A private, gated community in the Evergreen neighborhood of San Jose, California, the Villages San Jose provide an ideal setting for those in or nearing retirement who are looking for a community of other like-minded folks. The Villages is in Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay area of northern California, near the hub of activity that is Silicon Valley. Within the Evergreen neighborhood, it is situated in the Silver Creek Valley area.
The Villages was established in 1967 as a private gated retirement community and is available only to resident over the age of 55. The community sits on the grounds of the Villages Golf and Country Club, with a nine-hole course and an 18-hole course on the grounds. The area houses more than 2,300 condominiums and townhomes and more than 225 single-family homes, and there are approximately 4,300 residents living within the community. To buy The Villages San Jose real estate in the community, residents must be 55, but they are allowed to have visitors under the age of 55.
Facilities on the Villages ground include a clubhouse and party with party and meeting rooms, community swimming pools, a spa, a hot tub, BBQ and picnic areas, tennis courts, walking paths and trails spread around the community, a lake, creek and both mountain and city views. The community is in an area that was historically once a farming community, with farms and vineyards, and it has retained much of the area's natural beauty. The community also has its own pro shop and a driving range, more than 550 acres of open space, stables and bridle paths. There are four small clubhouses, with rooms specifically catering to those with an interest in photography, woodworking, and billiards, plus a large, main clubhouse. A library and auditorium are also in the community. By buying The Villages San Jose homes, residents gain an automatic membership to the country club and use of all its facilities.
For activities and interests outside the communities, there are multitudes of dining options, theater and music venues in San Jose. There are three airports in the region -- one each in San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland -- ensuring access to thousands of commercials flights. There are five hospitals in San Jose for tending to the medical needs of residents, and libraries and museums abound: San Jose is home to around a dozen museums, including the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, home to the largest Beethoven collection outside of Europe, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast, and the Tech Museum of Innovation. There are also many parks within the county, and the Pacific Coast is just a short drive away. Within Evergreen, residents will find a diverse community with large populations of both Asian and Hispanic communities. It is largely suburban with several shopping centers and stores. On the community's eastern edge is Evergreen Valley College. It also has its own Evergreen Branch Library and is home to the St. Francis of Assisi Parish.