WHAT A PLACE!
When my husband and I decided we wanted to retire early, we began our search for the perfect retirement community. After narrowing our list to four communities in Florida, we sent for information on each and planned to stay on each property.
Given carte blanche of the facilities, we spent our first day riding around Oak Run. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful. They shared experiences as Oak Runners with us and made us feel like neighbors, not guests. No other community had embraced us as Oak Run had. Since our visit took place over the 4th of July weekend, we got a chance to see first hand how involved and active Oak Runners can be. From parades to picnics to jazz concerts, we were totally immersed in the Oak Run lifestyle.
By the end of our stay we had decided that Oak Run was truly "an active adult" community as well as a "Great American community" and we had found everything we were looking for: a beautiful home, friendly neighbors and all the activities you could possibly want. We left that weekend excited that we had finally found the place we wanted to call home.
- JoAnn and Fred Veale
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LIVING AT A RESORT
My husband and I have had the pleasure of traveling many roads, but the road we took to see Oak Run changed our lives and helped us make a decision that we had been dueling with since our retirements 10 years ago.
One of my jobs, before I retired as a travel consultant, was to inspect beautiful vacation resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, West Indies and many other destinations. I can remember saying to my husband, wouldn't it be nice to be able to live each day in a beautiful place like one of these resorts with nothing to do but relax and have fun, never dreaming that one day we would be doing just that.
We have lived in Oak Run for a little more than a year, and we feel like we're on permanent vacation! Thank you for letting us share this with you!
- Lois and Charlie Scholler
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A GREAT WAY TO END THE DAY
Tony and I always knew we wanted to end up in Florida for our retirement years. We just never realized that we would move TEN years before that! Oak Run Country Club helped us to make that decision.
As we still wanted to keep working, this area of Florida seemed to be best suited for our needs. As soon as we saw Oak Run, we immediately cancelled our other reservations. What a beautiful first impression. From the gorgeous entrance, friendly security staff, and sales associates, all the way through to the selection of lots, houses and the construction process, I just knew this was a CLASS ACT and therefore would remain that way in the years to come.
Now, we couldn't be happier anywhere else. Every night after work, if I have a stressful day, I actually open my car windows as I drive in the entrance, to hear the waterfall - which immediately relaxes me. In the evenings, we sit in our lanai to watch a storm go by, or the sun set. At that time we have a favorite saying to each other. It doesn't get any better than this. We now take great comfort in knowing that, when we do retire, we are already where we want to be.
- Tony and Rose Winter
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LIVING HER DREAMS!
I just watched a segment on Oprah Winfrey's television program about people living their dreams. I could have been on that episode!
I wanted a community that offered friendships and opportunities to spread my wings and do a thousand things I've never done before. Indeed, since moving to Oak Run, I've begun acting, watercolor painting, and other activities that were only a dream in my previous life. I've explored my inner self with the Meditation Group, the Wellness Club, Yoga and Tai Chi and just stopping to smell the flowers. I'm busier now than ever before, but now I play rather than work. I've spread my wings and soared. In fact, I'm in O.R.B.I.T. - Oak Run, Best In Town!
- Linda Holland Glick
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AN INFORMED DECISION
My wife and I researched retirement communities for more than three years before we chose Oak Run. We read every publication we could find that evaluated retirement communities, and I created a searchable computer database from the ratings.
On our visit to Oak Run, we were immediately impressed by the beautiful entrance and by the cordiality of the security personnel. As we drove to the sales office, we noted the rolling hills, mature trees, and the beautiful landscape. I think at that point we were sold on Oak Run before we saw the first house. We met our salesperson who exuded southern charm. I can still hear her, "Hi, y'all", and I think it consisted of 17 syllables. She made buying a house very enjoyable.
Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. It made no difference whether they were in sales, were residents or DECCA employees. We noticed that the houses were much less expensive than those we had seen in Las Vegas, and were every bit as nice!
We left Oak Run to look at three other communities, but our minds stayed on Oak Run. They just couldn't compare. We couldn't wait to make a return visit. We returned, chose a lot, chose the upgrades on our home, and signed on the dotted line.
Now that we have been here for four months, we find Oak Run nicer than we could have hoped. All our neighbors came to the house to welcome us to the neighborhood. We were invited to parties and given help in locating services. DECCA catered to our every request. It seems strange to say - but there is nothing more that we want from our community!
- Alan and Nerma Marcus
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OAK RUN IS IT!
When we got to Oak Run, we met our salesperson and toured the community. We used the remaining hours of the day to walk around the Orchid Club recreation area and we also spoke to several residents as we had made it a practice to do this everywhere we went. We wanted to know just how those living here really like it. We heard so many glowing comments it was as if every resident was a sales person. What better testimony could there be than that? The next day we met with our salesperson, and we made a down payment on our future. Twelve months later we moved into our new home in what we felt was the perfect community. Lillian's exclamation that "This is it!' has really turned out to be correct. Oak Run certainly is IT.
- Henry and Lillian Hanscom
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PARADISE!
My wife and I could have moved anywhere in Florida, indeed anywhere in the world. We chose Florida because, being athletes, the climate is ideal for us.
Oak Run reminded me of where I grew up. Everyone was friendly and the neighbors were your extended family. We loved the lay of the land and encountered the most delightful people on our tour. We were impressed with the way the homes were constructed, certainly as well as anything we saw in the $500,000 range. We looked no further. Our search was over.
After living here two years, our feelings are compounded tenfold. We love our home. We love our extended family. We love the DECCA management team. We love the yoga students whom we teach at the Orchid Club on Tuesdays. From the beautifully manicured boulevard to the exquisitely maintained pool complexes and recreational facilities, we are perfectly happy and feel very blessed. We thank God for Oak Run. This is Paradise!
