In 2017, three older women built and moved into a compound near San Antonio.
Its residents are two sisters and their longtime friend, who liken themselves to the Golden Girls.
They share meals, split bills, and — most importantly — care for one another as they age.
After Christina Guerra and her sister Michelle Douthitt lost their husbands within months of each other in 2012, they decided to turn their grief into an opportunity for a fresh start.
Together with their longtime friend Muriel Lanford, the women chose an unconventional path: They sold their homes and used the money they made to purchase five acres of land in Fair Oaks Ranch, a small town just 30 minutes north of San Antonio, for $175,000. Their goal was to build a compound where they could grow old together.
"A lot of people gave us strange looks when we talked about our plan," Guerra, a 68-year-old retired agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, told Business Insider. "I guess they thought we would implode."
But despite the doubters, the trio — who liken themselves to the strong-willed, sharp-witted women of the iconic television series "The Golden Girls" — forged ahead with their plans.
They enlisted Felix Ziga, the owner of San Antonio-based Ziga Architecture Studio, to bring the vision to life. Ziga teamed up with his friend Jimmy Sikkink, owner of Triple R Custom Homes, to design and build their one-of-a-kind compound.
In 2017, the trio moved into their compound, which they callTierra de Dios, or "Land of God." The compound includes a 2,378-square-foot main house, which has a private wing for each sister, and a separate 1,902-square-foot home for Lanford.
The project cost about $1.2 million, including the land purchase, which the women split equally.
However, for these friends — who share meals and split utility bills — the sense of security and community they've gained is truly priceless.
"I used to work in the ER, and we saw countless elderly patients who had fallen at home, only to be found days later because their children couldn't check in. I remember thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I hope that's not going to be me,'" Lanford, a 68-year-old retired nurse, said. "Now, I have peace of mind. If someone doesn't hear from me for a couple of days, I know they'll be asking, 'Are you OK?'"
Take a look inside the compound and read on to see how they make their experiment in communal living work.
The three women took out a mortgage together and used it to build the compound.The three women on the compound.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
Instead of forming an LLC or corporation, the three women opted for a general partnership, making them equal co-owners of the compound.
One of their biggest challenges was convincing the bank to approve a loan with all three names on it.
"You'd think it would be straightforward, but the bankers were confused," Guerra said. "They couldn't wrap their heads around the idea that it was three people, not a couple or an individual."
In the end, the women secured a mortgage for the home. To protect their individual investments, each has a will that outlines how their share of the property will be distributed in the event of their passing.
The women sold their homes to buy land and finance the compound's construction.The compound is nestled within the woodlands.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
Each woman earned at least $200,000 selling their Texas homes, and they used the proceeds to equally split the $175,000 cost of the lot.
The property, formerly a dairy farm, sits in a floodplain, which gave them leverage to negotiate down the original asking price of $195,000.
The trio hired a local architect who understood their vision for communal yet independent living.Felix Ziga looking at construction materials.
Courtesy of Felix Ziga
The women were committed to supporting a local business owner when selecting an architect and homebuilder for their project.
"We didn't mind paying a little extra if it meant working with a high-quality small business rather than a big-box company," Guerra said.
The Tierra de Dios compound was Ziga's first project of its kind.Ziga (left) and Jimmy Sikkink (right) on the Fair Oaks Ranch property.
Courtesy of Felix Ziga
Though Ziga had never taken on a project like this before, he had read about communal living and aging in place.
Ziga's wife, Adriana, an interior designer with the studio, said the entire process was an exciting adventure.
The entire project took 12 months to complete, including permitting.The front view of the Tierra de Dios compound.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Having so many stakeholders involved meant carefully weighing the pros and cons of each decision and coming to a consensus, Ziga said.
"They had their own meetings, separate from ours, to get on the same page about what they wanted. Then we'd incorporate their decisions into the design," he said.
Ziga likened the process to designing for institutions like churches, where there's often a building committee and multiple voices to consider.
Ziga designed spacious, custom homes tailored to the women's needs.An entrance to the Tierra de Dios compound.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
The total gross square footage of the compound, including garages, porches, and patios, is about 7,954 square feet.
That includes a 12-foot observation tower, which offers stunning views of the area's lush woodland.
Ziga integrated the natural landscape of the property into his design.The compound's surrounding landscape.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Considering the land's natural topography, Ziga positioned the far end of the guest-house home, where Lanford lives, on a nine-foot foundation.
"This served a triple purpose of keeping the finished floor elevation outside the floodplain, keeping everything on one level, and giving Muriel the treehouse vibe she was going for," he said.
The women live in separate sections of the compound.A side view of the "L-shaped" compound.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
The main house features an open living, dining, and kitchen area, along with three bedrooms and three bathrooms — one for each sister and a guest room that can be used for caregivers in the future.
Each of the sister's bedrooms has a private patio. The house also has a small front porch, a large rear porch, a laundry room, a mudroom, a craft room, and a two-car garage.
