Leisure World of Maryland

... a personal review of Leisure World of Maryland by someone who lives there and knows it thoroughly.  LWMD is an example of the classic amenity-filled retirement communities. 

Leisure World main entrance looking from inside toward gatehouse

A Classic Example of an Over 55 Community

More recent communities still use this same idea except you may see additional trendy activities such as vineyards, massage rooms, saunas, concierge, indoor walking tracks etc.

The Leisure World symbol stands at the entrance

Leisure World Silver Spring Maryland, located in Montgomery County, and a suburb of Washington, D. C., was built in the early 60's by developer Ross Cortese and was a pioneer of large retirement communities.

Today it is a classic and still is one of the best retirement communities in Montgomery County--if not the best.

Leisure World Md offers so much activity and recreation it would be hard to describe here.  

A good way to find out more is through the Leisure World Newspaper.  You can pick one up on the Leisure World campus or mailed to you.

This active retirement community offers the classic amenities that people need more as they age:

Contents:

• Clubhouses 1 and 2
• Amenities
  
• Clubs
• Restaurants (3)
• Recreation
• Types of Homes
• Landscaping Photos
• Jobs
• Visiting
• Shopping Center and Area
• Real Estate
• Rentals

Leisure World of Maryland
Clubhouses 1 and 2

Aqua Blue Fountain near Clubhouse 1

Entrance to Clubhouse 1:

There are 2 clubhouses - Clubhouse 1 is next door to the Administration building and close to the main entrance. It has:

• Post office 
• Offices 
• Real Estate Offices 
• and more 

Clubhouse one has

• Restaurants  
• Outdoor pool  
• Activities and meeting rooms 
• Woodshop
• and more     

Clubhouse 2:

Further west is clubhouse 2 with:

• Indoor pool 
• Fitness
• Lapidary Workshop
• Fitness Center
• Fireplace
• Computer Room
• Ping Pong and other recreation and activities.

Amenities, activities and clubs (too numerous to mention)

* Quiet and serenity * services * medical center * ease of living *security features (24-hour guard-gated and patrolled)--Leisure World has all of them.

*Large glassed indoor pool *Large jacuzzi *Outdoor pool * Indoor lap pool *2 clubhouses With Restaurants/bar Overlooking golf course 

*Activity/meeting rooms *Wood workshop (the equipment available is unbelievable *Art/pottery studio

*Private,18-hole golfcourse (reasonable fees) *Tennis

*Yoga classes *Exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment and a personal exercise trainer on duty 

* Medical center *Fire dept. and emergency services adjacent to
*Community bus, bus to major shopping areas 

*Adjacent shopping center *Post Office and Bank inside Clubhouse *Daily activity schedule is broadcast on TV. *24-hour security gates and patrol

*Garden plots *Bi-weekly newspaper.

Clubs

• Amateur Radio
• Amateur Needlepoint
• Art Guild
• Arts in Motion
• Baby Boomers
• Ballroom
• Billiard
• Bocce
• Book Club
• Bowling
• Bridge
• Camera Club
• Ceramicrafters
• Chess
• Chinese Club
• Comedy and Humor
• Computer Learning Center
• Croquet
• Democrats
• Theatre Group
• Garden Club
• Going It Alone
• Golf
• Lapidary
• Model Trains
• Republicans
• Stamp and Coin
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Vegetarian
• Wood Shop
• Writer's Workshop
• And many more organizations and groups.

Restaurants Inside Leisure World (Clubhouse 1)

The Terrace Room (for casual dining restaurant and buffet)

The Terrace Room

The very popular casual buffet area.  They serve classic American cuisine, soups, desserts and salad bar.  The pricing is very reasonable and there are specials on select days.  Cocktails, wine and beer also available.

Relaxing views and country club ambience from the casual dining restaurant and buffet at Leisure World. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Open every day 9-9 

The Stein Room

Casual dining and bar area--lots of fun times here. Cocktails, beer and wine available (as well as great fudge sundaes and cheesecake made in-house).  Occasional entertainment and piano.  You may order from buffet or restaurant-style.  Open every day 9-9 301-598-1331

A third restaurant is the Cascade Bistro for a more elegant dining experience.  It is open Friday and Saturday evenings.

Recreational Activities

While browsing around one day, we saw people participating in all types of activities to stay active. 

Woodshop Amenity Card Tables

Fitness Center Garden Club Chinese Club Chorale Theatre Group Writer's Workshop Camera Club and many, many more

...scheduled time for a hot game of volley ball at the outdoor pool 

One of many walking trails, this one through forest and stream..ask for a trail map to find the many walks you can do at Leisure World. 

Types of Homes:

Condos for sale in Silver Spring Md

The Overlook Condominiums Spacious units in high-rise elevator buildings - nice patios and balconies

Leisure World's Newest Condominium - Creekside Fresh, new but sold out now - look for resales

Turnberry Courts Condominiums (Low-level high rise)

Entry to Vantage Point High Rise Condominiums

Villa Cortese Stylish condos with an Italian theme.  Added a new phase which is also sold out.

