Coquina Crossing-St Augustine

Pros

• The park is described as a very nice modular home park.
• It is a gated community with every amenity you could want or need.
• The community is exceptionally active with many activities.
• There is a great sense of friendship throughout the community.
• People moved there because they loved the community.
• Residents express that they love living there.
• The amenities center is described as very nice, including a pool and clubhouse.
• Neighbors are friendly and welcoming, and the area is quiet and relaxing.
• Some reviewers describe the community as Mayberry-like and homey.

Cons

• Gate security has become extremely hard to work with.
• The gate staff allegedly claimed a man was murdered by a regular visitor, a claim the reviewer says is false.
• A security officer brought a chihuahua into the security office and was unprofessional, making up reasons for entry denial.
• The phone operator's attitude was unhelpful and unprofessional, pushing information to the website instead.
• Staff suggested not looking at homes because prices and interest rates would be different in a year.
• The reviewer felt the park manager couldn't be bothered to show them around for 30 minutes.
• The park manager was described as lazy.
• HOA fees are very high, around $800 per month, with annual increases and no cap.
• There was a bait-and-switch impression by a real estate agent.
• The community is described as a glorified trailer park and not a true 55+ community.
• The land price is high and keeps rising, making it less affordable.
• Deposit refunds were refused after backing out.

Review

Coquina Crossing sits on the edge of St. Augustine as a gated, 55-plus community that many residents describe as a true social anchor for their retirement years. The pattern in the stories is clear: people come for the sense of neighborhood, the abundance of amenities, and the quiet, well-kept grounds, and they stay because of the friendships formed and the active calendar of events. Numerous reviewers paint a picture of a place that feels like a small town, a modern version of Mayberry, where neighbors greet each other, activities abound, and there's a strong sense of community pride. The grounds are repeatedly described as clean and well maintained, with tidy common spaces, a clubhouse, pools, and other facilities that give the impression of a fully functional, self-contained retirement enclave.

The personal appeal of Coquina Crossing often centers on the people who live there and the culture of being part of a 55-plus ecosystem. Several reviewers emphasize the warmth and neighborliness of residents, noting that many people here are friendly, welcoming, and engaged in socializing, volunteering, or participating in organized activities. The community is portrayed as quiet and relaxing yet not devoid of life - there are plenty of opportunities to stay active, socialize, and pursue hobbies, whether at the clubhouse, the pool, or in smaller resident-led gatherings. For some, the environment feels like a close-knit, supportive network where "you own the modular home and lease the lot," making it feel like a place where you can truly settle in as you please.

Yet, behind the gated walls, there are significant worries about how the park is run and how information is shared with prospective buyers or visitors. A number of reviews recount frustration with gate security and the gatehouse staff, describing interactions as overly restrictive and sometimes unprofessional. One visitor recounts being told that entry was contingent on the person they were visiting calling security first because of a claimed past incident, a claim that other reviewers found dubious or untrue. Allegations surface of a staff member presenting unverified or questionable reasons to deny entry and even bringing a dog into the security office, which adds to the sense that some encounters at the gate feel impersonal and inconsistent. The gate policy - requiring appointments or prior authorization - creates a barrier for those who want to explore the community, and several reviewers express disappointment that a quick, in-person tour isn't accommodated to help a prospective buyer or renter feel the place.

The experience with sales and information about the community adds another layer of complexity. There are voices that describe a reluctance to show a prospective buyer around the park, particularly when the visitor indicates they won't be moving for a year or might consider purchasing during a visit. In some cases, staff seem to steer visitors toward online resources rather than in-person walkthroughs, prompting questions about the sincerity of the sales process. A few reviewers interpret this as a lack of interest in letting potential residents "feel" the place in the moment, which clashes with the otherwise warm and welcoming image the community projects online. This tension - between the appealing, sunny marketing and the more conservative, gatekeeping reality - creates mixed feelings for people who are genuinely considering relocating there.

