ASHLAND — The Inn at Ashland Woods cut the inaugural red ribbon on Wednesday to unveil its new assisted living residency on Dauch Drive.
The business replaces the former hospice care center, which previously occupied the building.
Now an official member of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, the Inn at Ashland Woods was managed by the McClain family of Newark. The group also manages several other assisted living facilities throughout Ohio.
Two generations of McClains bring their expertise to their establishment; with each of the family members all living within one mile of one another.
“We still like each other at the end of the day,” Drew McClain said.
The facilities are fully equipped with 58 resident rooms, 24 of them are specifically for memory care patients, while the rest are designated for assisted living.
Roger McClain praised Ashland mayor Matt Miller’s welcoming attitude and the nimble process of moving into the building.
“We met your Mayor Matt Miller and at that point we had some concerns,” McClain jokingly said. “We walked out of the Mayor’s office; his staff and mainly his demeanor is the reason that we said, ‘We’re going to be here.
“This just felt like a really good fit.”
The Inn at Ashland Woods features amenities such as a chapel, movie theater and a 1950’s-style cafe and communal area.
The building needed expansion for the facility to reach its highest potential, so the McClain’s decided to make an offer to the local church board for a piece of land.
“They told the board how much land they needed to complete the facility and make it viable,” Miller said. “The board weighed their options with Pastor’s guidance, and they came back with a figure.”
The McClain’s told the board there was no way they were paying that little for the land and gave them much more than they requested.
“This is the perfect organization to take over this facility,” Miller said. “I am convinced that this building was improved but will serve this community and their families for years to come.
“I think this is exactly what God intended for this building.”
