Ryderwood, Washington ~ "The Village in the Woods"
1923-53: "World's Largest Logging Town";
Since 1953, the Oldest "Planned Community for Retired Persons".
Photo by Kerry Haley via drone 3/30/2018
SR 506 ends here, no matter what the GPS says...
1953 - Present: Retirement Village
- By 1953, the logs and the loggers were pretty much gone and the entire town was for sale.
- Town for Sale for $90,000! Senior Estates, Inc. was formed to purchase and develop what we believe is the oldest "planned community for retired persons" in the US.
- Today, all 274 privately owned homes are reserved for owners and occupants over the age of 55.
- Sith the exception of 2 Office employees, Ryderwood is totally managed and operated by volunteers, which is reflected by its low membership fees. The Association's Board, Café, Library, and Maintenance crews are all volunteers.
- The Association of homeowners complies with all aspects of the “Housing for Older Persons Act” (HOPA) exception to the Fair Housing Act.
1923 - 1953: The Long-Bell Years
- Longview and Ryderwood, WA were founded in 1923 by the Long-Bell Lumber Co. to harvest the virgin timber surrounding this area known as Cougar Flats.
- The "World's Largest Logging Camp"" was built for loggers and their families. The Company provided a full array of services including a store, theater, cafe, drugstore, bowling alley, creamery, school and church.
- The first logs were shipped to Longview the spring of 1924 via Long-Bell's Longview, Portland & Northern Railroad.