News & Events

North Carolina Retirement Communities

What does it take to become a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community? It takes an exceptional measure of natural diversity that brings together mountain living with riverfront views, local beaches, and quick access to nearby bustling cities all within a stone’s throw plus a range of amenities, services, and opportunities for retirees to enjoy active and productive lives.

It means you’re one of the best retirement places in North Carolina for retirees, and you’re proudly located in an area of the state known as much for its warm hospitality as for its warm climate.

But it’s not enough just to be beautiful and abundant in amenities. If you want to receive that official designation as a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community, you’ve also got to meet some strict criteria in areas such as infrastructure, health care, cultural offerings, and more. With such stringent guidelines, it’s no wonder that only 14 North Carolina cities have been included on this prestigious list.

And we’re proud to say that Lenoir happens to be one of them! Known as “the crossroads of the best of North Carolina,” Lenoir has been officially recognized by the state as having one of the best retirement communities in North Carolina. State officials have highlighted Lenoir’s wide variety of outdoor activities and ample volunteer opportunities as two of the many qualities that make Lenoir great. Other qualities of Lenoir featured in RETIRE NC’s Certified Retirement Communities Guide include:

Natural Resources 

Lenoir boasts a spectacular setting among the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, enhanced by the Lenoir Greenway, Catawba River Valley, and Wilson Creek, all of which offer year-round opportunities for outdoor activities, including abundant fishing, walking paths, hiking and biking trails, boating, and kayaking. It has everything an outdoor enthusiast is looking for.  

Music & Art   

Lenoir enjoys a rich musical heritage, with genres that appeal to all musical tastes (from bluegrass to jazz to classical) featured on concert stages and in seasonal festivals throughout the year. Art lovers enjoy Lenoir’s outdoor art walks and the charming galleries filled with original artwork, including oil paintings, tapestries, pottery, and photography exhibits. But the city is most known for its sculptures, which are featured both indoors and out, and celebrated each year in Lenoir’s Annual Sculpture Celebration, which attracts artists from all over the country.  

Caring Community 

Lenoir is both friendly and caring. But don’t just take our word for it. This all-American city has been recognized as one of the friendliest communities in western North Carolina and one of the most progressive in finding new ways to deliver health care services to its residents.  

Educational & Cultural Opportunity    

Educational prospects and cultural offerings abound in Lenoir, with courses, performances, and athletic events on the schedule at Broyhill Civic Center, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, and nearby Appalachian State University.

Now that we’ve piqued your interest and got you dreaming about your own retirement paradise, it’s time to explore your opportunities for mountain living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. When you’re ready to make a move, be sure to start at The Coves Mountain River Club. As the name suggests, this spectacular community offers both mountain and river views – a rare find!

What The Coves Has To Offer Our Residents – Amenities & LifeStyle

Located between Asheville and Charlotte and just minutes from three quaint mountain towns –  Morganton, Hickory, and Blowing Rock –  The Coves is the best-designed gated mountain and river community in Lenoir, North Carolina. It’s nestled along the Johns River at Wilson Creek and comprises 3,200 acres of beautiful North Carolina riverfront property.

Our dynamic easy-living development is fully loaded with amenities, including 39 miles of walking trails and biking trails, a fully staffed equestrian center that sits amid gorgeously groomed pastures, an abundant community garden, and vibrant vineyard, and a stunning two-story mountaintop neighborhood lodge with spectacular 360-degree views, a saltwater infinity-view swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a spacious wrap-around porch adorned with relaxing rocking chairs, perfect for romantic nights under the stars or memory-making moments with neighbors and friends. 

Wide Variety of Home Sites Available for Virtually Any Budget and Style

At The Coves, you get to choose from among a variety of single family home sites, including the cozy quarter-acre cottage site, the one-acre site perfect for NC mountain cabins, and a full menu of traditional home sites that range in size from one to three acres and offer a choice of long-range views, river frontage property, and private wooded estates. If you’re looking for something bigger, the Estates home sites at The Coves range in size from five to 25 acres and offer wide scenic views, river frontage, or expansive equestrian parcels. 

Floor plans are open and breezy and include such features as a spacious master suite, generously sized guest bedrooms, dramatic kitchen, full veranda, and expansive great room that boasts vaulted ceilings with exposed timber trusses. Our skilled builders incorporate natural materials – wood, stone, and glass – to create that perfect rustic American mountain home. These home designs are truly breathtaking and enhance the beauty of the picturesque views our residents have come accustom too.

Why The Coves Mountain River Club is The Perfect Retirement Community for You

So there you have it. The perfect path to finding the retirement home of your dreams in a gated community. You started down this path looking for the best active adult retirement communities in North Carolina. You found the City of Lenoir at the top of the list … and now you’ve discovered you can enjoy that rare combination of mountain and river living at The Coves Mountain River Club where your ideal home awaits. All that’s left to do now is come on out to The Coves to see this remarkable community for yourself. 

Contact Us Today To Schedule a Free Tour of Our Planned Community

If you’re exploring the area for the first time, ask for our 70-page complimentary Western North Carolina Visitor’s Guide, which gives you more information about living in the foothills of North Carolina. If you are looking for an active adult community that offers resort style living in the mountains, The Coves Mountain River Club is the community for you. If you would like more information contact us at 828.754.0700, or schedule an in-person tour to explore our mountain resort.