- Andrew and Ingrid Crane
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DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR - OAK RUN CAME OUT ON TOP!
We knew we wanted to move to Florida when we retired, so we started our search seven years before we were to make the move. We knew we didn't want to live on either coast, as storms were a concern. Price was important as we didn't want to get in over our heads. We got the directions and drove through the main gate.
Our first reaction was WOW! We drove through lovely mature trees and manicured lawns, past the golf course and into the sales office parking lot. As soon as we stepped into one particular model home, we knew it was the house we were looking for.
I might also add, we made a graph and we compared eight communities with Oak Run, and dollar for dollar Oak Run came out on top. We were impressed with the place itself, the pools, tennis courts, and the lovely Orchid Club. The location, the beauty and the affordability of Oak Run is what got us to choose it as our final home and we feel it is the best choice we could have made!
- Jack and Nancy Lillard
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WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?
In December of 1999, we flew to Hawaii for a week's celebration of our 45th wedding anniversary. That completed our list of all 50 states in the U.S.A. to be visited. We've always been happy to return to "Home, Sweet Home", but Oak Run has made it more enjoyable to stay at home than any other spot on earth. We are involved in activities of every kind, have wonderful friends and neighbors, and thank God every day for miracles!
(Question) Who wants to be a millionaire?
(Final Answer?) You don't have to be one to feel like one and LIVE like one in Oak Run!!!
- Ruth Clark
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NO ROCKING CHAIRS AROUND HERE!
We had looked all over Florida, but really liked the change of season you get here in Marion County: the beautiful fall, the lovely spring, and no snow! Oak Run had everything we were looking for: shopping close by, and all we wanted in Ocala, hospitals, and great eating places. After we did the tour, we knew this was to be our new home. The dollar value and construction of the houses here was the best we had seen. So, that began our life here at Oak Run. We are social members of Royal Oaks Golf Club, we are travel club hosts, and Skip is one of our neighborhood representatives. We both love it here and tell the same thing to anyone who wants to listen. My children thought it was a place where you sit on your porch in a rocking chair and watch the world go by. How wrong they were!
- Carol Kellogg
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ABSOLUTELY THE BEST OF FLORIDA
On one of our trips, we saw that Oak Run was being started. Over the next years, we watched it grow into a beautiful community. Everything that was being promised to the residents soon came to be. A year before we planned to retire we came in to take a close look at the models being offered. Of course, there were several we would have been happy to choose - but we found the one we wanted for our own.
Finally the day came for our move to Oak Run! As we drove through the front gate, we looked at each other and said, "We're really home!' Although we have family in several other states, we truly feel that our "new family" is right here in our community. Each one of our friends will always be a treasure to be cherished -- here in Oak Run! No wonder it's called the BEST OF FLORIDA!
- Eleanor and Jack Foggan
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ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA
Bob and I began our "journey" to our final destination of Oak Run over 12 years ago. We had friends in Homosassa, and on our way back to our home in Connecticut, we passed by Oak Run many times. One day we decided to stop and see the development. The front entrance was so lovely with it's beautiful waterfall and small ponds. We thought the Orchid Club was just beautiful. We also liked the area and the friendly people. The trees were so much like the trees we were used to seeing in New England. It has been an exciting journey for us, especially to be here and watch this development grow into one of the most desirable communities in Florida!
- Bob and June Southwick
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OAK RUN IS A FANTASY LAND
It was a cold winter night in St. Louis when the decision was made - "Let's go to Florida and check it out". We narrowed our list to seven - Oak Run was number seven. Snow was gently falling outside as we sat by the fire with all the information packets of various Florida communities scattered around us.
In July, we arrived at Orlando International Airport, rented a car and began our adventure to Ocala. After five days of visiting and re-visiting, in and out of display homes, and talking with salespeople, we were exhausted. I fell into bed into a restless sleep, and awoke feeling as though I hadn't slept. I was too tired to go again and was ready to return home. That morning, my husband convinced me to go to Oak Run, saying "Oak Run is on our list, why don't we just drive through?" I agreed and we headed for Oak Run.
As we drove through the front gate and began taking in the manicured grounds, beautiful trees and flowers, my mood began to rise. We glanced at each other with smiles of approval. At the reception area we were greeted by friendly people, and were assigned to a very helpful salesperson. It was at the model homes we felt "this was the place". We weren't ready to sign on the 'dotted line', but flew home and prayed. Three days later we called our salesperson, and told him Oak Run was ideal for us, and started our journey to Oak Run.
We give thanks everyday for living here. We love our home and have so many friends and wonderful neighbors. There is so much to do in this area. As our daughter put it, "You live in fantasy land". I guess she was right. We never dreamed we could retire in such style. Thank you, Oak Run, for being here.
- Allen and Jan Warner
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NICE PEOPLE LIVE HERE!
One day, we received a magazine, with an ad for Oak Run. We answered the ad and received confirmation for our stay, over Memorial Day weekend in one of the guest houses. We were to stay Sunday night. However, they had sent us a newsletter, which stated that there was to be a dance on Saturday night. We called our salesperson and inquired if we could attend although we weren't staying until Sunday. She said yes. When we arrived we learned that not only could we go to the dance, but that our host couple plus two other couples, who had not planned to go, had changed their plans, so we could all share a table. Three couples did this for strangers! Our impression - nice people live here. We looked at three other communities after, but we returned to Oak Run and made arrangements to purchase!
- Joanne Shelton
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