Evening is settling over The Retreat at Kemps River. The surrounding woodlands that are so scenic during the day are now in shadows. But the spacious clubhouse that is at the center of this 55-and-better adult community is aglow with light and life. Inside neighbors greet one another with handshakes, hugs, and laughter. Some drift outside to relax around the spectacular pool; others settle into the seats around the stone fire pit. The atmosphere is that of a special celebration, but such gatherings are a part of life at The Retreat.

Cindy Godsell, Realtor® with Rose and Womble Realty, LLC, can't help but smile as she watches the scene. "This is an absolutely beautiful clubhouse," she says. "I love watching people's expressions when they come into the community and see it for the first time. The clubhouse really is the social hub of our community. We know our residents are going to spend a lot of time over here, getting to know each other and making new friends."

Linda Hammond, who recently moved to The Retreat with her husband, agrees. "We love the clubhouse!" she says. "It's the perfect spot for having activities and entertaining friends and family. There's a gym here, a fitness room, and, of course, the swimming pool."

 "Being in a 55-and-better community, a lot of our folks are preparing for retirement," Cindy points out. "They're looking for their "forever home' where they'll be spending their retirement years."

To those searching for the perfect "forever home," The Retreat at Kemps River offers a collection of single-family attached homes in five distinct floor plans, all beautifully crafted by WeldenField and Rowe. All offer two to four bedrooms, two or three bathrooms, and two-car garages. Many feature vaulted ceilings, open kitchens, fireplaces, and covered porches. Buyers can also customize many of the options on their homes, including preferences for first- or second-floor suites.

Builder Brian Rowe of WeldenField and Rowe, is proud of the care that has gone into The Retreat at Kemps River.

"We took a ton of time with pre-planning, so The Retreat has so many wonderful amenities," he explains. "We have put a lot of effort into making sure elements conducive to an active lifestyle are built into the fabric of this community. Sometimes when we develop these ideas and dream up the different details, we wonder if those things will help people make a buying decision. What I've realized in talking to many of our residents is that they are noticing these special details. They appreciate the unique things that we've added- things that we thought were important, but that we weren't sure would necessarily catch people's eyes. My hope for residents is that they'll be able to experience all the different things we've put into this community- things aimed at promoting an active lifestyle."

Cindy agrees with Brian, adding: "The quality of work and care that WeldenField and Rowe Custom Homes put into this development is remarkable. They genuinely care about home buyers and are very in tune with what they want and need. We sincerely want to help buyers make their new space something they can be proud of. The buyer is getting an incredible lifestyle along with incredible value."

"I'm a Realtor®, and I've been selling homes for many years," she continues, "and we always hope that what we're selling will turn out really nice. And that's one thing about working with WeldenField and Rowe, I've just been so proud of every neighborhood I've been able to sell for them. Everything has always been so beautifully done. Their customer service- even after the closing- has been outstanding. There's never been a warranty issue that they haven't stepped up to the plate to take care of."

It was WeldenField and Rowe's reputation that convinced Debra Marks to move to The Retreat at Kemps River.

"We have some friends who live at another WeldenField and Rowe community, and they absolutely love it," she says. "They've made so many new friends, and they do so many activities that we thought it might be great for us. So, since I just retired and my husband is going to be retiring soon we just thought it would be a good move for us- plus we wanted to move from the big house, the yard work, the maid- all of that- so that we could take care of things ourselves."

Linda nods in agreement. "We had lived in our house for about 20 years," she says. "As time went on, a lot of repairs were needed. We also lived on the Elizabeth River and were concerned about rising water levels."

"We looked at other over-55 communities in Virginia Beach, but most were huge," she continues. "Here at the Retreat with only 80 units, you really get to know your neighbors and really get to develop those relationships. Everything here is a little bit smaller than what we had, but that's what we wanted- we wanted to downsize. We have cathedral ceilings so it's very light and airy. Everything is brand new. Who wouldn't love that?" she asks with a laugh.

"We wanted to get into a community that had a lot of activities," Linda concludes. "We wanted something new, and The Retreat at Kemps River really fits the bill."