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Opelika, Alabama Quick Hits
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Retire in Opelika
Retire, Live, Learn, Play. That’s what Opelika is all about. By choosing to retire in this quaint town you will embark on an adventure that takes you back to the simpler things in life. Back to a time when it was considered perfectly normal to walk around the neighborhood in the early morning or late evening. Back to a time when everyone greeted you with a warm “hello”, even if they didn’t know you. This same warm, family environment that is now a distant memory for many is exactly what you can expect if you relocate to Opelika.
The ideal environment for life after retirement should be one that offers uniqueness, simplicity and opportunity. Opelika offers each of these qualities. You won’t find a city with the diversity and cultural attractions this one has to offer, nor will you come across a city where a simple life is more appreciated.
In Opelika the temperatures are mild and comfortable year round, the cost of living is among the lowest in the state, health care is outstanding and recreation is not hard to find. Opelika is rich in history and takes pride in its heritage. Once you venture into the city limits you will understand why this charming community is so special. Please click the following links to find out what Opelika has to offer.
Live in Opelika
Living in Opelika is living the good life. And that’s exactly what you should strive to find after a lifetime of hard work. It’s time for you to enjoy new and exciting activities, see things you’ve always wanted to see and meet new friends. Most importantly, it’s time for you to sit back, relax and do the things you never had the time to do before retirement.
Your options are limitless in Opelika. You can do all of these things while living in a beautiful, historic and relaxing city. Opelika also offers more than just breathtaking scenery; it offers a wide array of recreational activities from golfing the Robert Trent Jones course to celebrating our annual Christmas festivities.
Location is key when choosing a new home town or city to live in. The spot you choose should be convenient to many different locales. Opelika is nestled between two large cities: Montgomery, AL and Columbus, GA. In just 30-50 minutes you can be in the heart of either city. Quick access to these two cities is especially important and helpful for those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Fort Benning is located in Columbus and Maxwell Air force Base is located in Montgomery.
Also, Opelika offers what we call the 85 Connection. Opelika to Atlanta, Atlanta to Opelika, 85 minutes via I-85. This convenient connection gives you access to “big city” life without having to sacrifice the small town atmosphere you love. You’re also only 85 minutes away from the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, which makes long distance travel easy for you or your family & friends. Other nearby cities include:
* Atlanta: 85 miles
* Birmingham: 110 miles
* Mobile: 240 miles
* Gulf Shores: 259 miles
* Tallahassee: 220 miles
* Savannah: 272 miles
* Nashville: 345 miles
Climate is especially important while deciding where to relocate. Opelika’s climate is mild and comfortable for the most part. If you like warm weather for the majority of the year, Opelika is the place for you. Our summers are generally warm and long, with mild and short winters. Our average annual minimum temperature is 49 degrees and our average maximum temperature is 74 degrees. We get an abundant supply of precipitation which can make for some humidity, but overall Opelika has a very inviting climate.
Religion can also be a very important decision-maker for retirees. Opelika is home to 94 different churches and religious organizations. As you can see it won’t be hard for you to find a great church home where you can share in worship and fellowship with a religious family. To find out location information about local churches please visit www.switchboard.com and search for “Churches & Religion” in Opelika, AL.
Healthcare is something Opelika prides itself in. With one of the best medical centers the Southeast has to offer you can expect nothing short of stellar medical attention for you and your loved ones. East Alabama Medical Center is home to 314 beds and an active staff of 135 physicians. With this in mind, EAMC is large enough to serve every one of your medical needs, but small enough to ensure 100% personal care for each of their patients. East Alabama Medical Center has been voted as one of the top 100 organizations to work for by Fortune 500 magazine for the past three years.
Cost of Living in Opelika is among the lowest in Alabama, which is another great reason to relocate here.
Selected Housing Statistics for Auburn-Opelika MSA
Total Housing Units 50,329
Percent Occupied 90.8%
Median Value of Owner-Occupied Units $104,000
Median Mortgage $899
Median Gross Rent $449
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Census 2000
According to the Alabama Housing Affordability Index, housing affordability in Alabama remains strong with an average index of 193.5 for the second quarter of 2003 as compared to the national index of 143.4. The Auburn/ Opelika MSA had an index of 186.7. Rising incomes, coupled with moderate housing price appreciation and low interest rates, are contributing to this increase in housing affordability in Alabama.
Alabama Housing Affordability Index
Second Quarter 2003
Area Median Income* Median Price Index
Auburn-Opelika MSA $51,300 $124,633 186.7
Statewide Average $46,794 $109,728 193.5
US Average $53,285 $168,900 143.4
Median income figures used in this calculation are as reported by HUD.
Learn In Opelika
Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College bring fun and exciting activities and opportunities to Opelika. Southern Union is located right here in town and Auburn University is only a few minutes away, so if you ever want to spruce up on your studies Opelika’s location makes it easy!
