Penn National

Penn National is a master-planned resort-style community set in the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania, nestled in the Cumberland Valley at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains and bordered by the 85,000-acre Michaux State Forest. Founded in 1968 around a pair of nationally recognized championship golf courses, the community has grown to roughly 1,100 homes planned at buildout and continues to add new construction today. Though not deed-restricted 55+, Penn National has naturally drawn a largely retirement-age population attracted by Pennsylvania's favorable retirement tax treatment, the four-season mountain setting, and a lifestyle built around golf, nature, and social clubs. The heart of the community is the Penn National Clubhouse, which houses the Founders Grille restaurant, Black Oak Bar, a full-service pro shop, locker rooms, meeting rooms, and the Trellis Terrace event space. Golfers enjoy two 18-hole layouts — the Founders Course, a tree-lined parkland design with large greens, sculpted bunkers, and a 7-acre lake suited to all skill levels, and the more demanding Iron Forge, a links-style course with bent-grass fairways. Both are consistently rated 4-stars or better by Golf Digest's Places to Play. A 40-acre Golf Center rounds out the practice experience with a lighted driving range, covered all-weather tees, large natural-grass tee areas, a practice green, and practice bunkers. The historic Penn National Inn sits off the 8th fairway of the Founders Course and provides overnight guest rooms for visiting friends and family. Beyond golf, the community offers a heated outdoor pool, two outdoor Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, basketball, a community garden, and walking and biking trails that lead directly into the adjoining state forest. Residents have access to more than 40 active clubs and interest groups, including Apple Fest, Birding, Biking Club, Bowling Club, Bridge, Crafty Ladies, fly fishing, quilters, harmony singers, theater group, an R.V. owners group, Feldenkrais, dancing, and exercise classes, alongside an annual Folk Festival, a Farmers' Market, and live music. A full-time activities director keeps the social calendar full. An on-site WellSpan Medical Center adds an unusual layer of convenience for an active-adult community. Homes include attached villas and single-family residences with golf-course, mountain, or valley views, with sizes ranging from roughly 1,250 to over 4,800 square feet. St. Anne's villa and single-family models range from about 1,763 to 1,996 square feet with three bedrooms and two-car garages, while the larger St. Andrew's collection tops out near 2,378 square feet with covered porches, walk-in closets, and optional dens. Penn National works with a roster of approved regional custom builders — including Musser Home Builders, Comstock Homes, and Bryan L. Hey Builder — so buyers can bring their own plan or select from existing designs, and there is no required build timeframe after purchasing a homesite. Perhaps Penn National's most distinctive feature is its financial structure: there is no mandatory master association fee. The HOA model is elective and a-la-carte — residents pay only for the amenities and memberships they actually use, with golf and clubhouse memberships available but optional, no initiation fees, no assessments, no food minimums, and no long-term commitment. Some neighborhoods within the community carry no HOA fee at all; others have modest dues tied to specific services. Covenant guidelines still protect the community's character and home values. The location is a genuine draw. Gettysburg is about 20 minutes east, Chambersburg and its shopping and healthcare are minutes west, and Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are roughly 90 minutes south. The Appalachian Trail, Caledonia State Park, Falling Springs, Whitetail Ski Resort, and Ski Liberty are all within easy reach, making Penn National an unusually well-rounded four-season destination for retirees who want an active, outdoor lifestyle without giving up proximity to major East Coast cities. Penn National has been recognized on Where to Retire magazine's list of America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities since 1999.