amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

PALO DURORETIREMENTVILLAGEAbove: The entry into the Palo DuroRetirement Village leads to inviting groundsand an attractive community many olderresidents of Canyon call home.Below: Founder Louis Hinders (center,seated) is shown here on the grounds of PaloDuro Retirement Village surrounded by hisfamily, son David Hinders, daughter-in-lawTammy Hinders (standing), and his wifeCarolyn Hinders.A need for a senior retirement facility thatwould provide residents with companionship,recreation, and security led to the formationof the Palo Duro Village Cooperative in theearly 1980s. Louis Hinders and other Canyonresidents including Dale Pulliam, Joe Wieck,Emmitt Smith, Ray Lumry, Charles Gerald,and A. W. Lair were the founders. Hinders’retired mother and mother-in-law both hadchallenges finding safe, affordable housing.Knowing those challenges, he visited theEbenezer Society of Minneapolis, a facilitymuch like the one he envisioned for Canyon,Texas. He spearheaded the process that ultimatelyestablished a facility that would “providequality senior citizen housing at cost andpromote an active and independent lifestylethat fosters privacy, safety and companionship.”After researching financing optionsand fact finding, Hinders and other foundingboard members determined that forminga private cooperative would be the optimalway to proceed.In 1984, after several years ofplanning, a land purchase, a land swapwith then West Texas State University,construction of the original facilitydesigned by architect Howard Ensign wascompleted by Paige and Wirtz. The innovative,forward thinking plan for cooperativeownership has been an ongoingsuccess. Occupants purchase stock in thecooperative that entitles them to occupy ahousing unit; the value of the unit determinesthe cost of the stock. The cooperative operatesat cost with no profit; all funds are re-investedin the cooperative. Each year costs arereviewed, an emergency reserve is set aside,and the next year’s operating cost is set anddivided between the units accordingly.Palo Duro Retirement Village attracts peoplewith children in the area, as well asWTAMU alumni who want to live near theuniversity. It is a close-knit community whererelationships are encouraged. Activities rangefrom potluck suppers, coffee groups, andorganized games to massage therapy andblood pressure checks. Other activitiesinclude weekly Bible studies, sing-alongs,and birthday parties. Included in the cost ofliving at the facility is inside and all outsidemaintenance, monthly housekeeping, 24/7attendant on duty and transportation toattend Amarillo Symphony, WTAMU events,and Monthly-Dine-Around. Other amenitiesinclude a library, Laundromat, Jacuzzi, beautyshop, and notary services. Grandchildrenare welcome and ponds on the property arestocked with fish where grandparents taketheir grandchildren fishing.The facility encompasses several acres andhas an apartment complex with units rangingfrom 712 to 1,331 square feet. Starting in2007 garden homes were added to the compoundbecause younger retirees are attractedto the growing trend of living in gardenhomes in personalized planned communities.Palo Duro Retirement Village has a workingagreement with an adjacent nursing homeand assisted living center to make transitionfrom their facility a seamless process.AMARILLO - Faces, Places & Open Spaces210