The history, mission and vision of The Summit

Security, freedom, peace of mind. You’ll find this in abundance at The Summit. Beyond our beautiful sprawling campus and lovely 8.5-acre lake, beyond the inviting residences and the bricks and mortar of our amenities lies something more. This is a Life Plan Community dedicated to enhancing the lives of those we serve. This is who we are, how it all began, and what we stand for.

It’s a special kind of place that comes together to meet a need in the community. Back in 1986, some 16 years before The Summit broke ground, members of the Christian Church of Virginia (Disciples of Christ) started talking about the need for a senior living option.

The church had the mission and vision, but they needed a management partner with the skills and reputation to make The Summit viable. That partner became Centra. The character and values of the institution and its people were an excellent fit. Centra was a nationally recognized nonprofit leader, with a locally based board of directors. The Summit would be able to provide a full continuum of care and expertise to residents.

A task force was formed, then came feasibility studies, location recommendations and a full-time director, Rev. Ken Burger, to move the idea forward. Lynchburg College provided office space to support the project. The head of a local construction company who had been preparing to retire introduced the idea of a 430-acre cow pasture.

Over the next six months, he drew up a plan for a traditional neighborhood development. This walkable village-style design positioned The Summit on one side and housing, stores, restaurants, places of worship, the Jamerson YMCA, and public spaces on the other side. Today, this neighborhood is Wyndhurst.

In 2002, after 16 years in the making, construction began. Tucked inside the roof of the front entry, handwritten on the truss, future residents wrote prayers, poems, songs, scripture, and good thoughts, so that all who entered would do so under their blessing. The Summit officially opened on August 4, 2003, with five households moving in that day. The joint venture between the Christian Church of Virginia (Disciples of Christ) and Centra was finally a reality.

This was only the beginning. The Summit’s first building was dedicated to independent living. The partners would work together to build Health and Rehab in 2006 and assisted living in 2007. The Summit’s campus was now complete, providing one seamless source of services to residents.

Out the front door of The Summit is a bustling neighborhood, coffee shops and restaurants. Out the back door — what some don’t see — is an 8.5-acre lake, a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, peaceful walking paths, gardens and flowers. The Summit reflects the thoughtful consideration of many people to create a welcoming, comfortable place that’s a true home to so many residents.

The Mission of The Summit

Life at The Summit is life with a balanced approach to nurture heart and soul, body, and mind. Fun. Personal. Invigorating. Life takes on new opportunities with the freedom of retirement. Opportunities to grow and learn. Opportunities to stay fully engaged each day. At The Summit, you’ll find people who understand and embrace this mission:

The Summit is a senior living community providing an environment for each resident to be “Engaged in Life.”

The Vision of The Summit

To be Central Virginia’s preferred senior living community.

Values

Our shared values serve as a compass for our actions and our behaviors.

Dedicated: We are engaged, passionate people who love what we do.

Teamwork: We know that working together is essential to meeting each resident’s needs.

Respect: We treat each other with dignity and empathy.

Integrity: We do the right thing for residents.

Excellence: We continually strive to exceed standards and expectations.

Get to know The Summit.
Use the quick form on this page or call 434-582-1500.