Welcome to Hickory Grove: StyleCraft's First Hanover County Community

If you've spent any time researching where to plant your next chapter in the Richmond area, Hanover County probably came up quickly. It consistently ranks among the most desirable places to live in the region—and for good reason. But finding a new-construction 55+ community in Hanover that's actually designed for the way active adults want to live? That's been harder to come by.

Until now.

Hickory Grove is StyleCraft Homes' first community in Hanover County, and it brings together everything that makes this area so sought-after with a home and lifestyle designed specifically for what's next. First-floor living. True single-family detached homes. A full suite of community amenities. And a location that's five minutes from downtown Ashland with easy access to everything else the Richmond metro has to offer.

Here's a closer look.

Why Hanover County, and Why Ashland?

Hanover County has long been one of Virginia's most popular places to live, and buyers who know the Richmond area know why: it has the character of a small town, the quality of life of a well-run county, and proximity to the city without any of the congestion. Property crime rates are among the lowest in the region. The pace of life is genuinely different here, but in a very good way.

Ashland sits at the center of it all. Known affectionately as "the Center of the Universe," it's a walkable small town with genuine character: a Main Street with local restaurants, boutique shops, a beloved farmers market, and an Amtrak station that connects you to Richmond and beyond. It's the kind of town that draws people in and keeps them.

From Hickory Grove, you're a short drive from virtually everything:

• 5 minutes to Downtown Ashland — farmers market, dining, shops, and community events
• 14 minutes to Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center — one of the region's primary hospitals
• Easy access to I-95 and Route 1 — for trips to Richmond, Northern Virginia, or anywhere in between
• Minutes from Hanover's parks, golf courses, and outdoor recreation

For a full picture of what life in Ashland looks like day-to-day — the restaurants worth knowing, the local events, the outdoor spots — read our guide to living in Ashland, VA.

What Makes Hickory Grove Different from Other 55+ Options

Hickory Grove is a master-planned 55+ community, and if you've researched it, you've probably noticed that Eastwood Homes also builds here. The pickleball courts, walking trails, community garden, fishing pond, fire pit, and dog park are shared amenities for the whole community, so that's not where the two builders differ.

The difference comes down to the homes and the builder experience.

StyleCraft's homes are built around first-floor living. Every StyleCraft floor plan at Hickory Grove includes a first-floor Owner's Suite and is designed so that everything you use daily is accessible without stairs. That's a deliberate design philosophy, not just a feature checkbox. If you're building this home to live in for the next 10, 20, or 30 years, a floor plan designed from the ground up for single-level living is a different thing than a traditional home with a bedroom added to the main floor.

The Design Studio experience sets StyleCraft apart from production-builder options. With StyleCraft, you're choosing your interior and exterior finishes through a guided, curated selection process with a design professional. You’’ll not only have the option to select finishes like flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and fixtures, but also structural options depending on the floor plan you choose: sunrooms, expanded outdoor living areas, additional bedrooms, and more that let you shape the home around how you plan to actually use it. The result is a home that reflects your taste and lifestyle.

StyleCraft's warranty coverage is built for peace of mind. Buying any new home is a significant decision. StyleCraft backs its homes with a comprehensive warranty and an in-house warranty team, so when something comes up after closing, you reach someone who knows your home and is accountable for the resolution. More on that below.

Compared to buying a pre-owned home, a StyleCraft home at Hickory Grove means no deferred maintenance, no renovation surprises, and no guessing what the previous owners did behind the walls. You choose everything, you know the condition of everything, and your warranty covers what's new.

Compared to staying in the city or close-in suburbs, Hanover County offers something most urban environments simply can't: space, quiet, and a pace of life that's genuinely different. You can be at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in 14 minutes and on a pickleball court in two. That ratio is hard to replicate in Richmond City or Henrico.

Compared to more rural communities further out in Hanover or surrounding counties, Hickory Grove sits at the right intersection: five minutes from a real Main Street, near I-95 and Route 1, and close to the healthcare infrastructure that matters, all without giving up the natural surroundings that make Hanover appealing in the first place.

