Venue at Woodlands

Venue at Woodlands is a newer Lennar-built 55+ active adult community tucked into the pine woodlands of Manchester Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. Construction began in 2018, and when complete the community will consist of 162 single-family homes set on private wooded lots at the junction of Route 70 and Route 539 — a location the builder markets as a secluded country setting with easy access in every direction. Garden State Parkway (Exit 89) is roughly 17 miles east, the Jersey Shore beaches are about a 30-minute drive, and Manhattan, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City are all within 90 minutes to two hours. Homes are single-story ranch designs offered in four floor plans ranging from 1,448 to 1,936 square feet with 2-3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2-car garages. Lennar sells them under its "What You See Is What You Get" model, meaning the prominent features a buyer sees in the model home are included in the base price rather than sold as upgrades. Interiors feature open floor plans, first-floor owner's suites, gourmet kitchens, and Lennar's Everything's Included smart-home package (Wi-Fi certified design, Ring doorbell, smart locks, and connected thermostat on current builds). Resale pricing through 2024-2025 has generally run in the $400K–$550K range, with newer construction pushing the upper end. Social life centers on a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse that anchors the community. Inside you'll find a fitness center, a hobby and game room, billiards, and a card room; outside is a heated outdoor pool with patio, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and walking and biking trails threading through the surrounding woods. A full-time activities director organizes clubs and groups around billiards, cards, dining, jogging, swimming, tennis, walking, and shopping trips. It's a smaller community by New Jersey 55+ standards, which residents tend to describe as a plus — neighbors get to know one another quickly and the clubhouse doesn't feel crowded. The surrounding area leans rural and wooded — the community borders the New Jersey Pine Barrens — but daily needs are close. Stop & Shop is less than five miles away, downtown Whiting (restaurants, pharmacies, small retail) is a short drive, and Toms River (home to Community Medical Center, the nearest hospital) sits about 15 miles east. Double Trouble State Park is 15 minutes away for hiking and kayaking, Harry Wright Lake in Manchester offers swimming and fishing, and Bey Lea and Cedar Creek golf courses are roughly 15 miles out. Ocean Ride provides free countywide bus service with routes connecting shopping, other adult communities, and medical destinations, and Ocean County's Reserve-A-Ride program offers low-cost non-emergency medical transport for seniors. The HOA — roughly $243 per month — covers lawn maintenance, snow removal, and upkeep of streets and common grounds, making the community a genuinely low-maintenance option for buyers who want to lock the door and travel.