Our History

We have come a long way since 1990, when D.L.R. Investment Inc. purchased the 70 year old nursing facility on Carr St. in Milan. Soon after the purchase, community support for the new local ownership encouraged the Board of Directors to begin plans to replace the 70-year-old facility with a state of the art retirement community.

Four years later, while continuing to operate Milan Health Care Center, the Board of Directors purchased an 11 acre parcel near the corner of S.R. 350 and S.R. 101. On this land in 1997 they completed the first sixteen one and two bedroom independent living apartments and the following year, completed the final sixteen apartments. Building commenced on the new health care center and in the summer of 2001, Ripley Crossing opened and Milan Health Care Center closed.

On January 1, 2007, a new 20-bed rehabilitation unit opened in order to improve the level of therapy available to Ripley Crossing and community residents. The group then purchased an additional three acres at the site and began plans for the latest addition—The Seasons at Ripley Crossing, Assisted Living slated to open March 1, 2011.

• Our Apartments Our Apartments
• Front Entrance Front Entrance
• Rehab in process Rehab in process
• Construction begins Construction begins
• Overseeing construction Overseeing construction
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In the June ground breaking photo below, we see the following Board members wielding shovels:

Starting on the left, Monica Ogden, Administrator, is not an owner but looks like she can capably manage a shovel, wouldn’t you say? Board members then start with Jim Deaton of Dillsboro, retired naval officer and President of the Ross Foundation. Next is Rep. Bob Bischoff, not an owner but supporter of local job creation. Next is Tom DeVille of near Aurora, Board President and president and owner of DeVille Pharmacies. We then see Allen Goodman, of near Bright, a director with extensive experience in business management and past and current experience as a Health Facility Administrator. Next we see Director Glen Weatherford of near Aurora who has 26 years experience as an independent, self employed insurance agent. To Mr. Weatherford’s left is Treasurer John Race of Bear Branch who worked for nearly twenty years as a Health Facility Administrator and is now a CPA. Last we see director Dellas Ross of Dillsboro who started as Health Facility Administrator in 1965 and has over the years owned Rising Sun Care Center, Dillsboro Manor and Ross Manor. Absent from the photo is Director Bryan Ruble, who lives in Arizona.

Three of the Board members have had family members who were residents of Ripley Crossing or Milan Health Care and one Board member has himself used services here. All are active members of their communities and take pride in Ripley Crossing employees and their accomplishments.