Villa Maria in Fargo has a long and rich history rooted in community care and innovation. The facility first opened its doors as a nursing home on February 15, 1971, beginning with 132 beds divided between a North Unit, licensed for nursing care and Medicare, and a South Unit, used for basic care. As community needs evolved, the building was eventually licensed entirely for skilled nursing care. Villa Maria rapidly became recognized not only for its care but also for its forward-thinking programs. In March of 1980, it pioneered the first on-site Intergenerational Childcare Program in North Dakota, offering opportunities for purposeful interaction between residents and younger generations.
Innovation continued to define Villa Maria through the years. In 1986, it opened the first adult day program in the Fargo-Moorhead area, called “The Club Connection.” These initiatives underscored the home’s commitment to enhancing life quality for both residents and the wider community. The facility underwent significant updates and expansions in the 1990s, beginning with a building project in 1993 that aimed to bring Intergenerational services together on the main floor. The completion of the Westlyn Pod, known as Lovely Lane, in 1994, and the Oaktree Pod, or Oak Lane, in 1996, expanded the facility to 138 beds and offered updated, comfortable accommodations.
Throughout the years, Villa Maria continued to evolve its environment and programming. In 2007, a major renovation included the construction of a new chapel named the Crary Room, newly upgraded resident rooms in the Westlyn Pod (Friendship Lane), a reconstructed main entrance and dining room, enhanced beauty shop, therapy gym, second-floor office space, training areas, and vital updates like windows, carpeting, HVAC, and fire protection systems. These enhancements emphasized a healing and inviting atmosphere for all who spent time within the facility.
As the preferences of residents and their families changed, with increasing interest in private rooms, Villa Maria undertook further remodeling to adapt its spaces. The home began converting semi-private to private rooms, contributing to a more personalized and comfortable living environment. A significant recent project was the renovation of ‘Memory Lane,’ one of the four main resident units, which was completed and renamed ‘Villa Lane’. This sophisticated unit now features 20 newly renovated private rooms, blending modern amenities with respect for the facility’s longstanding legacy.
Currently, Villa Maria operates as a 98-bed skilled nursing facility with over 175 dedicated employees. Its offerings include long-term care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, hospice and palliative care, memory and dementia care, spiritual care, and child daycare. Continuing its founding mission and values, Villa Maria strives to serve with respect and compassion, embracing a tradition of caring that has been central to its identity since its inception. The enduring legacy and continual commitment to innovation and quality make Villa Maria a notable part of Fargo’s community fabric.