The Preserve at Weatherby

The Preserve at Weatherby is the only gated 55+ community in South Jersey, tucked into the highly popular master-planned Weatherby community in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County. Originally launched by McKee Builders in 2017 as Phase II of the larger Four Seasons at Weatherby development, construction transitioned to Ryan Homes in 2019, which is carrying the community through its final phase. At build-out the neighborhood will include 239 single-family homes across eight floor plans — four original McKee designs (1,498 to 1,796 sq ft) plus four Ryan Homes designs (1,407 to 1,898 sq ft, with some larger plans extending to roughly 2,626 sq ft with optional finished basements). Every home is built around first-floor owner's suite living with open layouts, two-car attached garages, and the option to add a finished basement — an unusual perk for a 55+ community in the mid-Atlantic and a huge draw for buyers downsizing from larger homes who still want storage and flex space. The lifestyle here is built around a completed, move-in-ready clubhouse and amenity campus that Preserve residents share with the adjacent Four Seasons at Weatherby neighborhood. The clubhouse is a full resort-style package: fitness center with aerobics/dance studio, library, billiards room, card room, lounge, ballroom, and meeting rooms. Outside, residents have an outdoor pool with poolside patio, tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, shuffleboard, a putting green, horseshoe pits, and walking and biking trails winding past several ponds. There's an activities director who coordinates regular social events, clubs, and classes — poker nights, book clubs, pickleball groups, and community get-togethers fill the calendar. The community is genuinely social and 'established' feeling, a rarity for a newer build: residents describe neighbors who meet up both at the clubhouse and for nights out at nearby restaurants. The gated entrance with 24-hour security, combined with full exterior maintenance (lawn care and snow removal included in the HOA), delivers the lock-and-leave lifestyle that Northeast snowbirds often want but rarely find in South Jersey. HOA runs around $310/month and covers grounds maintenance, common areas, management, the gate, and the amenities. Location is a major selling point. The Preserve sits less than 4 miles from both I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike, putting Philadelphia roughly 30 minutes away, Philadelphia International Airport about the same, and Wilmington/Delaware (with tax-free shopping at the Christiana Mall) a quick hop across the state line. Downtown Swedesboro and historic Mullica Hill are just minutes away for small-town dining and antiquing — Botto's Italian Line Restaurant, Blue Plate, The Red Hen, Harrison House, and Rode's Fireside are local favorites. Everyday essentials (ShopRite, ACME, Target, Home Depot, CVS) are all within a short drive, and the Kingsway School District means grandkids can be picked up less than 2 miles away. Atlantic City is an easy weekend drive via Route 42 and the Atlantic City Expressway, and Baltimore's Inner Harbor is within reach for day trips.