The Homes: First-Floor Living Without the Compromises

Every home at Hickory Grove is a detached single-family home with a first-floor Owner's Suite, a spacious two-car garage, and thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor living spaces. These aren't scaled-down retirement homes — they range from 1,664 to over 2,350 square feet, with room to host, work from home, or simply live the way you've always liked to.

Four floor plans are available, each with its own character:

The Bluestone — 2–4 bedrooms, 2–3 baths, from 1,664 sq ft, from $499,990. The most flexible starting point in the collection — right-sized for buyers who want an efficient, open layout with everything on one level and the option to expand with structural selections.

The Holston — 2–4 bedrooms, 2–3 baths, from 1,876 sq ft, from $524,990. A step up in square footage with more room in the main living areas and additional options for a second bedroom, dedicated office, or sunroom depending on the selections you make in the Design Studio.

The Jackson — 3+ bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,250 sq ft, from $539,990. One of the more spacious plans in the collection, with a layout that works especially well for buyers who want defined spaces — a separate dining area, a dedicated study, and generous secondary bedrooms for guests.

The Smith — 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,299 sq ft, from $549,990. The largest plan, with an expansive Owner's Suite, an open-concept kitchen and living area, and a layout designed for buyers who entertain regularly or expect to have family visiting often.

All four plans include outdoor living spaces and a covered patio option through the Design Studio. And if you're ready to move sooner rather than later — a Smith plan at 10302 Szalay Lane is available for move-in this summer.

Community Amenities: Built for an Active Life

The amenities at Hickory Grove weren't an afterthought. They were designed with an active adult buyer in mind; someone who wants to be outside, stay social, and fill their days with things they enjoy.

• Pickleball courts — one of the country's fastest-growing sports, and for good reason: it's social, accessible, and competitive enough to be genuinely fun
• Miles of walking trails — for a morning walk or an evening stroll without getting in a car
• Community pavilion and fire pit — a gathering space for neighborhood events and get-togethers, or cool nights and easy conversation with neighbors
• Community garden — a place to grow your own produce or simply enjoy the space
• Fishing pond — a natural amenity that genuinely changes the character of an evening stroll
• Dog park — because some members of the household deserve dedicated space too
• Lawn care included — so your weekends belong to you, not to a lawn mower

That last point matters more than it might seem. Lawn care inclusion is the difference between a low-maintenance community and one that just calls itself that. At Hickory Grove, it's built in so your time and energy go toward what you actually want to do.

Why Build with StyleCraft

StyleCraft Homes has been building communities in the greater Richmond area for 25 years. That history matters here as a practical reality. StyleCraft has built relationships with local subcontractors, understands the nuances of building in Hanover County, and we have a track record of standing behind what we build.

A few specifics that matter for Hickory Grove buyers:

Design with a Difference. Every floor plan is developed with leading architects to maximize livability — how the light moves through the home, how the spaces flow, how a first-floor Owner's Suite works as an actual retreat rather than just a bedroom on the ground floor. You'll notice it when you walk through.

Make It Your Own. The Design Studio experience is a genuine differentiator. Choosing your finishes in a guided, curated environment is fundamentally different from flipping through a binder of upgrades — and the results show in the finished home.

Best-in-Class Warranty Protection. StyleCraft backs every home with a 1-year warranty covering your home from top to bottom, a transferable 10-year structural warranty, and an in-house warranty team. When you have a concern after closing, you reach a real person — not a national call center.

LiveSmart Technology. Every StyleCraft home includes smart home features through the LiveSmart platform: a smart lock, smart thermostat, and a Home Hub that connects it all. It's the kind of practical technology that makes daily life a little easier and your home more secure from day one.

Come See It for Yourself

The Sales Center is open now on Woodside Lane in Ashland, and the team, Katie Brown and Demi Eiser, can walk you through the available floor plans, discuss homesite selection, and schedule you for a Design Studio preview appointment.

Sales Center Hours: Monday 1–6 PM | Tuesday–Friday 11 AM–6 PM | Saturday 10 AM–5 PM | Sunday 12–5 PM

Homes at Hickory Grove are selling now, and this is still an early opportunity to choose your homesite and floor plan before availability narrows.

Book your appointment with the Hickory Grove sales team — or call (804) 523-4663 to get started.