The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
Q. Where are you from and how did you get here?
A. Kathy: I am from Toledo, Ohio. Jay’s from a suburb of Detroit, Michigan
Jay: When we got married, we moved to Pasadena, California, for a job opportunity. I am in the retail car business. We lived there for five years, had both the boys. Then we moved back to Vero Beach, Florida. After about thirty years in the business, we started looking for a second home. We had a friend from Vero Beach who had a home in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, and he invited us to visit. I took one look at the golf course and the lake, and that was it. We bought our first property here in 2013.
Q. Why did you choose Keowee Vineyards?
A. Kathy: Well, the funny part is we didn’t even look at any of the other communities! For Jay, the golf course is just something you don’t really see anywhere, with so many holes on the water. And having access to the other communities at The Cliffs is incredible. And it was just such a different topography than Florida!
Jay: Keowee Vineyards is a Tom Fazio-designed golf course and I just love him as a designer. I think ours is the most beautiful of all the lake courses.
Kathy: We originally built a house on the lake. It was a storybook setting, such a beautiful spot. We had a boat, jet skis…but then it was time to let someone else enjoy it!
Jay: We’ve lived in five houses here since 2013. Real estate is a bit of a passion for us. And The Cliffs is the most unique club opportunity in the U.S. Seven golf courses, seven clubhouses—there’s nothing like it.
Q. How do you spend your time here?
A. Kathy: It’s about golf and the lake. We brought our boat up the first year and thought we would trailer it back and forth. But we decided to leave it here. We absolutely love the lake.
Jay: We are also pool people. With this house, we put three and a quarter acres together. It gave us a lot of privacy and space for a pool. And I’m also a car guy. I have a car collection that I show in The Cliffs car show every year.
Q. Tell me about your sons!
A. Jay: Christopher is thirty-three, married to Alyssa. Anthony is thirty-five. They both went to Florida State to play lacrosse.
Kathy: Christopher and Alyssa have an eighteen-month-old daughter. Her name is Leyla. She is precious!
Jay: The great thing about The Cliffs is the legacy membership. Our boys have been legacy members since we joined. So they come up, bring friends, and stay here even if we’re not home.
Q. What is your life like in Keowee Vineyards?
A. Kathy: We love the people in Keowee Vineyards. We moved here full-time in 2020. They did such a wonderful job still letting people live a nice lifestyle, while staying safe. I started walking every day and ladies in the neighborhood started joining me. Suddenly, I had this amazing group of friends. We were walking six miles a day. Now we are such a tight community. We travel and celebrate special occasions together.
Q. Sounds like you fit in a lot!
A. Kathy: The wellness center is amazing. The kids love it too. I walk with my friends, use the wellness center, and take classes. The instructors are great. Now they have physical therapists, massage therapists; they’ve really done a nice job providing something for everyone. They also do a doggy parade for Halloween, a boat parade at Christmas, dining on the golf course—there are so many fun events throughout the year!
This story was featured in Cliffs Living magazine. To see more stories like this one and learn more about The Cliffs, subscribe here.
