WALLACE — River Landing in Wallace, NC has been named one of the top "50 Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S." by Where to Retire magazine.
The Duplin County golf course community has received this distinction for the past 10 years.
"The hardest thing about being retired is, it's hard to go on vacation cause you don't want to leave here,” said Paul Izzo, Riving Landing resident.
In 2008, Izzo and his wife moved to the River Landon community from southern New Jersey.
"We did a looking at a magazine called Where to Retire. And we went to about five or six different trips up and down the east coast. And some we liked, some we weren't sure. We walked in here and said, ‘This place feels like home.’ And we bought the next day," said Izzo.
River Landing, Sales Manager Vivian Brown said the gated community has lots to offer.
"We have the accessibility of Wilmington at thirty minutes down the road. Raleigh/Durham airport is only an hour and fifteen minutes, so great accessibility. And you have the small town charm of Mayberry. So we're kind of like a hidden Mayberry here on the coast," said Brown.
More than 1,000 families call River Landing home. Izzo said they're more than just neighbors, they're family.
"It's a family. Everyone here is very friendly. It doesn't mean that you have to be the best friends with everyone, but everyone knows each other and you've got different personalities and you just all-- it all clicks, it's all good," said Izzo.
The top "50 Best Master Planned Communities" list also includes Carolina Colours in New Bern, St. James Plantation in Southport and Brunswick Forest in Leland.