Palms Estates-Highlands County sits in Lorida, Florida, on the shores of Lake Istokpoga, and offers a small, friendly retirement option for people aged 55 and older who want a Christian community with a relaxed lifestyle. The place started back in 1959 and runs as a not-for-profit, so it focuses more on community than business, and you'll find a regular board of directors overseeing things and officers who live in a few different states. Residents can choose from block homes, single and double wide mobile homes, or stay in one of the 40 RV slips that have 30 to 50 amp service, with stays from overnight to year-round, and the mobile home park's got a long history, staying active and up to date, with changes as recent as 2024.
People here don't have to worry about meals much because there's meal service and all the homes come with central air conditioning, electric heating, and features like modular metal exteriors, drywall, cork or vinyl floors, and up-to-date bathroom fixtures-some homes have two or even three bathrooms and one's got six fixtures, so you've got a choice. The community helps with things like moving from beds to wheelchairs and monitoring insulin for diabetes care; there's always staff around 24 hours a day for help or emergencies. There's assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and independent living services available, and healthcare staff handles incontinence and non-ambulatory needs, so basic elder care gets real attention. For spiritual care, there're devotional services off-site and two local places of worship close by, and the community keeps a focus on Christian fellowship.
There's a good bit to do at Palms Estates, with planned activities that range from holiday parties, movie nights, and game nights to swimming, exercise classes, quilting, painting, and even a book club or coffee hour. Folks can play pickleball, shuffleboard, or , swim in the screen-enclosed and heated outdoor pool, borrow a bicycle, or spend time in the hobby house where there's TV, gaming tables, and exercise equipment, or head over to the workshop for woodworking and other crafts. The fellowship hall has a kitchen, dining space, and spots for gatherings and recreation, and there's a library for reading. You can even get free fresh citrus from trees right in the park, and everyone living there gets water, sewer, trash and recycling pickup, lawn service, and all facility use included in their RV site costs, though electric bills for RVs staying a month or longer go to the resident.
Palms Estates manages its property through Palms Estates of Highlands County Inc., keeping a close eye on the mobile home park side of things, with land set up for trailer and mobile home use, and different homes on different lot types. It's a no-pets, no-animals place, aiming for a safe, quiet, healthy atmosphere where residents are mostly independent, but can get some daily help. The community is close to two restaurants for outside dining, and there's lake access for fishing or enjoying the large freshwater spot of Lake Istokpoga. The staff circle is small, but the place keeps current with annual reporting and a nonprofit status since 1983, depending on donations-both tax-deductible and online-to help keep things running for seniors looking for a steady, calm place to live out their retirement years.
