Forget Florida, Retire To This Ozark Escape With Lake Fun, Vibrant Parks, And Mountain Views

Seeking a retirement alternative to Florida can lead down a few rabbit holes that feel like an exercise in futility. The Southwest, for example, can leave one choosing between New Mexico and Texas — a six-versus-half-dozen decision, depending on how you look at it. But the Ozarks provide a retirement escape with characteristics all their own. Taney County, Missouri, provides a perfect reason to forget the Sunshine State, with lake fun, vibrant parks, and mountain views you can't find in many other places.

The county enjoys a long and colorful history, from the tough settlers who carved out its locales from the rough landscape to the infamous Baldknobber vigilantes, who terrorized locals. That past colors the hillsides and waterways of the county and its 57,000 residents. The vigilantes are gone, replaced by a welcoming Ozark escape. Retirees in particular will quickly feel at home, with nearly one-quarter of the county's residents 65 years or older.

Retirees and travelers will quickly notice Taney County's knack for keeping money in their wallets. Median home values and rents are substantially lower than the national averages, according to Niche. But the site also shows that Taney County has per-capita crime rates that are more than twice the national average in several areas, including theft and burglary. The county's most well-known and largest city, Branson, is considered "the Las Vegas of the Midwest." The city of 13,000 can serve as the hub for a stay in Taney County, whether you come for a few weeks or a few decades.

Even for a 623-square-mile chunk of the Ozarks, Taney County sure has a lot of blue. Specifically, the White River, which snakes across the county, forms a large swath of waterfront and plenty of potential for lake fun. At the heart of the river and county lies Lake Taneycomo, a 2,000-acre manmade blue gem created by lopping off chunks of the White River. Named after the county itself (Taney Co., MO), the lake ranks as one of the Branson area's best-kept scenic secrets, with trout fishing and spectacular seasonal colors a counterpoint to the city's amusement parks and live shows. 

Another lake is also home to one of Taney County's many vibrant parks. Table Rock Lake, a 43,100-acre mass of water next to Branson, is also home to an eponymous state park that's a scenic outdoor escape for camping, trails, and fishing. Table Rock State Park lets retirees seeking an active lifestyle enjoy the outdoors on several fronts. Its marina lets the boat-less hit the waters without shelling out the pretty penny it costs to buy your own vessel. From the water, you can cast a line for some bass or crappie, or just relax as you bob along the surface. Retirees and travelers who'd rather stay dry can hike the park's various trails. The White River Valley Trail System, for instance, has four loops that traverse a mix of Taney's more cherished natural wonders, from waterfalls to panoramas of the Ozarks.

For the best views in the county, drive the Glade Top Trail, a 23-mile Forest Service scenic byway that winds through the Mark Twain National Forest, with seven overlooks offering views of the surrounding area and mountains. The Ozark Mountain Highroad provides a similar experience near Branson.

The perks of life in Taney County, with the Ozark Mountains on the horizon and the White River's hum coloring your days, have their share of trade-offs. The county's remoteness is a byproduct of lackluster travel options. While Branson does have a regional airport, the closest major transit hub is Kansas City (MCI), 229 miles away. It may not be a dealbreaker for travelers just visiting, but for retirees looking to set up shop, any flight followed by a four-hour drive is a long trip to see grandma and grandpa. The visiting family may also have a hard time finding a place to stay.

Branson itself has a long, storied history of tourism and a large selection of accommodations to prove it. Yet some of Taney's other locales, like Forsyth and Kirbyville, lack places for visiting family to stay overnight. Fortunately, two of the county's better-rated places to retire also have plenty of hotels and rentals. Niche ranks Taney County's best town for retirees as Hollister; a picturesque Ozark escape brims with old-world charm where retirees can benefit from a cost of living that is 10% lower than the national average, according to Salary.com. Another option is Rockaway Beach, a once-thriving resort town that's now a quaint city for fishing and boating.

There's technically no wrong time to visit or move to Taney County. It just depends on your affinity for cold or hot weather. Summers, especially the heart of July, can be a humid, muggy mess. Potential elderly residents should make sure they can manage any chronic conditions in 90-plus-degree heat with matching humidity. It's a particularly stark issue in a county where there may be places to cool off, but you're likely not getting there on foot. U.S. News & World Report ranks the county's walkability as just above the national average.