Inside the world's most infamous retirement community

A fascinating video has lifted the lid on the retirement community which became synonymous with rampant swinging and over-the-top sexual promiscuity.

Popular YouTube creator Peter Santanello recently visited The Villages in Florida which is considered to be the largest 55+ community in the world.

There are more than 145,000 residents 'from all different backgrounds' housed across sprawling site which was previously embroiled in allegations of drunken debauchery that include a thriving swingers' scene and black market for Viagra.

But many have now defended the community with 'frustrated' homeowners attempting to dispel the 'preconceived ideas.'  

From the outset, Peter set out his intentions to address the pervasive stereotypes about The Villages - which surpasses the size of Manhattan and encompasses five zip codes.

Heather, his guide for the day, said: 'It's not what you think and it's frustrating. People just have a preconceived idea of what The Villages is about... People just assume that there's a real negative thing going on here and it's not.'

She continued: 'We're not all swingers. We don't all have STDs.'

Instead, Heather, who moved to the community from Indiana three years ago, was keen to express the positives of the adult-only space.

The 57-year-old explained: 'It's very, very secure here. There's no crime to speak of.'

The community relies on local law enforcement but has its own emergency medical services and even a hospital. 

Discussing other benefits of the complex, Heather said that the homes are much more affordable - the cheapest being 'in the low $200,000s' - with a homeowners association fee of less than $300 a month.

That fee includes unlimited access to activities that take part in the various recreation centers across the site - from crafting and board games to yoga and dance. 

Heather asserts: 'They're doing thins all over the place, all the time.'

She explained that the community, which has its own app to keep track of the busy schedule of events, exists within its own 'bubble,' as she revealed: 'You really don't have to leave but some people do.'

The resident later added: 'You don't really want for much, it's all here. It's all contained within The Villages.'

Peter described the set up as a 'Hollywood movie set' before likening it to The Truman Show - in which the protagonist is unaware that his life is part of a massive TV set.

There are a whole host of amenities readily available to residents including around 60 golf courses, banks, law firms and grocery stores - to name just a few. 

Residents use golf carts, which cost around $12,000 to buy, as the standard mode of transport and there even garages specifically for topping them up. 

Speaking about the sense of community, Heather said: 'We're really big on driveway parties. They have food trucks coming. They have a live band. They go all out.' 

She said: 'It gets a ton of bad press. A lot of people think we're all hardcore conservatives or Trumpers - and we're not either. 

'I mean there's there's a variety of people that live here. All walks of life.'

The Villages, which also has its own radio station, are continuing to expand and are now looking to invest in a multi-generational community.

Currently, Heather revealed, young kids are not allowed and even if grandchildren do come to visit, 'the most they could stay is 30 days at a time.' 

In her closing remarks, she said that she was 'pretty content' and added: 'Everyone that's down here is young at heart.'

Elsewhere, another resident was also quick to defend The Villages as she explained: 'I hear criticism. People say, "You guys are hedonistic." It's most people here have worked their entire life and it's just that you're now relaxing. That's all it is.

'You're just relaxing and enjoying life.'

'Tons of volunteer work goes on around here. A ton of it. People are still giving back but you're just trying to relax.'

Peter concluded his tour by revealing that his opinion on The Villages had changed, explaining: 'That was a lot of fun today. 

'I enjoyed it and it definitely opened my eyes up a bit because I didn't think it would be this positive, this great of an energy.

'There's a happy vibe out here, and I think it's ticking some boxes for people. Such as security, community, entertainment, happiness, and I can definitely see the draw to here.'

The Villages was previously thrust into the limelight as accusations emerged of its sinister underbelly before social media was set alight users claiming to have cracked a color-coded loofah system used by senior swingers to indicate their sexual preferences.