A pioneer then, a leader now
When Holiday Retirement was founded in 1971, it set out to create an independent living lifestyle unlike anything seniors had ever experienced before: cheerful communities filled with friendly, accepting neighbors, live-in managers dedicated to the happiness and well-being of each resident, innovative activities, programs and travel opportunities for fun and personal growth, and all the chores and details of daily life taken care of. There’s just something very special about life at Holiday that makes it unlike any other place on earth. It’s the warm, accepting community of neighbors who feel more like family. It’s the devoted staff who see this as more of a calling than a job, providing unrivaled service, compassion and care. And it’s the unique feeling of being right where you belong, a feeling of being at home. We call it The Holiday Touch, and it’s what makes life at Holiday Retirement so special. And making Holiday Retirement even more revolutionary, both from the start and now, is having all of the many benefits available in one affordable, all-inclusive monthly rent. No hidden costs. No extra charges. No long-term commitments. Holiday residents are free to focus on living the life they’ve always wanted. And isn’t that what retirement should be?
Our Mission
We are in the business of providing security, comfort and value to seniors seeking an independent and fulfilling lifestyle. We provide The Holiday Touch.
Our History
Holiday Retirement was founded by William E. Colson, often recognized as the father of Independent Retirement Living, with his father Hugh Colson in 1971. At the time, William was operating Colson & Colson construction, specializing in building high-level care facilities for seniors – referred to as “nursing homes”. William and his father realized that while seniors were benefitting from the quality care they received in these facilities, they could be benefitting even more from a nurturing, community environment that met seniors’ other needs: social, physical, educational and spiritual, at an affordable, all-inclusive monthly rate. They opened their first independent retirement community in Vancouver, Washington in 1971. They continued to build properties across North America, and officially formed Holiday Retirement Corp. in 1987. In 1998, Holiday celebrated the opening of its 200th community, and today there are more than 300 Holiday Retirement senior living communities across the United States and Canada, and tens of thousands of seniors are enjoying the one-of-a-kind lifestyle only Holiday can provide. Although we have grown in size, we remain true to the core values instilled by William E. Colson, and are as committed now as he was then to improving the lives of seniors.
Our Awards
2005 – International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) “Most Innovative Program” for Fitness Challenge (company wide fitness challenge at every Community)
2007 – International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) “Most Innovative Program” for Seniors Serving Seniors, Seniors Serving Society program