Fords Colony

Ford's Colony is an award-winning, 3,000-acre gated master-planned community in Williamsburg, Virginia, with more than 2,600 homes and over 5,600 residents. Though not age-restricted, the community skews heavily toward retirees — recent HOA surveys show roughly 73% of respondents identify as younger or older retirees — making it one of the most retirement-oriented non-age-restricted communities in the mid-Atlantic. The community was founded in 1987 and, after nearly four decades of development, is approaching build-out with only a few remaining sections still seeing new construction. The centerpiece of Ford's Colony is the Ford's Colony Country Club, anchored by three championship 18-hole golf courses — Blue Heron, Marsh Hawk, and Blackheath — designed by Dan Maples and ranked among the top courses in Virginia. The Country Club is membership-tiered (full golf, sport, or social), not required for ownership, and includes a pro shop, locker rooms, and full-service dining at Murdoch's restaurant (open to the public, with an outdoor patio). A second clubhouse, the Manning Center, hosts many of the 60+ resident clubs and activities. Homes span an enormous range of styles and price points, which is unusual for a luxury community of this caliber. You'll find condos in Eaglescliffe, luxury townhomes in Country Club Villas and The Links, Colonial cottages, and custom executive homes on estate-scale lots in sections like The Parke at Westport (14 homes on 3+ acre homesites). Neighborhoods include The Links, Heather Bank, Waterford Downs, Highland Hills, Killarney, St. Andrew's Village, Chisel Run, Nottingham Place, Brigadoon, North and South Turnberry, Westbury Hills, MacGregor Downs, Royal Aberdeen, Southport, Western Gailes, Berkshire, Eaglescliffe, Knob Hill, and Westport. Resale custom homes range from 1,700 to over 5,000 square feet. Current builders active in the community include D.R. Horton (Westport townhomes and Parke at Westport estate homes via Eagle Construction) and WeldenField & Rowe (Country Club Villas). Custom homebuilding is still possible on remaining lots, subject to architectural review. Beyond golf, amenities are extensive: two swim & tennis clubs (St. Andrew's/S&T Club and Westbury Park) with pools, tennis courts, pickleball, bocce, volleyball, basketball, playgrounds, and a ball field. The community maintains 13 stocked fishing ponds (catch-and-release with Virginia license and barbless hooks), 200+ acres of on-site wildlife preserve, and more than 10 miles of leisure and nature trails. There's an RV/boat storage lot, an exercise studio, and a meeting-room facility that hosts the 60+ activity clubs, ranging from bridge and woodworking to gardening, hiking, and art groups. The community is gated with 24-hour security and has consistently ranked as one of Williamsburg's premier addresses — named Best Luxury Home Community by The Virginia Gazette, with a 95%+ resident satisfaction rating in HOA surveys. HOA fees are notably low for a community of this quality (reported at around $188/month in recent listings) and cover common grounds, gate security, trash, snow removal, irrigation water, and grounds maintenance. The only significant additional costs are optional Country Club memberships for golf or social use. Location is a major draw. Ford's Colony sits just off Route 199 in James City County, minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown — America's Historic Triangle. The College of William & Mary, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and Williamsburg's shopping and dining corridor are all within a short drive. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is about 24 miles away; Richmond and Norfolk International Airports are each roughly 50 miles.