Lake Ridge

Lake Ridge is a gated 55+ active adult community in Toms River, New Jersey, built by The Kokes Organization between 1994 and 1998. Set on 300 beautifully landscaped acres, the community features 926 single-family resale homes arranged around two scenic lakes — a smaller one home to a pair of swans and a larger one stocked with fish for light fishing and the annual summer grandkids' fishing competition. Homes are primarily ranch-style with 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 car garages, and private lots, ranging roughly 1,308 to 2,254 square feet across several original floor plans including the popular Devon model. Community life centers on a 13,800-square-foot clubhouse that serves as the hub for social and fitness activity. Inside, residents enjoy a fitness center, indoor pool, billiards, card rooms, arts and crafts studio, hobby and game rooms, a grand ballroom for dances and entertainment, a library, and a restaurant. Outside, amenities include an outdoor pool, tennis, pickleball, bocce, and shuffleboard. A full-time activities director coordinates a deep roster of clubs and special-interest groups: book club, bridge, chorus, computer club, fishing club, gardening club, golf, horseshoes, Italian culture club, model builders (who build boats they sail on the larger lake), audiovisual, day travel, music, and theater, among many others. A community bus provides courtesy shuttle service to local shopping, and an in-house cable TV channel and monthly newspaper keep residents connected. A 24-hour attended security gate and pet-friendly policies round out the lifestyle. Location is a major draw. Lake Ridge sits just off Route 70 near the Manchester and Lakewood borders, about five miles west of Garden State Parkway exit 89. The Jersey Shore — Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Park, Island Beach State Park, and Long Beach Island — is roughly 30 minutes east. Ocean County Mall is 15 minutes away, Freehold Mall 25 minutes. New York City is about an hour north, Philadelphia an hour west, and Atlantic City is to the south. Community Medical Center in Toms River and Monmouth Medical Center in Lakewood are both nearby, and Cattus Island County Park, Bey Lea Golf Course, and Wharton State Forest add to the recreational options. HOA fees remain modest, covering lawn maintenance, snow removal (including driveways and walkways), common-area upkeep, gate attendance, and management — a lock-and-leave lifestyle well suited to snowbirds and shore-loving retirees.