The Grove

    18770 Pondview Dr, Foley, AL, 36535
    3.8 · 6 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    3.0

    Active social community, maintenance concerns

    I love how clean and easy to navigate this busy 55+ community - nonstop activities, games most nights, resident-planned events, holiday meals, pool/clubhouse/exercise center/pickleball, golf cart access and great friendships; my family loves it. My main worries are maintenance and safety: flooding and sinkholes have gone unaddressed, rule enforcement is lax, the pool has been underrepair (residents sometimes cleaning scum), and lot rents keep rising on leased land. Overall it's an active, social place (lots of snowbirds) but remember it's not an assisted-living facility and you don't own the land.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    3.83 · 6 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.8
    • Staff

      3.8
    • Meals

      3.8
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      3.0

    Pros

    • Extensive amenities: pool, clubhouse, exercise center, pickleball
    • Active, resident-planned events and organized activities
    • Strong social community and close friendships
    • Holiday meals and regular communal dining
    • Frequent games and nightly social opportunities
    • Clean, easy-to-navigate grounds
    • Family-approved environment
    • Golf cart access and accommodating outdoor mobility
    • Appeals to snowbirds/seasonal residents
    • Independent-living focus (not assisted living)

    Cons

    • Flooding issues and unaddressed sinkholes
    • Lax rule enforcement
    • Pool maintenance problems with residents reporting scum and cleaning
    • Rising lot rent
    • Homes sit on leased land rather than owned land
    • Not an assisted living facility (limitation for those needing care)
    • Busy community may feel crowded to some residents

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive about lifestyle, social opportunities, and on-site amenities, tempered by recurring concerns about infrastructure, maintenance, and community governance. Many reviewers describe The Grove as an "amazing place to live," highlighting a wide variety of activities, frequent social events, and strong friendships formed among residents. The community appears lively and busy, with organized activities, resident-planned events, holiday meals, and regular games most nights — offering "something for everyone." The presence of a clubhouse, exercise center, pool, and pickleball courts is repeatedly praised and is central to the community’s active culture.

    Facilities receive mostly favorable comments for providing conveniences that support an engaging independent-living lifestyle. Reviewers call the grounds clean and easy to navigate, and they specifically mention amenities such as golf cart access and a welcoming environment for snowbirds/seasonal residents. The emphasis on resident-driven programming and frequent social opportunities contributes to a sense of strong neighborly bonds and friendships; several summaries cite how well families and residents enjoy the social fabric of the community.

    However, multiple reviews raise material concerns about maintenance, safety, and management. Reported flooding issues and unaddressed sinkholes are significant infrastructure red flags that prospective residents should investigate further. The pool has been singled out for problematic maintenance — noted as being under maintenance at times and, in at least one account, requiring residents to remove scum themselves. These maintenance issues, along with comments about lax rule enforcement, suggest inconsistency in how on-site problems and community standards are managed.

    Financial and governance issues are also notable. Several reviewers mention rising lot rent and the fact that homes are on leased land rather than owned land. That arrangement can have long-term implications for cost predictability and equity appreciation, and it’s a point of concern for some residents. The combination of increasing site fees and land-lease status is an important consideration for anyone evaluating the community from a long-term financial perspective.

    Care-level expectations are another important pattern: The Grove is consistently described as not being an assisted living facility. That is a clarifying point in the reviews and should be considered a feature for those seeking an active independent-living environment, but a limitation for anyone who requires regular assisted living or skilled nursing services. Reviews do not provide much direct commentary on staff quality or medical/clinical care (likely because that level of care is not offered), so prospective residents who need or expect onsite healthcare support should seek explicit details from management about available services or referrals.

    In summary, The Grove appears to offer a vibrant, activity-rich independent living experience with well-liked amenities and a strong social culture. The most frequent and consequential concerns involve infrastructure and property-management matters: flooding and sinkhole reports, inconsistent maintenance (notably the pool), lax enforcement of community rules, rising lot rents, and the lease-of-land model. These are tangible issues that prospective residents should investigate during visits and contract reviews. For active retirees who prioritize social life, organized activities, and an amenity-rich setting, The Grove rates highly in reviews. For those who need assisted living services, prefer land ownership, or are sensitive to infrastructure and management reliability, the community may not be the best fit without further due diligence.

    Location

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