Scenic View at The Colony at the Grand in Fairhope, Alabama.

One of Your Morning Coffee Views- Click PIC to Visit The Colony

THE Lakewood Club in Fairhope, Alabama provides southern hospitality at its finest. Services provides are fitness center, golfing, aquatic water activities and fine dining.

After  Coffee - Click PIC to Visit THE Lakewood Club for Exercise

THE Lakewood Club - RTJ Golf Trail

Each Colony at the Grand residence includes opportunities for membership in the Golf Club, where you're even more likely to make new friends than you are to make par. And, once accepted, all golf members are also entitled to unlimited use of golf, tennis, outdoor and indoor heated swimming pools and the fitness center at The Grand Hotel.The Golf Club is a resort member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Magnolia Grove, in nearby Mobile offers an additional 54 holes of championship Robert Trent Jones golf.

Visionary Dr. Mark Fagan for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Click PIC to view RTJ Impact.

“Ramblin” with the Alabama Advantage. Stopped in at The Colony to discover the advantages in relocating to The Colony in Fairhope, AL. Discovered that Dr. Mark Fagan and his wife lives at The Colony. Dr. Fagan graciously gave me a tour and interview. Now, who is Dr. Fagan? To keep my comments brief, Dr. Fagan is the EXPERT for community development for retirees. With 111 publications about the economic impact of retirees, he is recognized as the expert for attracting retirees. Now, he and his wife are retirees living at The Colony. As the consultant to The Retirement Systems of Alabama, Dr. Fagan was a visionary in the development of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.  Maybe referring to Dr. Fagan as a retiree may be a statement out of context because he recently wrote a 384 page book titled: The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: Its History and Economic Impact, with a Foreword by Dr. David Bronner (CEO of The Retirement Systems of Alabama). Now, let’s hear from Dr. Fagan.      Dr. Mark Fagan. Thank you for “Ramblin” to THE Colony!

The Colony at The Grand Fairhope Alabama

 Dr. Mark Fagan's Interview:
The Colony is a Great Retirement Place
I have been researching and writing about retirees and retirement places for over 30 years. I have been visiting the Alabama coast for 50 years. I first wrote about Fairhope as a retirement area in 1990 in The Guide to Retirement in Alabama with Leonard Hansen and again in 1992 when I wrote the chapter on Alabama for Sunbelt Retirement by Peter Dickinson. My assessment of The Colony for retirement is based on what most retirees look for in retirement. Retirees generally want a moderate climate; quieter, safer, less crowded areas, quality housing at reasonable prices; sufficient, easily-accessible healthcare; nearby commercial goods and services; ample outdoor and cultural recreation; good air transportation; and beautiful scenery.

View of Mobile Bay from The Colony Balcony at The Grand

There are four distinct seasons on The Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. The winters are mild with very little frosting and the summers are warm. The bay effect, with its warmer water than air in the winter, keeps it warmer. The bay effect, with its cooler water than air in the summer, keeps it cooler and provides a nice breeze which makes it enjoyable when sitting in the shade.
Warm weather begins in the middle of February. The temperatures steadily rise until July and August, the hottest period. September begins the cooler days and nights as the warm sunny days continue until Christmas. In January, the days get colder until the middle of February, when the warmer cycle begins again. The fall and spring temperatures compare favorably with comfortable temperatures anywhere on the planet.

Outdoor Activities at The Colony at The Grand

The weather and natural beauty from the surrounding water coupled with the lush greenery and blooming flowers contribute to great opportunities for outdoor activities.

Many Outdoor Activities

  Housing at The Colony enhances the opportunities for physical and social activities. The condos in  Bayview II free residents from lawn/landscaping maintenance, gutter cleaning, outdoor painting, and other structural maintenance. The houses in Battles Trace, Watershed, and Azalea provide yards for individualized landscaping. The property gates yield extra safety for walking and outdoor activities.

The Colony at The Grand Bayview Condos

Housing at The Colony enhances the opportunities for physical and social activities. The condos in Bayview II free residents from lawn/landscaping maintenance, gutter cleaning, outdoor painting, and other structural maintenance. The houses in Battles Trace, Watershed, and Azalea provide yards for individualized landscaping. The property gates yield extra safety for walking and outdoor activities.

The Colony Bayview Terrace at The Grand

The feel of community is strong among The Colony residents. The terrace at Bayview II is a common space with a complete view of the bay. Neighbors support each other with pet care and personal assistance along with other needs such as collecting mail and watching units when people travel.

The HOA fee at Bayview II mostly covers the building insurance and landscaping. These fees are offset with no cost for homeowner’s insurance, flood or wind insurance, maintenance expenses, and security system fees. The HOA fee at Battles Trace covers the common space maintenance and THE Lakewood Club monthly dues.

Walking, Biking, Fishing, Boating at The Colony

Sweetwater Lake provides great ambiance for walking, biking, fishing, and paddle-   boating. The Aquatics, Tennis, and Fitness Center is only a short walk away and provides many options for physical exercise. The indoor and outdoor pools and exercise equipment at the adjacent Grand Hotel provide a change in scenery for exercising and relaxation by the bay.

Bay Walkway at The Grand Hotel

 Social activities begin at The Colony and span out to THE Lakewood Club and Grand Hotel. Fairhope has churches, clubs, museums, parks, libraries, festivals, and classes for social interaction. The Eastern Shore Newcomers Association welcomes new residents to the area through its many organized activities. The Grand Hotel makes for afternoon walks on the bay with lovely sunsets. It also provides history and elegance through its nice restaurants. Visitors of The Colony residents can stay only minutes away at the hotel.

Thomas Hospital Fairhope Alabama

Thomas Hospital is only minutes away in Fairhope and has exceptional facilities with a very friendly staff. Excellent physicians, dentists, and eye care professionals, including specialists are located minutes away. Mobile and Pensacola provide sub-specialties if referrals are needed.

Downtown Fairhope Alabama Located Two Miles North from The Colony

Downtown Fairhope is only two miles north on Section Street. All sorts of commercial outlets are only a few minutes away on US 98. Downtown Mobile is 30 minutes away with major shopping centers in Daphne and Spanish Fort even closer.

Gulf Beaches are 30 minutes away. Bon Secour Bay, Weeks Bay, Fish River, and Bon Secour River are less than 30 minutes.

Aquatics for All Ages!

The aquatics center provides a safe area for grandchildren to play. Many retirees in The Colony think the slide, geysers, water cannons, and lazy river are more fun and much safer than beach swimming for their grandchildren. Easy supervision of the children adds to the relaxation for the adults.  Two distinct golf courses provide easy access to great golf. THE Lakewood Club, with 36 holes adjacent to The Colony, has several golf groups that play regularly. They welcome new golfers so this makes finding a game very easy. The Experience, their new practice facility is an exceptional place to sharpen golf skills and to visit with friends.

Sunset at The Colony at The Grand, Fairhope, Alabama

Thank you for visiting  The Colony at The Grand!