A history of service
Our story starts in the mid-1950s, when members of Spokane’s Central United Methodist Church, guided by the initiative of Mr. O.W. Young, begin planning for a new kind of faith-based retirement community. In 1957, Spokane United Methodist Homes was formed as a nonprofit corporation doing business as Rockwood Retirement Communities.
In 1960, a seven story apartment tower, The Manor, (renamed The Ridge) opened on the South Hill of Spokane, offering an innovative retirement lifestyle. In 1987, construction began on Rockwood South Hill’s private homes called Rockwood Forest Estates. With this exclusive neighborhood of beautiful, unique homes, Rockwood expanded the continuum to include an option for private residential living with access to services and programs.
In 1999, a new Wellness Center was built that provided residents with private skilled nursing studios and 30 specialized memory care suites. Eventually, the 2nd and 3rd floors of The Ridge tower were converted to assisted living apartments, adding depth to the continuum of care.
In 2016, in response to growing market demand, The Summit at Rockwood South Hill opened. This 11-story apartment tower added larger apartment homes with full kitchens and balconies, many of which boast sweeping views of Spokane.
Today, the organization has grown and includes not only Rockwood South Hill, but also Rockwood at Whitworth and Appleway Court.
History of Rockwood at Whitworth
In 1999, Spokane United Methodist Homes acquired its second campus, Hawthorne Retirement Community in north Spokane. In 2019, extensive work began on a brand new community on the site, to be known as Rockwood at Whitworth. The new community, which opened in 2023, benefits from a close affiliation with Whitworth University located nearby, making it the first university-affiliated retirement community in Spokane.
History of Appleway Court
In 2011, Rockwood opened Appleway Court—a senior affordable housing residence in Spokane Valley. Since its opening, Appleway Court has operated at or near capacity, and in 2014 Rockwood completed a second phase nearly doubling the size of the community.
