Butterfield Trail Village: 35 Years of Excellence

Five years of expansion on campus

When Butterfield Trail Village became home to its first two residents on March 10, 1986, no one could have imagined the ways the new retirement-living option in Northwest Arkansas would evolve and grow over the next 35 years. Butterfield has more than fulfilled the dreams and vision of the five Fayetteville churches which founded it, thanks to a dedicated board of directors, talented staff and dynamic residents who bring it all life.

Over the last five years, the area’s first self-governed, nonprofit retirement community has kept similar pace with the region’s commitment to enhancing quality of life amenities – completing a number of capital projects to serve and delight today’s active and engaged retiree population. Over 400 people live in the Village today, enjoying the sound investments made in creating beautiful, senior-focused spaces built to serve many generations to come.

A June 2016 groundbreaking celebration at the Village marked the first step toward construction of a $6.7 million expansion of Butterfield’s multi-purpose Commons Center. Designed to “enhance and sustain the vitality of residents for generations to come,” an impressive 17,200 square feet of additional space set the stage for a range of amenities.

Full Array of Projects

On November 7, 2017 the new Commons Center opened with great fanfare – boasting an iconic grand porte-cochère entrance built with both form and function in mind by allowing residents and guests to avoid the challenges of bad weather. Just through the doors, a new lobby, reception area and security office were established to welcome everyone on their way to locations throughout the building. In the heart of building, the most highly anticipated new components of the Commons found special homes. The new state-of-the-art Performance Hall created expanded seating for programs and events from 85 to 285 – and brought about the addition of a new Yamaha C-7 grand piano, thanks to the support of generous residents and the BTV Foundation. Installation of professional grade lighting and remote-controlled cameras made it possible to broadcast live programming directly to residents via the BTV in-house cable channel.

A woodland-themed living room was completed just outside of the Performance Hall, filled with ample cozy seating, a large fireplace and installation of colorful prints by area artist George Dombek. Just beyond the popular gathering spot, the Commons expanded to include the casual dining Bistro for breakfast and lunch, built to overlook the newly landscaped South Courtyard and outdoor patio. Beyond these new options, residents were excited to also gain a larger General Store, a new Transportation Desk, new meeting spaces, and a Low Vision Library Room with audio books and assistive technologies for reading. With increased available space in the original building, the evergrowing campus fitness and wellness program was able to utilize the old Convocation Room as a center for group classes.

While the Commons Center expansion and renovation provided an enormous change to the overall face of Butterfield, there was also a full array of additional capital projects completed around the same time. Renovations in the Health Care Center

Commons Center

Old Main Entrance New Main Entrance in 2017

were unveiled the summer of 2016, including a bright new centrally-located living area designed with socializing in mind, an updated dining room and an upgraded HCC therapy room.

In 2016, all apartment wing hallways received a fresh look with new flooring, wall colors and cheerful apartment doors. Intimate gathering enclaves on each hall were updated and beautiful art by photographer Edward C. Robison was added.

New Hallway Enclave UAMS at BTV Clinic

For Generations to Come

Enhancing Butterfield’s solid commitment to provide a range of health-related benefits on campus, 2017 brought the exciting addition of an onsite University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) clinic. UAMS at BTV offers geriatric-focused primary care for independent living residents (now also available to Carriage Club members).

Also in 2017, the BTV Sensory Garden was created in the courtyard of the Health Care Center, supported by generous and talented residents committed to seeing that their neighbors with decreased mobility and other unique needs could enjoy a beautiful natural environment specifically suited to them. Construction hasn’t stopped with the primary buildings, however. Four new Village Home duplexes were built in the past five years, bringing eight new residences to the neighborhood. And finally, in the last half of 2020 and early 2021, a new 120-space parking lot was built on the east side of campus next to Old Missouri Road.

“At Butterfield, we readily embrace, plan for and invest in the positive evolution of our campus to keep our living environment top-notch,” CEO Quintin Trammell said. “Today’s retirees are more healthy, active, curious and engaged than ever before – and we have made it our commitment to create the most dynamic senior community in Northwest Arkansas, now and for generations to come.”