Freshwater imagined a different way to age.
His degrees in environmental design (architecture) and finance led him to found The Fountains in Tucson, Arizona. Collaborating with the University of Arizona Center for Aging, this first community purposefully incorporated wellness concepts into building design, nutrition, and activities.
The result? Success. Freshwater was no fool.
A hardworking visionary, Freshwater developed, owned, and operated a wide range of senior communities. In 1989 David Barnes, the “other David” joined The Fountains. With a passion for helping seniors maintain their vitality, Barnes traveled and actually lived in senior communities across the United States. He gained a deep understanding of what seniors need and want to keep them well — physically, intellectually, and spiritually. This knowledge helped him create systems that each community could implement for their residents.
The two Davids' experience and passion for helping seniors, along with an equally dedicated team, led to the launch of Watermark in 2006.
Years of commitment to wellness separate us from the pack.
At Watermark, we consider ourselves a wellness company that provides housing and services for seniors.
You see, wellness here is more than a swimming pool and a heart-healthy salad.
It’s looking at what residents can do rather that at what they’ve lost. It’s providing the arts, culture, and music that bring joy. It’s creating access to the natural world, with accessible landscaping that blends with the environment. It’s the stimulating classes and caring associates who listen to and encourage our residents.
For over 35+ years we’ve created more than 70 wellness-based communities across the United States. We are excited to utilize new innovations and technologies as we continue our growth. But our bottom line remains the same as the day of our founding: At Watermark we’re committed to creating extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive.