The guest house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen space. Lanford wanted an open loft concept, with her bedroom, bathroom, office, and workout area all in one large space.
This part of the compound also has a small front porch, a large rear porch, a laundry room, a mudroom, and a two-car garage.
Each of the women had specific requirements for her individual space.A bedroom in the home.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Lanford, a nature lover, wanted her part of the compound filled with windows so that she could easily connect with the outdoors.
In contrast, Guerra, who is sensitive to light, requested a meditation room and a bedroom with a sliding door outfitted with blackout shades for nighttime.
Meanwhile, Douthitt asked for a doggie door so her pup could come and go freely.
"I think the trickiest part was coordinating the wants and needs of all three of them," Ziga said. "In a traditional custom home with a husband and wife, one person usually defers to the other. But with this project, there were three people to consider."
Each woman's wing also has some of the same features.The compound's walk-in showers.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Accessibility was a key design theme for the compound, as the women intend to age in place.
The home features minimal steps inside and out and a gently graded walkway between the driveway and front door. Both front porches are level with the main floor.
The homes do not have carpet, and light switches are lower than usual for ease of use. The bedroom closets and the laundry and pantry rooms are spacious enough for wheelchair access.
The bathrooms are also designed with ample space for wheelchairs, and have grab bars and shower benches installed for safe and comfortable bathing.
Communal spaces were just as important to the women as their private ones.A ground view of the nature overlook.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
It was crucial for the women to feel connected, but also to have moments of privacy when needed, Ziga said.
"The challenge was creating a design that honored community and personal space," he added.
To achieve this, he designed each bedroom with its own private patio and yard, providing a sense of visual seclusion.
When the women want to come together, they can gather in communal spaces like the "oasis" — an outdoor area of the home where they keep their bird and squirrel feeders — or the shared nature overlook.
The overlook is a two-story outdoor patio located between the two houses.The second story of the overlook's deck.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
The large rear porches are connected at the same level, with the first level of the overlook having a covered patio feel and the second level featuring the lookout tower.
The overlook is a favorite spot for the women. There, they enjoy looking for wildlife and watching sunsets and sunrises through the towering oak trees around their home.
Ziga also designed the overlook with accessibility in mind. If mobility becomes a concern as the homeowners age, an exterior lift can be added for easy access to the view.
Each woman plays her own unique role in the home.A living room in the Tierra de Dios compound.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Lanford is the master gardener — though Douthitt loves to help — and she's also the handyman of the home, even making minor roof repairs when needed.
"She puts together a maintenance list for everything — like how we maintain our septic tank and soft water system. She handles all of that daily," Douthitt, 62, a volunteer with a human trafficking organization, said.
Lanford also manages the compound's split finances and pays the bills. "I'm a bit of a numbers nerd," she admits.
As the designated bargain hunter, Guerra negotiates and shops around for the best deals for the compound. "I'm the one who argues, debates, and tries to find better prices," she said.
When she's not working with local appraisers to ensure the compound's property taxes don't increase, she occasionally cooks for the women.
The women split the compound's utility and other bills.The kitchen and dinning room in the compound.
Nicholas Bailey/Pelican Image Creation
Regardless of their individual roles, they split the home's bills evenly.
Each person pays about $30 a month for water, and their electricity bill tops out at $100 per person during the peak months of August and September.
Living with a sibling be difficult, even when you're older.Douthitt walking the property.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
"I'm the youngest, and living with my oldest sister has had its challenges, but that's family issues," Douthitt said. "The benefits far exceed anything, and I don't feel like it's a sacrifice."
The compound is a designated butterfly sanctuary and a wildlife habitat.Butterflies that visited Tierra de Dios.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
"We are a Monarch butterfly way station," Guerra said. "That wouldn't be the case if we didn't live here, so that's pretty cool."
They also care for other wildlife that visit the compound. Their oasis features bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and tubs of water for the animals.
"Michelle loves to name the creatures that come by to get fed and hydrated, so she knows them all personally," Guerra added.
Guerra, the only one with grandkids, loves having them visit the compound.A walking path on the compound.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
"The youngest, who's nine, was especially excited," she said. "He was so proud because he brought four of his best friends for an adventure out here, and they talked about it for days afterward."
The women have enjoyed living together and building a community.The women like to hang out in the overlook.
Courtesy of Michelle Douthitt
A major factor in the women's decision to pursue communal living was the transformation in their own lives and the changing nature of the neighborhoods they had lived in for decades.
"The old neighborhood I lived in was very close-knit," Lanford, who is divorced, explained. "I had a lot of close friends there, but I was the last person standing. The neighborhood was changing, and what I missed most was my community."
At Tierra de Dios, the women have found the sense of community they were missing, spending time together and supporting each other during times of need.
"It was the ideal situation during COVID," Guerra said. "We cooked together, streamed movies together, and played games together. We didn't really feel the lockdown as much because, for the most part, we enjoyed being here and had each other for company."
