Life, Elevated

What began as a modest five-acre site has grown into a vibrant 35-acre campus, offering diverse housing options designed to support residents at every stage of life.

An aerial view of our 35-acre housing community that is growing with new options for seniors and area residents looking for affordable housing options.

Our full 35-acre campus

The Pines

The Pines Website

The Pines provide a variety of floor plans and square footage to meet the needs of the local community.

Residents enjoy worry-free living with amenities including lawn care and snow removal, appliance repair and replacement handled by Blackwater Ridge maintenance staff, 24-hour fire and emergency health monitoring, community social events, and priority access to the adjacent skilled nursing facility.

The campus is also home to Mountain Top Clinic, with pharmacy and dental services provided through Preston-Taylor Community Health. Residents may also enjoy a large on-site greenhouse, offering therapeutic and fulfilling opportunities to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Pineview Apartments

Pineview Website

Pineview Apartments, conveniently located on the 35-acre wooded campus of Blackwater Ridge, are one-bedroom rentals for persons, 62 years of age or older or disabled (regardless of age). Residents enjoy a sense of community with plenty of opportunities for activity and social interaction.

Pineview provides independent living options with a range of services to meet residents' needs as their health or lifestyles changes. Most of all, residents enjoy life in a casual, friendly community while leaving the burden of property upkeep and management behind.

The Rapids at
Blackwater Ridge

The Rapids Website

The Rapids at Blackwater Ridge offers fully furnished apartments with flexible lease terms designed to support the local workforce. These residences include all utilities—including internet—for simplified living. Additional apartments are currently under development and are slated to be available in Summer 2026.

About Blackwater Ridge

While the name Blackwater Ridge is new to the community as of December 2025, our roots run deep. For nearly 50 years, our organization has served Tucker County and the surrounding region with a steadfast commitment to quality of life, thoughtful development, and community well-being. Over that time, our conservative estimated economic impact exceeds $250 million, reflecting both our scale and our long-standing investment in the region.

Today, Blackwater Ridge continues to evolve—seeking innovative ways to support the changing needs of Tucker County’s population through housing, services, and community-centered solutions.

Our History

In 1978, a group of dedicated community leaders opened Cortland Acres Nursing Home, driven by a shared vision to provide a higher quality of life for neighbors and families. That commitment laid the foundation for what would, over the decades, grow into a full-service retirement community.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and significant shifts within the long-term care sector, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the desired level of care and services as a single operating entity. After an extensive search process, the skilled nursing facility was divested to another organization in November 2024.

With a renewed focus on addressing housing needs across Tucker County and the surrounding region, Cortland Acres Association announced its new operating brand—Blackwater Ridge—marking the next chapter of growth, development, and community service.

Group of board members and staff standing behind a table with a sign that reads Cortland Acres, in a room with landscape paintings on the walls. The history of Cortland Acres runs back decades.

Original sign for Cortland Acres campus before the rebranding to Blackwater Ridge, with colorful autumn trees in the background.

Board of Directors

Blackwater Ridge is a non-profit organization guided by a progressive and dedicated Board of Directors. Board members generously give their time and expertise to ensure the organization continues expanding services and housing options that best serve Tucker County, Canaan Valley, and the surrounding region.

Pat Nichols
President

Sam Goughnour
Vice President

Dewey Rice
Treasurer

Mary "Mer" Sagace
Secretary

Mike Goss

Robert "Bob" Milvet, Jr.

Margaret "Margie" DeBolt

Mark Teets

Dan Bucher

Kelly Stadelman

Blake Truman
CEO

About Our Foundation

Originally formed in 2011 as the Cortland Foundation, this 501(c)(3) organization was created to “secure resources to enhance the health and well-being of the Cortland community.” In alignment with the campus rebranding in 2025, the foundation has evolved into the Blackwater Ridge Foundation, expanding its mission to support campus needs and the broader senior population of Tucker County.

Foundation Board members cultivate relationships, organize events, and champion philanthropic partnerships—recognizing that meaningful progress is made possible through the generosity and vision of donors.

Foundation Board Members

Crystal Boone,
Director

Dan Bucher,
President

Andy Messer,
Vice President

Randy Moore,
Treasure

Anne Felty

Dave Johnston

Joanne Patterson

Blake Truman

Group of actors from benefit dinner dressed in costumes, including a person in a lion costume, others in colorful and festive attire, standing on a stage with Christmas decorations in the background. One person is seated on a bench.

Our foundation director, Crystal Boone, presenting a check to the Tucker County Senior Center in support of the meals on wheels program. Blackwater Ridge Foundation is committed to supporting seniors in Tucker County.

Group of winning photographers from Blackwater Ridge Foundation's photo contest standing together in front of a display of paintings and a butterfly photograph, in Timberline Ski Lodge during Artoberfest debut.

FAQ

The Blackwater Ridge campus has three distinct areas available for housing: The Rapids, Pineview Apartments and The Pines. Each community uniquely serves specific needs of the Tucker County community.
The Pines is for 55+ Adults while Pineview Apartments are for 62+ Adults or those with a disability. The Rapids are available for residents of any age.
Pineview Apartments are subsidized for low-income residents. These apartments require an application process to prove qualifying income levels. A percentage of The Rapids units are reserved for those earning 80% or less than the average Tucker County household income. The rest of The Rapids and The Pines do not have minimum or maximum income requirements.
The Pines community is setup on equity agreements for the condos and villas. Per the terms of the agreement, Blackwater Ridge provides all maintenance, insurance, lawncare, snow removal, and more. The resident invests in the unit they choose upfront and pays a small monthly maintenance fee. Over the course of living in the unit, the equity reduces until it hits a baseline threshold. The resident will be paid back the equity remaining in the unit upon moving to another property or his/her death.
Yes, Pineview Apartments and The Rapids both offer ADA accessible 1-Bedroom options for rent. The Pines units are all built on one-level floor plans with manageable layouts for residents of all ages and abilities. The Pines units also can be altered through upgrades and additions requested by new residents.
Our office is open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.
72 Cortland Acres Lane
Thomas, WV 26292
681-228-9076
info@blackwaterridge.org