Montgomery Mutual Co-op Homes:

Many duplex patio homes throughout
Two homes side by side

Leisure World Town Homes
In a row; stairs to upstairs bedrooms; good square footage, co-ops

The Pines - Large Apartment-Style Homes
These are ideal for those wanting lots of space and
apartment-styled resale homes  

Leisure World Co-op
Studio, One, and Two-bedroom Garden Apartment-style Homes

Luxury Single Homes:

Luxury Single Family Homes
An enclave of large, upscale single homes - many styles to choose

Leisure World of Maryland Landscaping

Leisure World has preserved the woodsy feeling of Maryland. This part of Maryland was once all creeks and woods.

The Amazing Entrance

The entrance to this retirement community in Montgomery County is particularly beautiful with a reflecting pool and large fountains surrounded by an artistic arrangement of colors from plant foliage and flowers. The large world globe, Leisure World's symbol, adds to the dramatic appearance of the entrance.  

Immediately upon entering you are in a different world.  A world especially good for seniors.  Surrounded by seniors, you can feel the    peacefulness, see the attractiveness and enjoy the positive energy.  Your friends will marvel at this serene haven. We only wish every place for seniors was like this one.

The landscaping is one of the best things about Leisure World, and, of course, the smiles of happy residents. This happy demeanor seems to be catching as everywhere you go people are friendly and reach out to help but not too friendly as they pursue a smorgasbord of activities. 

In case you are not familiar with the beauty of Leisure World, here is

A medley of the landscaping you would enjoy at Leisure World:

Fountain at Entrance

18-hole golf

Landscaping near Admin Bldg and Clubhouse 1

More landscape scenes from LW

A planting of daisies

Leisure World Jobs

There are about 225 full and part-time jobs.  The jobs are in categories like maintenance, security, administration and property management.  Go here to read about current job openings at Leisure World.

Visiting Leisure World of Maryland

You need authorization at the security gates to visit (3 entrances).  You may contact these Realtors to gain access:

Real Estate

Long & Foster Real Estate (Previously Cathy Gilmour Real Estate) at 301-598-7500. 

Cathy Gilmour Real Estate has been here since the beginning of Leisure World in 1965 and specializes in Leisure World.   All their agents are interested in servicing seniors and have been thoroughly trained specifically for LW floor plans. Update: Cathy Gilmour is now Long & Foster. Their new office is at 3836 International Dr., next door to Gold Castle Jewelers.

Weichert Realtors Md - Now occupies the LW Clubhouse -  They are the other major realty office for Leisure World also located in the shopping center.   This is a large realty office and national franchise.   Now also with an office inside the Leisure World campus.   Ask the LW gate attendant for directions to the office.   Always ask for an authorized Leisure World Specialist at Weichert.   This is the Aspen Hill office: 1-800-872-7653 for more information. 

Right adjacent to Leisure World is the Leisure World Shopping Center for a nice variety of shopping conveniences.  It is walkable for many LW residents or you can go by car or LW bus.

In addition to the Leisure World restaurants, you can find these in the LW shopping center: 

• The Vegetable Garden (space formerly occupied by Spring Garden.) 
• Burger King 
• Subway 
• Crisp and Juicy Chicken 
• A coffee cafe.  

Also, there is a large Giant, post office, 2 liquor stores, jewelry store, shoe store, Honey Baked Ham store and more.

In the immediate area there is:

• Home Depot 
• Kmart 
• Kohls  
• Aspen Hill Shopping Center with many more shops and restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera Bakery and much more. 

There are plans for even more area shopping development.

In the other direction nearby off Georgia Ave. there is a smaller shopping center with a Roots Market (Natural foods), Starbucks, Sisters Sandwiches, and a large pet store.  There is also Olney Yoga & Wellness with a nice selection of classes.  Of course, there are these classes at Leisure World, but this gives you more variety of wellness offerings, an intimate camaraderie and outstanding instructors.

There is also a Montgomery County Swim Center, a complex for indoor pools, sauna, and steam.  Great for the grand kids.   It's finding little places like this that gives you things to do and makes the surrounding area interesting and fun.

For fresh country air, you needn't go far: 

Nearby country areas going out Rte 108 towards Ashton:  Blueberry Gardens for a Wellness Center, massage and activities.  These can be enjoyed by grand kids as well.  

Approx. 5 miles going south on Connecticut Ave:  Kaiser Permanente Clinic in Kensington.

Short-term or long-term rentals are available and listed in the Leisure World Newspaper classifieds or Weichert Rentals Md and Long and Foster's rental listings.  Leisure World rentals prices are reasonable considering all the outstanding amenities here.  There is a maximum of 3-year leases in the co-ops section but other sections are not regulated for length.  More about Leisure World Md Rentals..

Related Maryland pages:

You may want to see Seniors Low Income Housing in Maryland

See all of Maryland's retirement communities for over 55.