Temelec sits on a historic site at 220 Temelec Circle in Sonoma, California, where folks live in a retirement community that grew around Temelec Hall, a stone mansion built back in 1858 using local stone by native labor, and you see, there's a lot of history tied to people like Colonel William Kissane Rogers, so you'll find places like the wash house, a carriage house, a reservoir, a smoke house, two gazebos, and an American kitchen listed as part of the property, plus there's a historical marker put up in 2008 by the Native Sons of the Golden West, making the whole place recognized as a California Historical Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, and this old mansion stands at the heart of community life as a meeting place for social events and recreation. The community offers independent living options, including master suites and two-bedroom units, with room comforts such as private bathrooms, in-room washers and dryers, kitchenettes, Wi-Fi, cable, air conditioning, and phone service, so folks can pick what suits them. The grounds stay well-kept, and you'll find walking paths, outdoor common spaces, and landscaping that encourage people to get out and enjoy the gardens or just sit for a while. Residents gather in the communal dining hall, and meals include high-quality food, all-day dining, restaurant-style service, allergy-sensitive and diet-specific options, and chef-prepared dishes, making meals a big part of everyday life, especially during social gatherings like themed parties, holiday celebrations, and regular ice cream socials. Temelec values connection, so you'll notice neighbors keep in touch on things like NextDoor and their own website, temelechoa.org, which has newsletters, a calendar, and other useful information for staying in the loop on community happenings, meetings, and announcements.
People at Temelec can take part in all sorts of organized activities, from arts and crafts or game nights to movie showings, fitness classes in the dedicated fitness room, or gentle wellness sessions-like qigong classes with Robert Young that use chairs so more folks can join in. Amenities like the fireplace, pool, store, library, community garden, and event rooms add to the mix, and you'll see plenty of resident-led events and community-sponsored programs listed each month. Temelec supports people with different needs, including those who need assistance with daily living-like bathing, dressing, and managing medications-and has services for folks with developmental disabilities or limited mobility, offering non-ambulatory care, respite care for caregivers, and 24-hour call systems if help's needed. The facility has on-site maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning, move-in coordination, and concierge support, along with transportation for local errands, making life a bit easier and more comfortable. They offer extras like an apartment locating service and even health care services if that's needed on a short-term or regular basis. There's support for French-speaking residents and help for those who need it to navigate amenities and services.
The property includes many practical features, like high-speed internet throughout, cable, regular activities, and common areas-like a communal living room with a fireplace, a wellness room, spa and sauna, and movie theater. Services extend to permit and data management, historic preservation efforts, zoning, fire prevention, and a digital plan room for community plans, though most residents'll probably notice the variety of rooms and places to gather, rather than the paperwork behind the scenes. The whole setup focuses on offering both comfort and the sense that folks belong, with enough options so people can choose how active or private they want to be, all while living in a place that's proud of its rich history and efforts at keeping everyone involved and informed.
