Givens Estates

Givens Estates: a nonprofit retirement community in Asheville

Givens Estates is a nonprofit Life Plan Community, also known as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), located on a 215-acre campus in Asheville, North Carolina. The organization presents itself as a setting that combines the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains with services and amenities designed to help older adults maintain an active, purpose-driven life.

More than four decades of history

The community has served the greater Asheville area for more than 40 years. Its first residents arrived in 1979, thanks to a donation from Marion Givens and her husband, Dr. Maurice Givens. The couple, who spent winters in Daytona Beach, Florida, and summers in the mountains of Asheville, left 160 acres of their property on Sweeten Creek Road with the condition that it be developed as a retirement community. After Marion Givens passed away, the Marion J. Givens Trust worked with leaders of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church to establish Givens Estates. In 1979 the campus consisted of 78 one- and two-bedroom apartments in ten buildings, financed in part through HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The relationship with the Methodist church and the trust has continued through four decades of growth.

Givens Estates was the original community of the Givens Communities group, which now includes four retirement communities. Givens Communities' mission is to improve the lives of retirees through communities, services, and community outreach programs.

Accreditations and financial standing

The organization has held CARF accreditation since 1993, which, according to its presentation, demonstrates compliance with national and international quality standards. It also maintains an A- rating from Fitch Ratings, which the organization attributes to strong occupancy, sound financial performance, and a positive outlook.

Services and levels of care

Givens Estates' offerings span different levels of care and support services. The site lists the following areas:

• Assisted Living
• Skilled Nursing
• Home Care
• Wellness Center
• Life Enrichment
• Dining Venues

Residences and housing options

The campus offers a variety of housing types for residents, including apartments at Creekside Apartments, duplexes, cottage homes, and houses, as well as the residential areas Friendship Park, Asbury Commons, and Oxford Commons. The community describes its accommodations as spacious and surrounded by well-tended gardens.

Dining and social life

The dining offerings include The Social Brew, for coffee or a glass of wine; Market + Craft, with fresh sandwiches and baked goods; and Terrene, a dinner restaurant with chef-crafted cuisine and seasonal ingredients. Community life revolves around fitness classes, book clubs, volunteering, and social activities designed to foster personal growth and meaningful relationships.

Natural setting and environmental commitment

The campus occupies 215 acres of meadows and woodlands in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fourteen acres of meadows help reduce carbon emissions and serve as wildlife habitat. The grounds department works with the Asheville Fire Department on controlled burns to encourage the growth of desirable plants, reduce weed pressure and herbicide use, and create habitat for animals. Priority is given to the use of native plants, and work is underway to remove invasive exotic species such as multiflora rose and Oriental bittersweet.

Connection to the Asheville area

The community presents itself as integrated into Asheville, a city known for its 212 days of sunshine per year, its mountain views, and its culinary and arts scene. Givens Communities has sponsored local cultural activities, such as the Asheville Symphony's 2026-2027 Masterworks series, and has supported Impact Tours in partnership with MAHEC. The Givens Foundation recently celebrated its Legacy Circle.

Location and contact

2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 · Phone: (828) 274-4800