The history of our organization is important in order to understand from where we have come, where we are and where we will go in the future.

In the beginning, Givens Estates United Methodist Retirement Community was an uncommon dream of a few that was told to others and spread to many. The dream was to establish a church-related retirement community that would be available to persons regardless of means, race, religion, handicap, gender or national origin.

The Western North Carolina Conference Methodists prayed and planned for a community as early as the 1960’s. During this time, every Charge Conference in the Asheville District went on record in support of such a venture and an area layman pledged $100,000 seed-money. Without land and additional resources, the project was delayed.

On August 21, 1975, our Resident Bishop called a Special Session of the Western North Carolina Conference in Charlotte for the purpose of considering a retirement community in Asheville. Positive action by the Conference resulted in the formation of Givens Estates United Methodist Retirement Community. The catalyst for the Special Session was a possible gift from the Estates of Dr. Maurice H. and Mrs. Marion J. Givens, which would include 160 acres of land, Givens Manor and the annual earning on a trust fund.

In 1977, construction began on the first phase for residential living at Givens Estates - 77 subsidized rental apartments built through an arrangement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These Apartments were occupied in 1979. The first 8 Villas were also completed in 1979 and the first House was begun in 1980.

Beginning phase 1 in 1980 and finishing phase 3 in 1989, Asbury Hall, our Central Services Building, was completed. Situated on the third and fourth floors of Asbury Hall was Sales Health Care, an 84 bed facility. From the beginning, our master plan has included a health care facility to serve the changing needs of our residents.

In 1997 we completed the building of our duplexes with basements and began the construction of a new freestanding health care center. In May 2000 the new Givens Health Center opened. It accommodates 58 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing care beds and a 26-bed Starnes Special Care wing for Memory Support. The 56-unit Richard A. Wood, Jr. Assisted Living Center was completed in early March 2001. The first residents began moving in on March 5th.

Late summer 2002 marked the opening and dedication of the K.W. and Wilma E. Partin Arboretum which features a state-of-the-art Van Wingerden Greenhouse and raised garden beds.

Givens Estates celebrated the grand opening of its most recent expansion in July 2005.  This expansion includes the addition of 55 lovely mountain acres and the completion of Oxford Commons community center and apartment complex as well as 59 new cottage homes. The strategic plan includes the renovation of Asbury Hall, the original community center and apartment building.  Once renovation is complete Asbury Commons will be home to a new chapel, expanded library, bank, and activity areas which include space for pottery, painting, games, billiards, computer lab and business center.