Reporting By Amy Meyer | Mineral Wells Area News
One of Mineral Wells’ most important community spaces is getting a glow up, and for now, it’s a closely guarded secret.
The Mineral Wells Senior Center is undergoing a complete interior renovation, but Executive Director Lexi Perez is keeping details under wraps, hoping the transformation will be a full surprise when the doors reopen.
“I want it to be a complete surprise when our seniors walk back in the doors,” Perez said with a smile, adding that the goal is for seniors to walk back in and feel like the space was designed just for them.
The Senior Center has served Mineral Wells since 1993 and operates far more than just a place to gather. For many local seniors, it is the heart of their daily routine. It provides a place for connection, activity, and support.
The center functions as a day center and provides a low-cost, nutritious lunch every weekday at noon, ensuring seniors have access to a consistent meal in a welcoming environment. During the temporary closure, lunch services have continued at the local VFW, allowing seniors to maintain those daily connections while renovations are underway.
Beyond meals, the Senior Center offers a wide range of programs designed to keep seniors physically active, socially engaged, and mentally stimulated.
Regular activities include dances, line dancing, book club, massage therapy clinics, podiatry care, Medicare assistance, cards, dominoes, bingo, pool, shuffleboard, darts, aerobics, tai chi, craft and beading classes, and access to a library of books and DVDs. They even load up participants in their bus and take field trips now and again.
The center also hosts popular social events such as “Dinner and a Movie,” birthday parties, monthly holiday celebrations, senior night out bus trips for dinner out of town, family nights for children, and three craft fairs each year. Annual traditions like the Senior Prom, Super Bowl party, and murder mystery dinner theater have become community favorites.
“These are folks who have worked their entire lives,” she said. “This is their time. We want them to walk into a space that makes them feel seen, comfortable, and valued.”
Perez said the renovation is about more than updating a building, it’s about honoring the people who use it.
Recent winter weather delayed the reopening, which is now scheduled for February 6th, but anticipation is building. When the doors open, Perez hopes the surprise will be worth the wait.
“This center is a lifeline for so many people,” she said. “The glow up is just a reflection of how important our seniors are to this community.”
Transportation assistance is also available for seniors who need help getting to the center. Those needing a ride can call to be added to the pickup schedule.
For more information, residents may contact the Mineral Wells Senior Center at (940) 325-6470.