Ryderwood, Washington is a Shangri-la for seniors, a place where aging is celebrated and people support each other in its process. For the 400 seniors who live there, Ryderwood is a place where growing old is done gracefully, safely and with fun.
The people of Ryderwood are proud of their town for many reasons. One is its history. The town was established in 1923 as a general residence for the employees of Long Bell Lumber Company. As the lumber industry began to decline, the town was eventually sold to a physician in the 1950’s who started a retirement village for “old people.” These “old people” were folks over 55 who had to have retirement funds. No one except a spouse of the older person could be under age 55.
Ryderwood is said to be one of the oldest retirement communities in the United States. Some say it is the oldest. It is located about 70 miles from Portland, Oregon in the State of Washington and about 29 miles from its closest metropolitan area, Longview, Washington.
A drive along the highway past Portland on the road to Seattle, and a leisurely drive down a turn on a country road brings the visitor to Ryderwood. Here folks live harmoniously in a community that supports residents emotionally and physically. Those who first consider moving to such a rural community might worry about a lack of restaurants, theatres and night life, but the people who live in Ryderwood say there is plenty to do. The community has its artists, musicians, and service personnel, all volunteers. There is, according to Ryderwood folks many ways to stay happily busy.
Barbara Strong and Delphine Taylor are two of the happy residents of Ryderwood. One recent late afternoon, they proudly took me on a tour of their home and their beautiful community.
Strong explained how she discovered the town many years ago and how she and her lifemate, Delphine, found their way to this happy senior Shangri-la. As Strong said, “We both like living here and find it safe and comfortable, as do the other residents.” She went on to explain that the doctor who founded the retirement community eventually sold it to individuals who established private homes. The town property itself is owned by a corporation, and the corporation is owned by the community members. All members of the community have a certificate attesting to their membership in the corporation. The certificate, however, has no monetary value but does provide evidence of one’s legal relationship within the community.
Members of the Ryderwood community pay regular dues. Gradually community services have been introduced from the county. But for the most part, the community hall, fire department, police and other town needs are taken care of by volunteers from the seniors who live in the community. Both Strong and Taylor serve as members of the voluntary “police” in Ryderwood.
Carol Forsloffr
Visitors on a weekend of an age rarely seen since Ryderwood is a community for seniors. This is a picture of its "downtown" section.
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Strong explained, “There are over 400 members in the community and 270 home sites, not all of them occupied. 250 homes have residents. There are lots of single people in Ryderwood, both men and women, but mostly women. There is a small grocery store five miles away from the town and a gas station and restaurant nine miles away. The nearest doctor is 29 miles from Ryderwood.”
Carol Forsloff
Ryderwood, a town administered by seniors, has its own post office, community center, park and cofeehouse/restaurant.
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Strong and Taylor went on to talk about the many joys of living in a safe, comfortable company where many of the seniors live out their final years in supportive surroundings. The average home is approximately $120,000, but values range from $80,000 to $250,000. Most people remain in Ryderwood until they die. That’s because people look out for one another. A program called “Are you okay” monitors the activity of any given individual to make sure that no one is left without assistance in a medical emergency.
Both Strong and Taylor intend to live permanently at Ryderwood,, whereas presently they spend their winters in Arizona. They told me the community is stable and that there is not a lot of turnover. Folks don’t seem to wonder or worry much about who is gay and who is straight nor the color or nationality of a neighbor as these two women have found the welcome mat at Ryderwood includes everyone.
It’s easy to see why seniors might choose Ryderwood for living as the safety and natural setting allow deer to walk freely through one’s front yard without fear of a rifle shot around. Good natured wildlife, a picturesque setting and people who believe in loving and caring for their neighbors is the kind of lifestyle folks like Strong and Taylor seek. For them Ryderwood, is the Shangri-la of senior dreams and the welcome mat is out.
