Our Story

It all began in 1926, with a simple but socially vital desire to help teachers live comfortably at retirement. It was in this year that the California Teachers Association opened a 14-suite retirement community for teachers and Villa Gardens was officially born.



Fast forward to the mid 1980s. Villa Gardens is reborn by the Foundation to Assist California Teachers (FACT) which creates a master rebuilding plan and visionary expansion of Villa’s services. FACT replaces the old Villa Gardens with a magnificent new community in the same location, this time with modern amenities and more than 200 residential apartments. The new Villa Gardens officially opened in 1987. A generous donor gift in 1992 made the construction of Villa’s skilled nursing center possible. And finally, the extensive renovations were completed in 1998 with the dedication of the Dettman Wing, which added Assisted Living and Special Care accommodations.

Located in the heart of Pasadena the community is filled with people who share the city’s love of culture, tradition and Southern California style. Today, Villa Gardens is known as the premier retirement community in Pasadena.



Villa Gardens is part of the Front Porch family of retirement communities and is supported philanthropically by FACT.