History

In the 1970s, a group of residents who had lived and worked in Chapel Hill for many years and wanted to stay in town realized there were not any continuing care retirement communities in the immediate area to which they could retire.

The early pioneers envisioned a retirement community close to town where older adults could take advantage of the area’s educational, cultural and medical resources. With vision, drive and passion, these residents tirelessly pursued the feasibility studies, land, money and certification needed to start a retirement community.

In 1979, after nearly a decade of hard work, these leaders were some of the first residents to move into the Carol Woods community. The grassroots initiative that characterized the original residents is still a hallmark of the residents, staff and board of the community.