Brandon Wilde at 35: A Vision That Became a Legacy

When Brandon Wilde opened its doors 35 years ago, it introduced a brand-new concept to the Augusta region: a senior living community that blended hospitality, wellness, and health care into one vibrant lifestyle. Today, Brandon Wilde’s success as the area’s premiere LifePlan community is a testament to the vision and dedication of its founders and the residents and staff who shaped it.

A Vision Takes Shape

In the 1980s, University Hospital in Augusta had a simple goal in its strategic plan: to do something meaningful for older adults. That spark of an idea was entrusted to Rosie Messer, a nurse with a background in wellness and strategic planning. Messer saw the opportunity to create something groundbreaking — a community for seniors that combined the service and lifestyle of the hotel industry with the compassionate care of health services.

“All it said in the plan was that the hospital wanted to do something for the elderly,” Messer recalled. “I asked my boss if I could take that piece, and from there, it grew. We realized the magic blend for senior living was the hotel industry and healthcare.”

With the support of University Hospital CEO Ed Gillespie, Messer and her team brought together consultants, community members, and healthcare leaders to design a place unlike anything the Augusta area had ever seen. From the start, the focus was on both the “head and the heart” — balancing financial stability and operational excellence with a deep commitment to community, wellness, and meaningful connections.

Building Something New

Messer led hundreds of focus groups to find out what seniors really wanted. In each session, participants were asked to imagine receiving a letter in the mail that said they had to move into a retirement community. Then they were asked, “What do you want it to look like?” The answers shaped Brandon Wilde’s design: social engagement, wellness, and a secure plan for the future.

“At that time, wellness programs in retirement communities were a couple of tired bicycles in a closet,” Messer says. “We were way ahead of our time. We built a full wellness center with a pool, staff, and programs, because I knew how important those things were for healthy aging.”

The marketing for the new community was equally imaginative. Prospective residents were invited to picnics on the future site. During the holidays, Augusta State University chorus students, dressed in old English costumes, delivered Christmas carols to early depositors. “I got that idea lying on the floor of my office,” Messer laughs. “That’s where a lot of my ideas came from.”

The People Who Made the Difference

While the vision and amenities were groundbreaking, Messer insists the real magic of Brandon Wilde was, and continues to be, its people. “What makes Brandon Wilde successful is the people who live there and the people who work there,” she says.

From the beginning, staff members went above and beyond. One Certified Nursing Assistant would walk miles after taking the city bus just to make it to work. Another brought her own family china into the Arbor, the community’s memory care neighborhood, to cook a Mother’s Day meal for residents. Residents, too, showed their appreciation in extraordinary ways, creating an endowment for staff member tuitions and cheering them on in their personal journeys.

One story Messer treasures is of a young dining room server who was called to serve in Desert Storm. Before he left, the residents asked him to come to dinner in his uniform. “They stood, saluted him, applauded him, and wrote to him while he was overseas,” she remembers. “It wasn’t just residents and staff — it was a family.”

Creating a Culture of Care

Looking back, Messer emphasized how intentional they were about building that mutually supportive culture. “At every employee orientation, I would remind people that working in a senior living community is different,” she says. “We come and go each day, but the residents live there. It’s their home.”

Messer hosted newcomer dinners and monthly anniversary dinners, connecting directly with residents. “I always said this is a head-and-heart business. Julian Smith, our executive director, was the head (although he had a big heart, too). My strengths were heart and wellness. Having both aspects made all the difference,” Messer says.

Thriving Today

That same philosophy continues to shape Brandon Wilde today. The 73-acre wooded campus offers residents more than just a place to live — it provides an active, engaging lifestyle filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. From chef-prepared dining and cultural events to wellness classes, walking trails, and social gatherings, life at Brandon Wilde enriches the mind, body, and spirit. Residents describe it as a community where neighbors quickly become friends, and where every day offers something new to enjoy. This vibrant atmosphere, combined with the security of knowing that care is available if it’s ever needed, makes Brandon Wilde as innovative and inspiring now as it was when it first opened its doors.

A Lasting Legacy

For Messer, the project was the highlight of her career. “I know every brick in that building, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we created,” she said. “It changed my own aging, too. Working in wellness and with this community has helped me age better than I ever imagined.”

As Brandon Wilde celebrates its 35th anniversary, it honors its past while growing with the future. What began as an idea in a hospital boardroom has become a beloved home for generations of seniors in Evans. Thanks to the vision of Rosie Messer and her team, Brandon Wilde has not only endured — it continues to set the standard for senior living in the region.

Continuing the Tradition with LCS

Today, Brandon Wilde is proudly managed by Life Care Services (LCS), a national leader in senior living that shares the same passion for innovation, hospitality, and care that sparked the community’s founding. LCS has enhanced Brandon Wilde’s programs, team culture, and resident experience — ensuring that the tradition started 35 years ago continues to flourish. By supporting staff development, fostering a strong sense of community, and continually reinvesting in the campus, LCS helps keep Brandon Wilde a place where residents thrive.

Learn More About Brandon Wilde

If you’re curious about what life at Brandon Wilde could look like for you or a loved one, we invite you to come see it firsthand. Call us today at 706-868-9800 or visit https://www.brandonwilde.com/contact/ to schedule a tour.