Welcome to Wilkes County North Carolina: Nestled within the picturesque setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wilkes County offers a delightful adventure for both the young and the young at heart. Located just 80 miles from Charlotte, 45 miles from Winston-Salem, 45 miles from Hickory, and 35 minutes from Boone, Wilkes County remains an ideal location for those looking to escape the fast paced world of city living, while remaining close enough to commute for a night out on the town. Wilkes County offers the best of both worlds, presented with the flair of true southern hospitality. For all Wilkesboro Real Estate and Wilkes County, NC Real Estate.
What can retirement in Wilkes County offer you?
Great schools, low crime, affordable housing and fantastic outdoor life make Wilkes County a TOP retirement destination. Situated 1,100 feet above sea level in the Foothills of North Carolina, the county offers restaurants, culture, natural attractions and much more.
Affordable home prices (by big-city standards), low taxes, low insurance rates and low crime rate.
Plentiful outdoor activities: several golf-courses, many state parks including Stone Mountain and Rendezvous State Parks, and several area national parks (within a short driving distance (Pisgah National Park, Mount Rogers, Smoky Mountain)).Like walking?, the Yadkin River Greenway has miles of them as does Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir, which is also good for boating, swimming, fishing and camping.
Moderate weather year round with the opportunity to experience mother nature's all 4 seasons!
Great healthcare with a number of physicians and specialists in the Westpark medical center, the new 20,000 sq.ft. diagnostic center and the always expanding 130-bed local hospital, Wikes Regional. Also within an hours drive from an additional 4 hospitals including the Wake Forest affiliated Baptist Medical center in Winston-Salem.
A priviledged location: located between the vacation ski towns of Boone & Blowing Rock and big-city life of the Triad region, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. 30 mins to Statesville and Elkin and 45 miles from Hickory and the Lake Norman area. The Charlotte metropolis/downtown/airport is about 1 hour away.
Local (and near) higher education can be a hub for activities such as classical music, lectures and lifelong learning classes.
Let me help you make your retirement an easy step. I can help you find that maintenance-free, one-level living space you are looking for or that dream cabin high up in the mountains, or even that lakeside retreat you've been dreaming of your years. Let's begin the search today. Click HERE to fill out the Retirement questionnaire.
Retirement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire and keep some sort of retirement job, out of choice rather than necessity. This usually happens upon reaching a determined age, when physical conditions don't allow the person to work any more (by illness or accident), or even for personal choice (usually in the presence of an adequate pension or personal savings). The retirement with a pension is considered a right of the worker in many societies, and hard ideological, social, cultural and political battles have been fought over whether this is a right or not. In many western countries this right is mentioned in national constitutions.
_______________________________________
Retirees Have Wealth of Options in Wilkes County
The 18-hole course at Greenstreet Mountain Golf Club sees lots of weekday action thanks to senior golfers.
Relaxing on the porch and enjoying scenic mountain views might be what some people have in mind when they retire in Wilkes County.
But it can be awfully tough to sit still and watch so many recreational and cultural opportunities float by.
Just ask Barbara Pardue‚ who has retired twice yet still finds time to design playbills and man the ticket booth for the Wilkes Playmakers theater troupe productions.
“We do have a lot of things going on here; I’m constantly amazed‚” says Pardue‚ who spent 40 years working in a local industry and another few at a gift shop before joining the Playmakers staff part-time in February 2005.
While some seniors work behind the scenes for the Playmakers and others enjoy their roles as appreciative audience members‚ several in the 55-plus age group have found their calling in front of the footlights‚ says Karen Reynolds‚ director of the theater company. A special program known as Seniors on Stage enlists talented singers and dancers to present musical revues in Wilkes County and on the road in surrounding communities. Older actors also appear regularly in the casts of seasonal plays‚ such as the annual production of Tom Dooley‚ Reynolds says.
But if theater isn’t your thing‚ don’t think it’s time to relax.
There’s always fishing‚ hiking‚ biking‚ community service and historic preservation efforts‚ points out Bill Clifton‚ who works part time as director of the Yadkin River Greenway Council.
The Greenway‚ a 10-foot-wide asphalt path running two miles along the Reddies and Yadkin rivers‚ is a great place to fish‚ ride bikes‚ jog or simply stroll along and enjoy the view. Clifton‚ a mechanical engineer from West Virginia‚ moved to Wilkes County to retire in 2002‚ but couldn’t resist the impulse to get involved.
“I enjoy it here‚” Clifton says. “I play tennis; I’m involved in church activities; and I’m on the board for Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro‚ a Main Street community. I’m also involved in the Brushy Mountain Ruritan group that sponsors the October Apple Festival.”
Festivals such as the Apple Festival‚ which draws 150‚000 visitors each year‚ and MerleFest‚ which attracted 82‚000 people in 2005‚ are other reasons seniors find themselves out and about in Wilkes County.
And then‚ of course‚ there’s golf. Rock Creek and Greenstreet Mountain golf clubs are popular destinations.
“Greenstreet is 18 holes‚ and it’s a short course‚ a good seniors’ course‚” says Keith Pearson‚ manager of the golf course in Trap Hill.
“I’ve seen a lot of folks who are no longer working coming in during the week. It’s getting busier.”
For those who enjoy socializing and learning‚ there are special courses and activities at the Wilkes Senior Center in North Wilkesboro. Those seeking a little exercise and fitness training may find their spot at the Wilkes Family YMCA.
Regardless of what first attracts people to Wilkes County‚ there are usually many more things that convince them to stay – and stay involved.
“One man moved here from California because his wife was ill‚ and our community had better health care than his home town‚” Pardue says.
“But most people just visit the area and fall in love with it.”
Baby Boomers are becoming aware that they are experiencing a different type of retirement than the previous generation.
Compared to other generations, these confident and independent Baby Boomers admit that:
+ They need more money than their parents' generation to live comfortably.
+ Their generation is more self-indulgent than their parents'.
+ They will be healthier and live longer.
Most Baby Boomers (the cohort of Americans born between 1946 and 1964) believe that they will still be working during their retirement years. The oldest, born in 1946, will reach 62 in 2008 as they begin retirement age over the next 20 years.
Welcome to Wilkes County North Carolina: Nestled within the picturesque setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wilkes County offers a delightful adventure for both the young and the young at heart. Located just 80 miles from Charlotte, 45 miles from Winston-Salem, 45 miles from Hickory, and 35 minutes from Boone, Wilkes County remains an ideal location for those looking to escape the fast paced world of city living, while remaining close enough to commute for a night out on the town. Wilkes County offers the best of both worlds, presented with the flair of true southern hospitality. For all Wilkesboro Real Estate and Wilkes County, NC Real Estate.
River Greenway has miles of them as does Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir, which is also good for boating, swimming, fishing and camping.
a determined age, when physical conditions don't allow the person to work any more (by illness or accident), or even for personal choice (usually in the presence of an adequate 
“We do have a lot of things going on here; I’m constantly amazed‚” says Pardue‚ who spent 40 years working in a local industry and another few at a gift shop before joining the Playmakers staff part-time in February 2005.
