Tomorrow, Saturday, November 3, the public will have the opportunity to see The Villas at Buffalo Hill for the first time. For over a year, this project has been rising slowly from the top of Buffalo Hill next to Buffalo Hill Terrace (of which it is a part). While we haven’t measured, there’s a good chance that, thanks to its hilltop location, the top of the Villas is the highest point in Kalispell. Many community members have been curious about what this building is like inside, and tomorrow, they’ll have a chance to see it.
The Villas feature 36 beautifully-finished apartment homes, most of which have been customized to the tastes and preferences of their first occupants. These apartments represent a new variation on independent living at Immanuel. Residents pay an entrance fee and, after move-in, a monthly fee that’s somewhat lower than the rental rate at Buffalo Hill Terrace. In addition to one restaurant meal a day and access to all of the amenities Immanuel has to offer, the entrance fee provides residents with the safety net of an investment; at move-out, part of it will be refunded to the resident or their heirs (the percentage depends on which of several plans the resident chose). In other words, the Villas provides residents with a home for now and security for later. And because the Villas are located on Immanuel Lutheran Communities’ campus, residents whose health needs change won’t have to go far if they need assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, memory support, or skilled nursing.
Of course, the Villas aren’t the only thing opening this weekend. We’ll also be revealing to the public the new auditorium/chapel and swimming pool. These amenities are at least exciting as the Villas. For a long time, we have been looking forward to having a gathering space larger than the Buffalo Room, and many residents are eagerly anticipating the possibility of taking a swim or soaking in a hot tub without ever leaving campus. These new spaces will expand our fitness offerings and make it possible for more residents to attend popular activities like Dinner and a Movie (during which participants enjoy a special meal while watching a feature film). They’ll also make it possible for us to host more external groups and make large events, like the Family and Friends Christmas Dinner, run even more smoothly.
While the buildings look beautiful and are ready to host visitors and be used by residents, there’s still a feature missing. We want to install a stained-glass window in the chapel, and we need your help. Our quilt raffle this summer got us started, and a generous anonymous donor pushed us further along the path, but we still need about $12,000 before we have enough funds to purchase the image of Jesus as the Good Shepard our artist has designed. If you would like to help, please click on the link below and designate your gift to “stained glass.” We want the chapel to be a sacred space where our residents worship as well as celebrate, play, and exercise.
To see what a difference your gift could make, come to the Open House at the Villas on Saturday, November 3 at 10am—or join us at 1pm on Sunday, November 4 for the Chapel Dedication Service. We’d love to see you!
