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In 1879, the Buckner Retirement history began among the least likely and most humble of backdrops: an orphans’ home in Dallas, Texas. Thanks to the Christ-like vision of Dr. Robert Cooke Buckner, the ministry that would one day become a leading provider of senior living and care was launched in tiny row houses along the rural edge of Buckner Orphans Home. Originally, these row houses served two purposes. They gave retired pastors and missionaries a place to enjoy retirement with dignity and comfort while also providing children in the orphans’ home with grandparents to love and support them through their formational years.
1954
Eventually, in 1954, Buckner opened its first official retirement community, the Mary E. Trew Home in Dallas, located less than a mile from the original children’s home. In 1955, Buckner expanded its senior living ministry to Houston with the opening of Buckner Baptist Haven.
Over the next five decades, Buckner Retirement Services continued to expand with senior living communities and senior care services across the state.
1966
In 1966, the Mary E. Trew Home in Dallas added the Buckner Ryburn Nursing Center and became known officially as Buckner Retirement Village. That community would be a staple of nonprofit senior living and care for Dallas-area seniors for more than 50 years until Buckner Retirement closed the community in 2016 to focus on growth initiatives and accommodate the shifting Dallas landscape.
1970
1970 added Buckner Villas in Austin to the Buckner family and further solidified Buckner as a leading provider of nonprofit senior living in Texas.
1996
Buckner Westminster Place in Longview followed in 1996, opened originally as just an independent living community.
Each Buckner retirement community has since grown to include every level of senior living and care, including:
- Independent Living
- Assisted Living
- Memory Care
- Long-term Care and
- Rehabilitation
- Respite Care
1998
In 1998, Parkway Place in Houston opened its doors. It replaced the original Buckner Haven, allowing the Buckner team to better serve Houston-area seniors through state-of-the-art amenities and a full continuum of expert care.
2010
In 2010, Buckner affiliated with Baptist Memorial Ministries, bringing Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo, Texas into the Buckner family.
2017
In 2017, Buckner brought its distinctive senior lifestyle back to Dallas when it broke ground on Ventana by Buckner, the organization’s first high-rise senior living community. Located just 10 miles from the original Buckner Orphans Home, Ventana opened in 2019 and set Buckner apart as a leading provider of senior living in Dallas once again.
2021
Today, Buckner Retirement is the largest provider of nonprofit senior living communities in Texas and is ranked 43rd on the LZ200 (as of 10/21). While Buckner has continued to refine its programs and senior care services to uniquely serve each generation of seniors throughout its more than 140-year ministry, one thing hasn’t changed: the faith-filled commitment to provide senior adults with dignified living and expert care no matter what.