Another recurring thread centers on the financial structure of living in Coquina Crossing. Reviewers commonly mention the owners' model - modular homes on leased lots - and the monthly HOA-like charges that cover access to community amenities. One reviewer explicitly notes a monthly lot fee around $800, describing it as high given the services included. There is also mention of the cost trajectory: several accounts point out that fees have a pattern of rising over time (a few suggest a four-percent annual increase without a cap), which naturally raises questions about long-term affordability for residents on fixed incomes. Some visitors are attracted by the apparent value of the community, but the financial details - especially the balance between home ownership, lot rents, and ongoing maintenance or association dues - are clearly a significant factor in decision-making.

Despite the financial and security concerns, the practical realities of living in a 55-plus, amenity-rich environment come through clearly in many testimonials. The park is described as offering extensive facilities - an impressive clubhouse, a nice pool, and an array of activities designed for an active senior lifestyle. Reviewers frequently mention the variety of things to do, from social clubs to fitness opportunities, suggesting that the community's value lies in the social infrastructure as much as in the physical grounds. Even critics acknowledge the attractiveness of the location and the lifestyle, noting that the broader St. Augustine area provides robust access to local culture, shopping, and natural beauty, while Coquina Crossing offers a self-contained setting that makes daily life convenient and enjoyable for retirees.

There is also a tension about the identity and branding of the community. Some reviewers insist emphatically that Coquina Crossing is not a trailer park, stressing that it contains manufactured modular homes and a formal ownership-and-leased-lot arrangement, with a well-defined HOA and a structured governance system. Others, however, describe it in less flattering terms, calling it a "glorified trailer park" or noting that some aspects - like rising costs and strict gate policies - make the community feel less than ideal. The truth in these conflicting views seems to hinge on perspective: for some residents, the emphasis on age-specific design, security, and the social fabric outweighs the costs; for others, the combination of ongoing fees and gate bureaucracy dampens the appeal, especially for those who value flexibility and transparency in how they are allowed to visit or tour the park.

In the end, the stories about Coquina Crossing reflect a complex, layered reality. Many residents celebrate a community that delivered a sense of belonging, once you are in, with friendly neighbors, active social life, and a retreat-like environment that supports a comfortable, balanced retirement. They describe the park as something that moved them closer to friends, activities, and a lifestyle they cherish. On the other hand, prospective residents and visitors encounter real concerns about gate access, the professionalism of staff, the transparency of the sales process, and the long-term costs of living in a gated, age-restricted community. For anyone considering a move here, the message is clear: the place can offer a richly rewarding, sociable, and peaceful retirement life, but it also requires careful consideration of the financial structure, gate policies, and the quality of interactions with management. The choice, as with many 55-plus communities, hinges on whether the social and lifestyle benefits align with comfort with cost, access, and governance.

Physicians

• Townsend Clinic PA (4 miles)
• Vassallo Eye & Laser Institute (4.2 miles)
• Goar de Lamerens, MD (4.2 miles)
• Wells Oral & Maxillofacial (4.2 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates (4.3 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates Of St Johns County PA (4.3 miles)
• Thousand Robert R III DDS (4.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Umai Hibachi And Sushi (4 miles)
• Culver's (4.2 miles)
• McDonald's (4.7 miles)
• McDonald's (5 miles)
• Carrabba's Italian Grill (5.5 miles)
• Cantina Louie (5.6 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (5.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Moultrie Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)
• Rx-Mart Pharmacy (5.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.4 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (6.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (7.1 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (5.3 miles)
• Kekes Breakfast Café (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• The Kookaburra (7.2 miles)
• Relampago Coffee Lab (7.4 miles)
• The Kookaburra (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (7.5 miles)

Hospitals

• St Augustine Surgery Center (5.3 miles)

Parks

• Dr Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park (6.5 miles)
• Maria Sanchez Lake (7.3 miles)
• Ocean Hammock Park (7.4 miles)
• Ron Parker Park (7.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Memorial Presbyterian Church (7.3 miles)