures retirees

When Kim Carlson’s friends back home in Kansas question her decision to move to Bella Vista, Arkansas, she tells them to come and see for themselves.

“They say ‘you’re moving to Arkansas’? I just tell them to come and visit. Once they do, they understand.”

Kim and her husband made the move five years ago to Bella Vista, one of the highest-rated retirement spots in the nation and arguably one of the most scenic. She now works as director of marketing and communications for the Bella Vista Property Owners Association.

“It’s a gorgeous place that offers about anything you can imagine, all within 30 miles,” Kim said. “If you like major sports, the University of Arkansas is 30 minutes away. The biggest part for me, and I think for a lot of people who move here from out of state, which is almost everyone who moves here, is that everyone is so welcoming.”

Arkansas’ Natural Assets and Central Location

They call Arkansas “The Natural State” for good reason: It’s a state of stunning natural beauty and a moderate four-season climate that makes possible an outdoor-oriented lifestyle that appeals to many senior adults looking for a great spot to vacation or retire. Whether your dream is a house by the lake, a quaint small town, or a cozy cabin in the mountains, Arkansas can make your retirement dream come true. It is a paradise for hikers, bikers, golfers, boaters, and those who love to fish.

As a result, Arkansas is getting more attention these days as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age and starts seeking new adventures. Most areas of the state offer a low cost of living, including housing and property tax. Arkansas has a state income tax, but Social Security benefits are exempt from it. The state also exempts from tax the first $6,000 of income each year from IRAs, pensions and other retirement accounts.

In addition to its plentiful outdoor assets, another appeal of Arkansas is its proximity to major metro markets throughout the South and Midwest. It is within an easy day’s drive of Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis and Kansas City. Many people in Texas, the Mid-South, and Midwest own vacation homes on one of Arkansas’ many lakes or choose to retire to Arkansas where they can still be within a day’s drive of family back home.

Bella Vista: One of Arkansas’ Most Popular Recreation and Retirement Destinations

Bella Vista is one of the best known of several hot spots in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountain region that attracts significant numbers of retirees. It’s not hard to understand why. While Bella Vista had existed as a small summer resort town for many decades, it didn’t gain national attention as a retirement destination until the early 1960s when Cooper Communities launched Bella Vista Village, a large master planned community.

Today, Bella Vista has a population of 31,000 and is spread over 36,000 acres. The city has received numerous recognitions as a great place to retire. Bella Vista ranked in Forbes’ list of the The Best Places to Retire for four years in a row, 2016-2019. U.S. News & World Report included Bella Vista in its list of Best Healthy Places to Retire. MSN, Money Magazine, and others have also lavished praise on Bella Vista.

Set amid lush green forests, seven lakes, waterfalls, and with the Ozark Mountains as a backdrop, pretty Bella Vista offers everything retirees (and vacationers) might want. The city operates six golf courses offering 99 holes of golf, three recreation centers, a marina, a lakeside restaurant, and a beach, among other amenities. There are more than 100 clubs and organizations to keep residents busy, covering the gamut of activities from wood carving to line dancing. You can see the full list of clubs on the Bella Vista Property Owners Association website.

Another plus for Bella Vista is that it is part of the booming Northwest Arkansas region, which boasts more than half a million residents. Northwest Arkansas is home to major corporations including Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt. Nearby urban centers like Bentonville and Fayetteville offer Bella Vista residents access to top restaurants, shopping, culture, higher education, and excellent health care. The Crystal Bridges Museum in neighboring Bentonville, offers world-class art exhibits on its beautiful 120-acre campus. The region is also served by the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, with daily flights on airlines including Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, and United.

Bella Vista and Northwest Arkansas have gained national recognition as a popular destination for bicycling, especially mountain biking. The city offers more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, walking, and biking. For those wanting an easier walking or cycling experience, the 37-mile-long, paved and relatively flat Razorback Greenway begins in Bella Vista and winds its way south through Bentonville, Rogers, Lowell, and Springdale, ending in Fayetteville.

Retiring to Hot Springs Village

Equally well known as one of Arkansas’ top large-scale retirement communities is Hot Springs Village, a sprawling 26,000-acre lake community that claims to be North America’s largest private, gated community. Located nearly four hours south of Bella Vista, toward the center of the state, Hot Springs Village boasts 11 lakes and is next to the expansive Ouachita National Forest. It is 30 minutes north of Hot Springs and about an hour from Little Rock, the state’s capital and largest city.

Like Bella Vista, Hot Springs Village is not exclusively a 55+ community but has the lifestyle and amenities that retirees find appealing. Of all of Arkansas’ master planned communities, Hot Springs Village has the highest percentage of retirees among its residents. About 69 percent of Hot Springs Village’s population is age 60 or older, according to U.S. Census records. The median age is 68.1. By contrast, in Bella Vista, only 39 percent of the population is age 60 and higher and the median age is 50.8.  Statewide, Arkansas’ average age is 38.8, according to Census records. New retirees will find a warm welcome and plenty to do, with more than 200 clubs and organizations to choose from, from gardening to music.

