May 1, 2015 (Monroe, NC) ─ During a visit to the Treehouse Vineyards in Monroe, residents of Woodridge Assisted Living and Memory Care, a DePaul Senior Living Community in Monroe, learned the heart-warming story behind one of its treehouses.

Pictured here are Woodridge Activities Director Brittany Plyler and residents Richard Marquard, Elizabeth Hess, Phyllis Cavender, Bonnie Outen, Hazel Broome and Shirley Ghant and her son Tommy Ghant.

The idea for a treehouse came about when owner of the Treehouse Vineyards Phil Nordan’s mother-in-law, who’s living with Alzheimer’s disease, moved in with him, his wife Dianne and their two sons. As her caregivers, date nights became next to impossible for Phil and his wife Dianne, until Phil decided to build a treehouse where he and his wife could enjoy some treasured couple time. Affectionately named “Date Night,” the treehouse sits 30-feet in the air, features a ceiling fan, couch, outdoor fireplace, rocking chairs, breathtaking views of the vineyard, pond and horses and even a telephone.

Pictured left, Richard Marquard inspects some of the wine making equipment during a visit to the Treehouse Vineyards in Monroe. Woodridge residents enjoyed Muscadine wine slushies while touring the local vineyard and learning about the process of growing grapes and producing wine. All the Treehouse Vineyards wines are named after family members or things in the Monroe community and are made and bottled right on the property. The Nordan’s harvest eight varieties of Muscadine grapes, which are native to this area.

For more information about Woodridge, please contact Administrator Janis Carroll at (704) 225-0011 or visit us on Facebook.