History

The R. D. Merrill Company is a private holding company formed in the early 1890's by timber pioneer R. D. Merrill. The Seattle, Wash., based company is still owned and directed by Merrill family descendants. Charles B. Wright III, a fourth generation Merrill, is the current chairman.

It is the vision of Wright and his team that led the R.D. Merrill Company to form Merrill Gardens in 1993. Merrill Gardens is committed to providing an alternative to traditional retirement housing. Merrill Gardens has grown from eight employees to over 2,600 and currently owns and operates 53 communities in 8 states. The communities are located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Texas and Washington.

Merrill Gardens purchased its first independent and assisted living community in Seattle, gaining insight into the basic operating profile of the industry. The company then built a community from the ground up in Monroe, Wash., learning design and construction. Through new construction and timely acquisition of existing communities, Merrill Gardens is the third largest private company in the industry.

Each Merrill Gardens community is different in physical structure, reflecting the characteristics of the area where it is located and the needs of residents. The management and resources of the R. D. Merrill Company ensure high standards of service and long-term commitment to quality, security, choice and privacy in all Merrill Gardens communities.

Merrill Gardens is, above all, a company dedicated to quality and built on a strong foundation of family, community, long-term commitment and entrepreneurial spirit.