Living in Hot Springs Village is like a mix between living in a thick, green forest and living at a well-equipped resort. For those who love the outdoors, you won’t find a better place than Hot Springs Village. It offers residents and visitors nine golf courses with 171 holes of golf, 11 recreational lakes, two lakeside beaches, two marinas, 30 miles of walking trails, and facilities for numerous sports including tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball.  You won’t run out of outdoor activities.

Not all of Hot Springs Village’s excitement is outdoors. The 650-seat Woodlands Auditorium brings Broadway-style musicals, drama, dance, vocal and choral performances each year to Hot Springs Village. The Ponce de Leon Center and Casa de Carta offer room for cards, games, and a variety of other activities. The Coronado Fitness Center and Natatorium provides fitness equipment, a 25-meter heated indoor pool, a whirlpool spa, a three-lane walking track, sauna, massage therapy, and personal training.

Nearby Hot Springs is known for its namesake warm mineral springs, an urban national park, and for its early 20th century ornate bathhouses and spas. It is a popular tourist destination with large lakes, museums, and attractions. It is home to Oaklawn, which offers thoroughbred racing, a casino and resort. 

Just south of Hot Springs is Lake Hamilton, a 7,400-acre lake that is popular for boating, fishing, and water sports. While primarily a tourist area with a good choice of vacation rentals, the Lake Hamilton area also appeals to retirees seeking a quiet, lakeside lifestyle. You won’t find 55+ residential developments here or community amenities like golf courses and swimming pools. Even though Lake Hamilton only has just over 2,000 residents, it is a short drive into the heart of Hot Springs. 

Arkansas Offers Many Choices for Retirement Living

 

Bella Vista and Hot Springs Village are just two of many attractive places to retire in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. Some seniors are attracted to college towns like Fayetteville and Conway for their culture, great choice of restaurants, and special vibe. Both Fayetteville and Conway offer lakes, trails, and plenty of other amenities for a complete vacation or retirement experience.

Among the other frequently mentioned communities and towns in the Arkansas Ozarks that would-be retirees and vacationers may want to consider are the following:

Cherokee Village

Further east in Arkansas but still considered in the Ozarks is Cherokee Village, the first master planned recreational community in Arkansas, founded in 1954. It is a 15,000 acre community on the banks of the South Fork River. Cherokee Village offers retirees and vacationers two private 18-hole golf courses, six swimming pools, a private beach, tennis courts, recreation centers, fitness center, senior center, horseshoe pits, three nature trails, and seven lakes for boating or fishing. 

Follow this website to learn more about Cherokee Village.

Holiday Island and nearby Eureka Springs

Just south of the Missouri border in Northwest Arkansas is the recreational and retirement community of Holiday Island. It is a 4,500-acre community that features two golf courses, a marina, a recreation center, a swimming pool. Adding to Holiday Island’s beauty and appeal is its location on the shores of Table Rock Lake, one of the region’s largest lakes. 

Five miles south of Holiday Island is the unique and touristy town of Eureka Springs. This town has many Victorian-styled homes and the entire downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Eureka Springs is known for its historic hotels and spas, antiques, shops, crafts, and music. Eureka Springs is home to The Great Passion Play, a long-running outdoor drama about the life of Jesus Christ. 

For more information, visit Holiday Island’s website and learn about Eureka Springs here.

Mountain Home

Mountain Home, located in north/central Arkansas, is popular with retirees and for fishing and other water-focused recreation. It’s a quiet town that is blessed by its nearby waterways, including Bull Shoals and Norfolk lakes and the White and North Fork rivers.

For more information on Mountain Home, visit this website.

Fairfield Bay

Further south from Mountain Home and Cherokee Village is the resort town of Fairfield Bay. It is situated along 40,000-acre Greers Ferry Lake, popular with boaters and for fishing. A fully developed resort, Fairfield Bay includes a marina, two golf courses, four swimming pools (one indoors), a campground, a fitness center, tennis courts, several parks, and more than 30 miles of hiking or biking trails. More than just a resort, Fairfield Bay is a city and has year-round residents, including many retirees.

For more information on Fairfield Bay, visit their website.

Discover Arkansas’ 55+ Communities

If you are considering retiring to Arkansas, you may wish to explore some of the state’s many 55+ communities. For a list with descriptions and pricing, visit 55places.com.

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See These Other Stories About Great Places to Retire or Visit:

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: https://thisretirementlife.com/2019/10/29/lancaster-pa-a-special-place-to-visit-or-retire/

Ormond Beach, Florida: https://thisretirementlife.com/2019/09/17/retire-to-ormond-beach/

Tarpon Springs, Florida: https://thisretirementlife.com/2019/04/19/tarpon-springs-a-taste-of-greece-in-central-florida/

Costa Rica: https://thisretirementlife.com/2020/02/28/retiring-to-costa-rica/

Utah and St. George: https://thisretirementlife.com/2020/09/04/utahs-growing-appeal-to-retirees/