The Village at Country Gardens

The Village of Country Gardens is South Jersey's premier 55+ community, a completed 243-home development by Bruce Paparone, Inc. tucked into Mantua Township just outside of Sewell, New Jersey. Construction ran from 2006 through 2023, and with the final phase now sold out, the neighborhood has settled into its rhythm as a close-knit, mature active adult community with an established social calendar and strong pride of ownership. Homes are low-maintenance single-family residences ranging from about 1,484 to 2,800+ square feet, offered across six Paparone floor plans — including the Rosewood, Hawthorn, Juniper, Magnolia I, Magnolia II, Arborwood, and Azalea. Most homes feature two to three bedrooms, two to three baths, and an attached two-car garage, with popular options like gas fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, wide-plank hardwood floors, 42" cabinets, granite counters, GE stainless appliances, sunrooms, dens, and full basements. Every home was built to ENERGY STAR High Performance standards, which keeps utility bills modest for the region. Streets wind through Cottage Gate Circle, Country Gardens Boulevard, Hummingbird Way, Lavender Court, Lilac Court, Snap Dragon Court, Stepping Stone Lane, and Wishing Well Lane, with several cul-de-sacs backing to wooded open space and ponds. Social life revolves around the Village of Country Gardens Clubhouse, which includes a banquet room, billiards room, card room, game room, catering/demonstration kitchen, and jacuzzi room. Outside, residents have bocce ball courts, pickleball, horseshoes, walking paths, and a community gazebo. The HOA runs a packed calendar: book clubs, bingo, fitness classes, Mah Jongg, bunco, movie nights, music programs, men's nights, international nights, Oktoberfest, holiday parties, and organized trips to local theaters, casinos, and restaurants. Resident reviews consistently describe it as warm, inclusive, and genuinely active — a place where neighbors become friends. The HOA fee is $180/month and covers lawn mowing, snow removal, and maintenance of the clubhouse, recreational facilities, and common grounds, delivering a truly low-maintenance lifestyle. There is no CDD. Property taxes, typical of Gloucester County, run roughly $10,000–$12,000 per year on most homes. Location is one of the community's biggest draws. Country Gardens sits one mile off Route 55, putting downtown Philadelphia less than 20 miles (about a 25-minute drive) and the Jersey Shore (Ocean City, Cape May) within an hour. Directly across Route 55 is a large shopping center anchored by Target, Lowe's, PetSmart, and Dollar Tree, with restaurants, banks, and services clustered alongside. Cooper University Hospital is less than four miles away, Philadelphia International Airport is roughly 25 minutes, and golfers have Pitman Golf Course, Wedgwood Country Club, and Valleybrook Country Club all nearby. Washington Lake Park, the Broadway Theatre of Pitman, the TD Bank Arts Centre, and South Jersey's growing wine trail round out the recreation options. For buyers who want a finished, walkable 55+ neighborhood with easy access to both a major city and the Shore, Country Gardens is one of the most established options in Gloucester County.