Eagle's Trace Marks 20 Years of Growth and Community Building in Senior Living

Eagle's Trace, an Erickson Senior Living community in West Houston, Texas, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with year-long events that highlight the community's significant growth and development since opening in October 2005. The celebrations began with a communitywide birthday party featuring cake and champagne, followed by various activities including square dance demonstrations, ice cream socials with barbershop quartets, themed happy hours, and Eagle's Trace-themed Jeopardy games. Executive Director Steve Aigner noted that these celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect on the community's growth and success over the past two decades.

The community welcomed its first residents, known as pioneers, when it opened in 2005, and has since expanded from its initial temporary buildings to a 72-acre campus serving more than 1,200 residents with over 600 staff members. Among these pioneers were John Bowser and his late wife Nancy, who moved into one of the first residence buildings and have enjoyed the community's vibrant lifestyle for the entire 20-year period. Bowser recalls that even during the construction phase, the community attracted interest from potential residents who were impressed by the concept and vision of the development.

Resident Life Director Kristen Kennedy, who has worked at Eagle's Trace for ten years, has witnessed tremendous growth from one neighborhood to three and from four residence buildings to nine. Aigner, with 11 years at the community, has seen the population more than double and numerous new amenities come to fruition. The community has made continuous investments to ensure it remains up-to-date for current and incoming residents, including renovations to the clubhouse, updates to common areas with new furniture and finishes, and the addition of new restaurants, al fresco dining options, and recreational amenities such as a dog park, pickleball court, and bocce court.

The growth and changes at Eagle's Trace are documented in a comprehensive history scrapbook started by John Bowser and 17 other residents in preparation for the community's 10th anniversary. The scrapbook, which resides in the community library and has grown several inches in thickness, includes resident profiles, construction timelines, and lists of original residents. Bowser identifies two significant aspects of his time at Eagle's Trace: the continued physical growth of the community and the strong social connections among residents. Many residents report having more close friends at Eagle's Trace than at any other time in their lives, contributing to what Aigner describes as a wonderful culture and real sense of belonging that has blossomed as the community has expanded.