Auburn University offers the unique program AUALL for lifelong learners. This program is designed specifically for learning in retirement. They offer the following activities for their members: Stimulating study activities, Auburn University library privileges, free streamlined audit procedures for AU credit courses, extracurricular activities, short-term study options, educational study trips and the AUALL newsletter. And with the undying popularity of college sports, Auburn football in particular, there will always be something fun going on. If you would like to learn more about the AUALL program or available courses at Southern Union, please visit the following links: http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/auall/ or http://www.suscc.edu/.
Play In Opelika
Wherever and whenever you decide to retire one thing is for sure…..it’s time to hang up those work clothes and have some fun! Opelika’s blend of culture, arts, entertainment, education and spiritual values offers you the chance to do just that.
Recreation is easy to find here. Because of Opelika’s great and convenient location you can enjoy a day at Callaway Gardens or Pine Mountain in Georgia or perhaps the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. And there’s always something new and exciting to do in Opelika whether it’s one of our annual special events, shopping in our charming downtown shops or a round of golf at some of the best trails in Alabama.
Special Events in Opelika are the trademarks of our community. Every year with the help of the community, Opelika Main Street and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce put on a variety of shows and events for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps some of the biggest events, of which Opelika has become well-known for, are our Christmas festivities.
Christmas in Opelika kicks off with the annual Christmas Parade held in the streets of Historic Downtown Opelika. The celebration continues with The Living Christmas Tree, an event of the First Baptist Church of Opelika, and then a special Luminaries Tour one night during the holiday season.
Perhaps one of the most popular events during the Christmas season is the four day Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour. Visitors to the tour may either walk or drive through North Opelika’s Historic Neighborhood where residents exquisitely decorate the front porches of their elegant, restored homes and dress in period costume. Local artist Jan Jones designs the Old World decorations which include life-size Santa’s, carousel horses and other Victorian figures.
Christmas in a Railroad Town is held the same weekend as the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, so after you walk wide-eyed through the historic neighborhoods of Opelika you can enjoy a little late night window shopping and live music on Railroad Avenue. Many of the business owners and employees along Railroad Avenue dress in period clothing and offer walk-in friends a nice warm mug of wassail. It’s always fun to watch the young children enjoy the treats of the festival like meeting Santa and Mrs. Clause and riding the miniature train. Please visit www.opelika.org/leisure/specialevents.html for more information.
Don’t worry; there are plenty of other events to enjoy in this charming city like the Opelika Azalea and Dogwood Trail, Summer Swing Concert Series or the annual Fourth of July Celebration. These are great activities to take part in during the spring and summer months because you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and warm weather.
Leisure activities are abundant in Opelika and the surrounding areas. Golf is a huge amenity of Opelika and here you have a variety of great courses to take a swing on! According to Robert Trent Jones, “Opelika is the most spectacular golf site in the world.” We guess that’s why he chose to build one of his famous courses right here in Opelika. If you’re not ready to take on Robert Trent Jones ( www.rtjgolf.com ) there are still plenty of other great courses to play including Indian Pines and Saugahatchee Country Club, not to mention the golf courses that Auburn has to offer.
Opelika is conveniently close to two great recreational lakes. Lake Martin is located off of Hwy 280 in Alabama and Lake Harding is just north of Columbus. So if you love fishing and boating or you just love the outdoors Opelika would be a prime location for you!
Also, Opelika is only a few hours away from the beaches of Mobile and Gulf Shores, Alabama so every now and then if you long for sand between your toes and the sound of waves crashing outside your window you can be there easily in less than half a day.
Good Food is not hard to find in Opelika, and after a long day of enjoying one of our many special events or leisure activities you’ll definitely want to sit down, relax and have a great meal. Not to worry, Opelika is home to many restaurants from your typical fast food joint to a wide variety of fine dining venues.
If you’re in the mood for a quick lunch or dinner you’ll want to check out one of our quick service stops like Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers, Papa’s Barbecue, Golden Corral, Whispering Oaks or one of our Tyler’s Restaurants. We also have McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s if that’s more your style. If you want to enjoy the likes of a familiar restaurant you should stop in at our local O’Charleys or Outback Steakhouse for a great, in-expensive family dinner.
But if you’re in the mood to experience a fine dining experience like never before and you want to try something a little different you can make reservations or visit one of our many unique restaurants like Bayou Bistro, Café 123, Cock of the Walk, Cottage Café or The Warehouse Bistro. More than likely, you won’t find these places anywhere else. You can enjoy anything from great Louisiana-style cuisine to your typical American cuisine pepped up a bit.
As you can see there are plenty of great places to dine in Opelika. There’s something for every occasion. Bon Appetite!
Have We Convinced You Yet????
We hope that you will consider Opelika for relocation after retirement. We welcome any and all newcomers to the area. If you’re looking for a friendly, simplistic, relaxing, family-oriented community, Opelika’s the perfect destination for you. Please don’t hesitate to call if there’s anything else you need or anything we can help you with. We love meeting and talking to new people! Contact us via email or call us at 334-745-4861.
