Where to Retire magazine, a national magazine “geared toward helping people with retirement relocation decisions” called Wallace one of the top eight cities to retire in their November/December 2019 issue, which is now available. Wallace was profiled in a feature titled 8 Low-Cost Cities.
“The River Landing community helped us discover the town of Wallace, NC, which is close to the Atlantic coast, but far enough away to escape many storms and hurricanes. We were impressed with Wallace’s historic district, which preserves 55 buildings across two blocks, including an old train depot,” noted Annette Fuller,
Editor of Where to Retire magazine. “In the story, we quoted a retired couple from Maryland who relocated to River Landing. They loved that the cost of living here is much lower. They also said the town is friendly and that it’s easy to get involved in town activities, such as the Carolina Strawberry Festival held each May.”
Wallace Town Mayor Charles Farrior said the magazine’s announcement is exciting but not surprising. “I’m excited and honored that Wallace was selected. I believe that having been chosen as one of the eight cities makes us that much more attractive to those looking to settle in an affordable and caring community,” Farrior noted. “We were at our finest post-Hurricane Florence with so many people banding together. It truly was heart-warming and that camaraderie has continued. Folks who choose Wallace to retire to or to live in don’t have to open a business in order to contribute,” Farrior continued. “Taking part in activities – spiritual, social, community-oriented – add to the blessings our town shares in every day!”
According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns in retirement each year. According to the magazine, generally these relocating retirees are healthier, better educated and more affluent than those who choose to not relocate, and they bring significant economic benefits to their new states and hometowns.
Among those who have relocated to River Landing is couple Nikki and Terry Hall. Having moved from La Plata, MD, they settled in River Landing just six months before Hurricane Florence struck. The article was quick to point out that Wallace and River Landing’s tenacity both during and after the storm is part of its charm!
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“Sometimes, a community’s character can be measured best by how it meets a time of great difficulty. The River Landing development in Wallace showed fortitude when the area was affected by Hurricane Florence in 2018.”
Although the Hall’s home was spared, many of their River Landing neighbors weren’t so lucky. Nikki was quick to point out, “This neighborhood is so resilient. The community rebounded almost 100% by last summer.”
The Halls were attracted to Wallace because, in many ways, they felt it was like La Plata in that it is a sleepy town with a cute downtown and ample opportunity to get involved. It’s a way of life that the locals wear like a badge of honor. “My family built River Landing because we are proud of our community and where we come from,” says Dell Murphy, President & CEO of Murphy Family Ventures and its subsidiary, Duplin Land Development. “We wanted to attract more people to the area so they could experience what we have known all along – that Wallace and Duplin County is a wonderful place to grow up, raise a family, retire, and enjoy a tremendous quality of life at any age. We have the quaintness and simplicity of a small town, but also easy access to the type of shopping, sports and cultural arts that can typically be found in large cities. We are centrally located between several metropolitan areas and three international airports. That means there is something for everyone, and the sense of community we have at River Landing is second to none.”
With 1,600 homes planned near the Northeast Cape Fear River east of Wallace’s town center, River Landing is a community unto itself, offering a wide range of custom home styles, lot sizes and prices. The all-ages development has two championship golf courses and plenty of social activities. “We wanted to make this a place where people could find quality and excellence in everything we do,” Murphy says. “And we also wanted to make it a great value. We think we’ve done that with our beautiful neighborhoods, our numerous amenities, our state-of-the-art Clubhouse, and our two golf courses which are ranked number 23 and 41 in North Carolina.”
River Landing is proud to be part of Wallace and part of a growing community that amplifies affordable fun and regional pride. It’s a place the readers of Where to Retire magazine may just be discovering, but one that Murphy and his family have always known was special. “This is where I live. This is where most of my family lives. We love River Landing and we believe in this entire area. The people who have moved here have invested in our community and they contribute to the local economy. But more importantly, they have become part of our extended family. We’re grateful to those who have chosen to make this their home, we welcome those who have yet to come, and we’re excited about what the future holds.”
