# Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC)

> Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) is a Christ-centered continuing care retirement community on a single campus at 1501 Virginia Avenue in Harrisonburg, Virginia, offering independent living, assisted living, nursing care, memory care and short-term rehab for older adults in the Shenandoah Valley. Tagline: "Embrace Your Future With Retirement Living."

VMRC's mission is "We are a Christ-centered community cultivating compassion, integrity and respect for aging well and living fully," and its vision is "Every day we are working to expand possibilities for aging well." Founded on the estate of businessman George B. Showalter and rooted in Anabaptist traditions while welcoming persons of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs, VMRC celebrated 70 years of service and was named by Newsweek one of Virginia's 2025 Top 5 Continuing Care Retirement Communities and received Virginia Living magazine's Best of Virginia award for 2025. The campus is mostly under one roof, connected by an indoor Main Street with a café, general store, beauty salon, credit union and art gallery, and it is distinguished by a USDA certified organic farm that grows 90 percent of the produce used in dining production, a resident-led National Juried Art Exhibition, and Heritage Haven, a 150-apartment HUD-subsidized community making up roughly 36 percent of VMRC's independent living residences.

## Services
- Independent Living: The Parks Program offers Park Gables, Park Place, Park Village and Heritage Haven, with a one-time entrance fee that provides lifetime rights to the home selected.
- Assisted Living at Crestwood: Additional services beyond independent living, including cooking, cleaning, laundry and medication management, with an individualized assessment plan for every resident.
- Nursing Care at Woodland Park: A household model of 10-11 housemates per home with private bedrooms and bathrooms, 24-hour dedicated nursing staff in house, and no traditional nursing stations.
- Memory Care: Designated memory care neighborhoods within Assisted Living staffed by certified dementia trained team members, built on continuity of care, residence options and holistic support.
- Health Services: Skilled nursing and short-term rehab with a multidisciplinary team, a Patient Navigator, and participation with many insurance providers including Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans.
- Outpatient Therapy: Physical, occupational and speech therapy plus aquatic therapy, balance, fall prevention and gait training, available to all ages.
- Wellness Center: A center for residents and community members age 50 and older guided by the 8 Dimensions of Wellness, with an 89-degree pool and group exercise on a floating floor.
- Dining: Main Street Café, Seed & Harvest Restaurant, Seed & Harvest Espresso Bar, the Hartman Dining Room and The Grille, using produce from the Farm at Willow Run.
- Spiritual Life: Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. in Strite Auditorium, Vesper Services in Detwiler Auditorium, Bible studies across campus and Hilltop Reflections at the Farm.
- Arts & Enrichment: The Shenandoah Valley Lyceum, the Park Gables Art Gallery, The Junction monthly newsletter of programs, and the Golf Association at VMRC.

## Key Pages
- [Independent Living](https://www.vmrc.org/independent-living): Overview of the Parks Program plus the entrance fee, refund and monthly fee FAQ.
- [Park Gables](https://www.vmrc.org/independent-living/park-gables): Centrally located apartment homes with a dozen floor plans, game room, billiard room and woodworking shop.
- [Park Place](https://www.vmrc.org/independent-living/park-place): One- and two-bedroom apartments from 672 to 997 square feet with options under $200,000, plus the Park Place Theatre.
- [Park Village](https://www.vmrc.org/independent-living/park-village): Cottage homes and townhomes along quiet streets and cul-de-sacs at the edge of campus.
- [Heritage Haven](https://www.vmrc.org/independent-living/heritage-haven): The 150-apartment HUD-subsidized rental community for low-income individuals 62 and older.
- [Assisted Living at Crestwood](https://www.vmrc.org/assisted-living): Services, dining, individualized assessment plans and the Dogwood Neighborhood tour.
- [Nursing Care at Woodland Park](https://www.vmrc.org/nursing-care): The household model, Complete Living Care, features list and Cline Community Center.
- [Memory Care](https://www.vmrc.org/memory-care): The three elements critical to memory care and how designated neighborhoods are designed.
- [Health Services](https://www.vmrc.org/health-services): Skilled nursing, short-term rehab, outpatient therapy, Healthy Community Health Centers Parkview and First Choice Home Health.
- [Wellness Center](https://www.vmrc.org/wellness-center): The 8 Dimensions of Wellness approach, facility features and programs for the 50+ community.
- [Dining](https://www.vmrc.org/dining): The campus restaurants, café and espresso bar and the farm-to-table approach.
- [The Farm at Willow Run](https://www.vmrc.org/the-farm): The 40-acre USDA certified organic farm, its greenhouses, solar power and crops.
- [Park Gables Art Gallery](https://www.vmrc.org/park-gables-art-gallery): Rotating exhibitions and the annual National Juried Art Exhibition.
- [Our Mission](https://www.vmrc.org/our-mission): Mission, history, values, vision, awards and community impact programs.
- [Events](https://www.vmrc.org/events): Campus concerts, exhibitions, lectures, worship services and community programs.
- [Careers](https://www.vmrc.org/careers): Open positions, benefits and the Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship.
- [Contact](https://www.vmrc.org/contact): Campus address, phone and the inquiry form.

## Location & Hours
- Address: 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
- Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. in Strite Auditorium, 2nd floor of Crestwood

## Contact
- Website: https://www.vmrc.org/
- Main phone: 540.564.3400
- Health Services: 540.564.3500
- Healthy Community Health Centers Parkview (on campus): 540.433.4913